In the glass
Aroma: dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, balsamic, spice
Palate: red fruit, leather, fine tannin, savoury
The Cenicero house's classical Gran Reserva: long-aged in oak, savoury and traditional, a benchmark old-school Rioja.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.
How to serve Monte Real Gran Reserva
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Monte Real is the house's flagship long-aged red, made in a traditional style.
- 1890 — Bodegas Riojanas founded at Cenicero
- 1920 — Monte Real brand established
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Riojanas
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (95%), Mazuelo (3%), Graciano (2%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 30 months in oak, then long bottle ageing
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 16 to 28 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6 to 22 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1920
Scores
- Tim Atkin 90 (2014 vintage, reviewed 2021)
Frequently asked about Monte Real Gran Reserva
What does Monte Real Gran Reserva taste like?
On the nose, dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, balsamic, spice. On the palate, red fruit, leather, fine tannin, savoury. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The Cenicero house's classical Gran Reserva: long-aged in oak, savoury and traditional, a benchmark old-school Rioja.
When should I drink Monte Real Gran Reserva?
Drink 6 to 22 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Monte Real Gran Reserva?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Monte Real Gran Reserva vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Monte Real Gran Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (95%), Mazuelo (3%), Graciano (2%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.