Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2010
Editor Rating
- Rated 4 stars
- Excellent
- Rioja
- Reviewed by: Silvana Lau
- Published on: February 15, 2017
- Last modified: February 15, 2017
Review Summary:
Do you love beautifully aged wines that are ready to drink, but don’t want to fork out the premium? If so, then this is the wine for you! The good folks of Rioja pre-age the wines for you the old-fashioned way: aging wines in oak barrels first and then finishing them off with bottle aging in their cellar for a specific amount of time before releasing them to the public. In this specific case, Bodegas Montecillo’s Reserva is aged in American and French oak barrels for 24 months, with an additional 16 months of bottle aging. This process softens out the tannins making the wine “ready to drink” to the point of optimal tasting without investing in storage space at home. Rioja enthusiasts are advocates of Reservas as they are in the middle ground between fruity Crianza and oaky Gran Reserva. At under $20 a bottle, this is a great “deal” wine! This wine combines aromas of ripe fruit and a touch of earthy flavours. Perfect for new-world drinkers wanting to wet their palates with wines from the old country. Bursting with inviting ripe black cherries, blackberries and a hint of smoke and tar-like notes that are backed by fleshy tannins and lush acidity. A powerful yet elegant wine with nuances of anise and menthol that will buddy up with any meat dish or rich cheeses like Manchego. Drink now or, for those lucky ones who have a wine cellar (and the patience), wait 3 to 5 years.