Wine: Monte Real 1975 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Riojanas (Cenicero, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 5% Garnacha, 2% Graciano, 3% other varieties (Viura, Malvasía Riojana).
ABV: (Not specified)
Winery: Bodegas Riojanas (Cenicero, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 5% Garnacha, 2% Graciano, 3% other varieties (Viura, Malvasía Riojana).
ABV: (Not specified)
Winemaking:
Initial fermentation and a 12-month maturation took place in old 20,000-liter wooden vats, where the wine completed malolactic fermentation and natural stabilization. Subsequently, it rested for 48 to 60 months in neutral 225-liter American oak barrels, with regular rackings every 8 months. After blending in tanks and a final stabilization period of 6 to 12 months, the wine underwent a minimum of 4 years of bottle aging in the winery’s subterranean cellars prior to its commercial release.
Initial fermentation and a 12-month maturation took place in old 20,000-liter wooden vats, where the wine completed malolactic fermentation and natural stabilization. Subsequently, it rested for 48 to 60 months in neutral 225-liter American oak barrels, with regular rackings every 8 months. After blending in tanks and a final stabilization period of 6 to 12 months, the wine underwent a minimum of 4 years of bottle aging in the winery’s subterranean cellars prior to its commercial release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Medium-depth ruby-brownish color; clear and clean, with no sediment.
Featuring reddish and orange reflections. Broad coppery rim.
Nose:
Penetrating, well-defined, and direct, consistent with the legendary
Monte Real expressions of the 1970s. It opens with an attack of toasted
notes and wine-soaked old wood, complemented by a light, signature touch
of vanilla. It maintains an austere, rustic background of stable,
esparto grass tools, and jute sacks, which slowly evolves toward orange
zest, candied fruit, blond tobacco, forest floor, dried mushrooms, and
allspice. A serious and complex bouquet that demands time to fully
reveal its layers.
Palate:
Exactly what one expects from a classic Riojanas masterpiece: thick,
vigorous, and expansive. It is generous in toasted nuances, vibrant
acidity, and warm, mature tannins. A spirituous hint is seamlessly
integrated with reduced, acidic red fruit. Remarkably savory, it
displays refined bitter notes and a powerful, spicy, and smoky
retronasal finish with nearly vegetal undertones.
Commentary:
The consistency of Monte Real throughout the 70s is unrivaled in Rioja, and this 1975 vintage is a prime example. It is a powerful, "big" wine that currently sits in a magnificent state, yet remarkably, it still appears to be on an upward trajectory. A robust and soulful Gran Reserva that captures the unique personality of Cenicero’s terroir.
The consistency of Monte Real throughout the 70s is unrivaled in Rioja, and this 1975 vintage is a prime example. It is a powerful, "big" wine that currently sits in a magnificent state, yet remarkably, it still appears to be on an upward trajectory. A robust and soulful Gran Reserva that captures the unique personality of Cenicero’s terroir.
Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Average: 93
Tasting Group Average: 93
No comments:
Post a Comment