Montecillo Selección Especial 1981 Gran Reserva

Wine: Montecillo Selección Especial 1981 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Montecillo (Fuenmayor, Rioja Alta)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 100% Tempranillo
ABV: 12.5% 

Winemaking:
Manual harvest during the second week of October, followed by a second table selection at the winery. The wine spent a minimum of 6 months in oak vats to complete fermentation and stabilization, with a maceration period of 25 to 35 days. It was then aged for 48 months in new French and American oak barrels (225L) crafted in-house by the winery's cooperage. Subjected to periodic manual rackings. Bottled in mid-1986, it underwent a minimum of 36 months of bottle aging in the winery’s cellars. This specific lot was released in 2005 as part of a library release of historic vintages. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Brownish-ruby with medium depth; evolved and matte with muted brilliance. Displays faint copper and orange reflections. Broad, tawny rim with a low sense of viscosity. High-quality cork, nearly pristine, suggesting it was recorked prior to its 2005 commercial release. 

 

Nose: Initially brusque and disjointed, lacking cohesion. It is marked by strange early notes of iron (blood), iodine, tar, resin, and seasoned wood, alongside animal hints of wet fur, tanned leather, and stable. A vegetal backdrop of esparto and hemp fibers adds to a highly reductive profile. It required extensive aeration to unfurl. Gradually, it cleans up to reveal toasted oak, coffee beans, vanilla, and an increasingly present core of red fruit in liqueur, maraschino, and sour cherries.

 

Palate: The palate offers a stark contrast—integrated, elegant, and exceptionally smooth. It is highly polished, showcasing very fine yet still perceptible tannins. It retains a surprising amount of tart, ripe fruit supported by fantastic acidity. Long finish with high-quality bitter notes.

 

Commentary:
A wine that still has plenty of life ahead. It feels more vibrant than other contemporary vintages from the region. The Montecillo Selección Especial series from the 80s and 90s serves as a prime example that high-quality, classic-style wines can still be produced in Rioja when the focus is right. Truly impressive.

 

Personal Score: 92
Tasting Group Average: 91