Monte Real Gran Reserva 2018

Monte Real Gran Reserva is produced by Bodegas Riojanas from Tempranillo grown around the town of Cenicero, in the heart of Rioja Alta. The cooler, higher western part of the region, with its clay and limestone soils and marked diurnal range, gives Tempranillo the balance of ripeness and acidity needed for long ageing. The grapes are de-stemmed and the wine made with a long fermentation and maceration to draw out colour and structure. It is then aged between twenty four and thirty months in American oak barrels and rests a further thirty six months in bottle before release. American oak lends a sweeter, coconut and vanilla spice, and the long, slow oxygen exchange of both barrel and bottle resolves the tannins and builds the tertiary leather, tobacco and dried herb character of a true Gran Reserva. The colour is an evolved ruby with garnet at the rim. The nose shows ripe blackberry, plum and blackcurrant over leather and sweet spice. The palate is full but smooth, the tannins fine and resolved, the finish long and savoury. Serve at 17 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb and game.