Monte Real Reserva 2020

Monte Real Reserva is a classic Rioja red from Bodegas Riojanas, one of the appellation's long established houses. The single varietal Tempranillo comes from vineyards around Cenicero in the Rioja Alta, where calcareous clay soils and a continental climate moderated by Atlantic influence give grapes with firm acidity and ripe but measured fruit. The fruit is destemmed and pressed, then taken through a long maceration to extract colour and tannin, the phenolics that underpin a wine built for ageing. It then spends 24 to 30 months in American oak barrels with regular racking, the slow oxygen exchange softening tannin and layering in the coconut and sweet vanilla character American oak is known for. A minimum of 12 months in bottle follows before release. The colour is deep cherry red with vermilion edges typical of bottle age. The nose carries fresh red fruit, strawberry and raspberry, over stewed darker fruit, tobacco and leather. The palate is medium bodied and savoury, with rounded tannin and a dry, oak framed finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, ideally decanted an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb and grilled red meat.