Bodegas Montecillo DOC Gran Reserva
Duty Free has long been my friend while living in Turkey. Often shopping in duty free is the only place I can find (non Turkish) wines at a fair price. After five and a half years of stopping for my allotted bottles on the way back into Turkey I’ve pretty much gone through their limited collection of Italian and Spanish wines. The Bodegas Montecillo DOC Gran Reserva 2008 was one of those I picked up.
The Rioja Classifications
I love Spanish wine. Rioja might be the most famous region but it’s really not my favorite. However in the limited market here beggars can’t be choosers! If I am going to be drinking Rioja I’m pleased it’s a wine from Bodegas Montecillo. This winery has a long history in the region, having been established in 1870 by Don Celestino Navajas Matute. And let’s just take a moment to appreciate the name Don Celestino. After making their mark upon Rioja wines with techniques learned elsewhere in Spain and in France, Bodegas Montecillo passed to the Osborne family in the early 1970s. The Osbornes have continued to enhance wines made here through innovation and deep respect for the land and vines.
Rioja has its own categories to indicate wine quality which is measured by time aged both in oak and in bottle:
- The lightest style is the Joven which means ‘young’ in Spanish so the name is very appropriate. Joven wines have seen little to no oak and are aged between one to years before release.
- Next up is Crianza style wines which must be aged at least a year in oak, then another year in the bottle.
- Reserva (‘reserve’ in Spanish) wines must be aged minimum one year in oak and two years in the bottle.
- At the top of the quality pyramid are the Gran Reserva wines. These bad boys spend a minimum of two years in oak and then an additional three years in the bottle. That’s a full five years before the winery can release it for sale.
It takes a great deal of patience and dedication to make a Gran Reserva and happily Bodegas Montecillo has those in spades.
Bodegas Montecillo DOC Gran Reserva 2008 Tasting Notes
While a Gran Reserve need age only five years this one was 10 by the time I got my hands on it and the slightly brick-brown-red color showed it. This wine is not 100% Tempranillo but it is mostly so at 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano.
Super spicy nose on this one blended with cedar chips, tobacco, dried fruits, particularly fig, and chopped, dried dill. The tannins really took me by surprise. Even after 10 years aging and being run through an aerator they did not quit. Chewy and glorious, just the way I like ’em. The combination of tannins, mouthwatering acid, and unending finish made for a very textural drinking experience.