Community Tasting Notes 17

• Highlander wrote:

  March 5, 2021 - Cork was 75% gone, but the wine was lovely. Tannins fully resolved, unlike last bottle. Was this a cork issue, TBD? Hard to put this one down, we liked it so much

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• stevenc.rees@gmail.com Likes this wine: 92 points

  October 1, 2020 - as others have recently discovered, this wine is showing superbly now. Just a killer bottle, and not at the end of life. This is a Reserva, not Gran Reserva, but it barely shows that "lesser distinction" the words might imply. Served with chicken and cheese tortolini and sourdough bread. It is delicate, so no heavy stuff. I agree with the prior notes this year here - excellent. Money well spent.

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• NoahCap wrote:

  September 22, 2020 - Really really lovely; a beautiful wine in its prime. I agree with other reviews that this is drinking at a very high level but can go another a decade at least, probably more, and be the better for it. There isn't a hint of bricking- the wine is light colored, vibrant, bright, reminds me how Pinot-esque Tempranillo can be sometimes. The smell is reminiscent
  of Bordeaux, with dark fruits, gravel, cut lumber, and even the classic smell of pencil shavings. But the taste (just like the appearance) is much more akin to red Burgundy. It is surprisingly light bodied given the nose, the tannins are soft and smooth, and it rolls around the mouth like velvet. The years have brought out tertiary flavors of leather, cigars, old books, but there is still a wonderful red fruit freshness that is very appealing. Loads of red cherry and tart cranberry. What a shame that so many modern Spanish wines have become highly oaked extracted inky monstrosities. This wine drives home that Spain can make wines as fresh and elegant as anywhere.

  2 people found this helpful Comment

• Tim Heaton Likes this wine:

  August 9, 2020 - Fabulous showing; served double-blind, I was closer to Priorato than Rioja. Sappy red/black fruit, no overt American oak signature. In its prime, with a quite obviously long future ahead of it. VG structure, complexity, length. Seems the total package, and it's only just getting going. Impressive. 12,5% abv. highly recommended

  2 people found this helpful Comments (2)

• elvinet Likes this wine: 94 points

  March 20, 2020 - Color rojo oscuro con cierta tonalidad amarronada suave, capa media, suave menisco naranja-marrón suave y fina lágrima que fluye lentamente.
  Buena y elegante intensidad en nariz con unos aromas de fruta del bosque bien madura, fina presencia de unos ligeros tostados de la barrica que resultan algo cremosos y dulzones, laurel, clavo seco, y surgen notas de naranja confitada, membrillo seco, ligera presencia de cueros viejos algo húmedos, hierbas secas del monte y hojarasca seca de fondo.
  En boca tiene una suave y excelente entrada, de cuerpo suave y con buena amplitud en todo su recorrido, ligero y vertical, taninos bien pulidos y ligeramente dulzones, ligeros especiados bien conjuntados con unos toques cítricos que aportan complejidad, fina textura, notable acidez, sabroso y muy placentero.
  Final bien largo con un postgusto de fruta del bosque madura y suave retronasal de tostados y balsámicos secos.
  Está espléndido a pesar de sus más de 20 años de estancia en botella. Un Rioja clásico fiable para disfrutar con cada botella que se tenga a mano.
  
  More information in: https://www.elvi.net/2019/12/27/monte-real-reserva-1994/

  Comment

Pro Reviews 2

Wine Definition

• Vintage 1994
• Type Red
• Producer Bodegas Riojanas
• Varietal Tempranillo
• Designation Monte Real Reserva
• Vineyard n/a
• Country Spain
• Region La Rioja
• SubRegion n/a
• Appellation Rioja

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 35 (50%)
• Consumed 35 (50%)

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