Monte Real Gran Reserva 2017
A classic that showcases the virtues of the Tempranillo grown in Cenicero
Gold Medal 2022
Concurso Internacional Mundus Vini
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There are wineries that are essential to understanding the history of certain regions. One of them is Bodegas Riojanas, a member of one of the most exclusive clubs: that of the Rioja wineries that have been around for more than a century. The Monte Real label was created back in 1930 and has become a classic and one of the best-known brands. Enjoy Monte Real Gran Reserva 2017, a Rioja with a long life ahead of it made from top-quality Tempranillo grapes grown in Cenicero (Rioja Alta).
Consumption features
Serving temperature
Consumption time
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
100% Tempranillo
Type of barrel
French and American oak barrels (50% each)
Type of bottle
Burgundy
Barrel aging time
36 months
Capacity (cl)
75
General Information
Monte Real Gran Reserva 2017 comes from a place called El Monte (hence its name) located in Cenicero, an estate whose gobelet-trained vines more than 45 years old, which lie at altitudes of between 430 and 530 metres, are farmed using methods that are respectful of the environment and biodiversity. This oasis is close to the river Ebro, where the vines are exposed to a wide range of temperatures, rain all year round, and abundant light.
Only fully ripe grapes were harvested from the various plots that make up the El Monte estate: the best Tempranillo berries that went into making this wine. It was aged for 36 months in French and American (50% each) barrels and further matured in the bottle for 24 months before being released for sale.
Spain’s few century-old wineries are an essential part of the world wine heritage. Among them is Bodegas Riojanas, one of the firms that have shaped the history of the area. Founded in Cenicero in 1890 by the Artacho family and Rafael Carreras, it is still owned by their descendants.
Bodegas Riojanas has undergone several modernisations over the years and continues to be one of the most famous wineries in the D.O.Ca. Rioja thanks to its Monte Real and Viña Albina brands. All the wines in the Monte Real range are certified with the international V-label as suitable for vegans.
Monte Real Gran Reserva 2017 (D.O.Ca. Rioja) is ideal with chickpea or bean stews.
Creators' opinion
Monte Real Gran Reserva represents the local expression of the Tempranillo variety. Deep cherry-red with intense pigmentation and a subtle brick-red rim. Straightforward nose with fruity aromas infused with blackberries, blackcurrants and macerated plums, which give way to an explosion of black pepper and cloves and, as the wine is aired, fine toasty notes of vanilla, pure dark chocolate and a balsamic touch. Supple, smooth and fine on the attack with a slightly creamy mid-palate combining powerful notes of blueberries, sweet spices and liquorice. Firm tannins and notable acidity, with very special touches of spice and aniseed accompanied by suppleness and character. Elegant, delicate finish marked by the acidity that gives it body and keeps it agile and lively up until the finish.
The winery
Bodegas Riojanas is one of the great centenary wineries of Rioja, founded in 1890 in Cenicero by two families with a winemaking tradition: the Frías and the Artacho families. Today, Bodegas Riojanas continues to be led by the descendants of the founding families, with Santiago Frías at the helm. The five generations that have steered this illustrious winery have consolidated and perpetuated its prestige, based on two historic brands: Viña Albina, a label born at the dawn of the 20th century; and Monte Real, created in the 1930s with grapes from a vineyard in Cenicero by the French winemaker Gabriel Larrendat.
Bodegas Riojanas was one of the wineries that participated in the creation of the Rioja Denomination of Origin in 1925, and from the 1930s onwards, it forged its reputation as a master in the art of aging wines. It has more than 600 hectares of vineyards—both owned and controlled—in the heart of Rioja Alta, between the areas of Cenicero and San Vicente de la Sonsierra, divided into more than 1,600 plots of clay-limestone soils. The tempranillo grape is the main protagonist, although there is also a significant extension of mazuelo and graciano, varieties that are ideal for complementing blends.
Over time, Bodegas Riojanas has diversified its activities, launching new projects in other denominations of origin: Toro (Bodegas Torreduero), Bierzo, Rueda and Ribera del Duero (Bodegas Viore), Rías Baixas (Veiga Naum), Cava (Cum Laude), and Monterrei (Bodegas Gargalo). It also markets the Alacer brand. Bodegas Riojanas is one of the few Spanish wineries listed on the stock exchange.