Recommendation: Recommended as a buy
Winery/Producer: Bodegas Montecillo; Fuenmayor, Spain
Grape Variety: Tempranillo
Geographic Origin: Rioja
Vintage: 2008
Price: $10.80
Purchased From: Total Wine; Northridge, California
Paired With: Tilapia with spicy yoghurt sauce, Israeli rice, carrots and spicy fried cabbage
Tasting:
He said: Dark ruby red color. Light sweet bouquet. Strong dry blackberry taste that continues into a very dry earthy, leathery finish. Tannins are medium and well balanced; acidity is medium. We’ve had this wine many times before in North Carolina and this was the best bottle. A robust Rioja Crianza that’s an outstanding value at $10.80.
She said: Dark red color. Medium fruity delicious bouquet and flavor. Dry, medium body and tannins, almost creamy texture. Robust with a tad of bitterness that lingers with the flavorful medium long finish. The spicy hotness of the dinner did not bring out the good qualities of the wine and I found myself looking for carrots or rice to tone down the heat so I could enjoy the wine more. Chocolate, however, did not improve the wine at all. I recommend this as an outstanding Rioja Crianza at $10.80
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