2017 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Reserva Monte Real

2017 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Reserva Monte Real

2017 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Reserva Monte Real Fully ripe aromas of plum and berry fruits are earthy and suggest prune, lactic oak and a hint of paint. This reserva from a marginal vintage is full and round, with honest acidity. Dried flavors of blackberry and raisin are leathery and salty, while spice-cake notes and a hint of oxidation appear on the finish; drink sooner rather than later.

Red wine

Red wine has been prevalent since prehistory (the period before written records) as winemaking originated and spread throughout the world. In this case, “red blend” refers to any red wine that contains more than one red grape variety in the final product, though certain red blends can have their own designation as varietal wines despite comprising multiple grapes.

For much of the history of European wine, red blends were in fact more common than single varietals, as winemaking was typically region-centric and featured grapes consolidated from vineyards across a given area. One famous example of this practice is the Bordeaux blend, which originated in the 18th or 19th century and usually comprises Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Though prominent red blends such as Bordeaux still remain popular, many red blends have been associated with lower quality due to the assumption that the term indicates cheaper table wines. However, many high-quality wine producers still elect to produce red blends, and these wines can in fact offer many unique and delicious flavors due to the winery’s ability to custom design the profile of their product.”