, but today was one. For a late lunch or early dinner (is that a dunch or a linner?) we made a chunk of beef covered in herbs in the oven. It was quite the perfect match for this old Rioja. Always a good sign: a magnum would have been needed for the two of us finished the bottle off too quickly.
- 1981 Bodegas Riojanas Rioja Monte Real Gran Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (4/17/2006)
Lightish, fully mature red. No brown. The nose is quite lovely. Open and sweet with fully integrated oak, spiciness, a bit of figs and that lovely expressive, savoury, citrussy note which lends old Riojas their unique stamp - the closest I can come to defining it is kumquat. The palate is juicy and sweet with everything fully integrated to everything else. Fine acidity and lively fruit makes me think that this will last well, though fully mature now. Very long aftertaste. A touch simple, but quite what I seek in an old Rioja.
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