Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2014 vintage. Wowzer nose. Medium body. Full concentration during the performance. The rusticity/authenticity came through immediately. Wasn’t looking for (Spanish) love early on a Wednesday afternoon but it found me. Nice now but better after a 10-spot. 11.6.24. — 6 months ago

Roberto Carli

9.7

what an outstanding experience and without question one of the best wines of the year for me. This is a world class business card of what American oak can do at its best. It starts with a powerful yet elegant knows of dusty cherry, old licorice but mostly gives way to inebriating feeling of grandma‘s old spice cabinet. Something in the nose already tells you that fine fine tans are waiting for you, but the palate is overwhelmingly silky smoothness, possibly the highest combination of intense-yet-silky tannins you can find anywhere, with bright acidity and medium to light body that makes the whole thing dance. I decided to check the producer website and they recommend pairing it with cod with sauce. Luck would have it that I randomly was eating pasta filled with salt cod and tomato sauce. The pairing works well as it further rejuvenates the wine, but I would say it shines at its brightest just by itself, letting those tannins tell the story without any need to curb them down. I’m drinking from Coravin meaning I cannot decant the wine, but even the sediment tastes good. Just like those people who brag about buying burgundy in the 70s, I feel like once the ebbs and flows of trends will shift I will be bragging about buying a 26-year-old monte real gran reserva, kept 24 years at the winery, for 60 bucks, which in San Francisco wouldn’t even pay for the cost of storage  — 9 months ago

Phil Davis

9.2

Excellent wine. — 7 years ago

James Everhart

9.4

2015 Vintage drinking beautifully in late 2024. Very smooth with expressive red and dark fruit for only $25. — 7 months ago

Kenneth Kramme

9.2

Nice flavours of red berry and oak. — 8 months ago

Renita Millar

10

Dry but Really good flavour and body! — 6 years ago

with Caitlin

Nina DeMarco

9.9

Fantastic!! — 11 years ago

Peter Coulthard

9.2

Waitrose. Excellent, well rounded Rioja. — 7 months ago

Ming L

9.1

Early picking for the ‘17 vintage, and it shows with fresh acidity lifting the well extracted black fruits. Still quite primary at year 7.
Very good value for a Gran Reserva. — 7 months ago

John Busby

9.0

Beautiful salmon color in the glass, spring flowers on the nose, paired perfectly with charcuterie & pintxos at Coqueta, with just enough acidic muscle to stand up to the food. — 6 years ago