It was an honor to review this 10-year-old Rioja wine from Bodegas Montecillo. The “22-Baricas” Grand Reserve has over 150 years of tradition, dating to the founders’ oak aging regimen – 22 oak barrels – aged for almost three years and held in bottle for at least another four years before release. Winemaker Mercedes continues to honor this tradition.
The wine is a blend of 50% tempranillo, 25% graciano, 15% garnacha, and 10% mazuelo from vines aged an average of 40 years. The growing and production process I read about is extremely thoughtful and deliberate. The result is an extraordinary wine, dark cherry and violet in the glass. The 22 barrels red blend is deeply aromatic of dark red and black fruits, herbal notes, sage and Mediterranean herbs, and offers a very long finish. I can’t imagine this one improving but it may well do. I’ll ask Mercedes when I visit the winery sometime in the future, if not sooner
Fruit, acid, and soft tannins conspire to demand a food pairing, and we complied – grilled sirloin lamb chops, roasted Rosemary potatoes, and balsamic Rosemary salad – Oh yes, pom Palm Sundays should always be so tasty. Read winemaker Mercedes Garcia Rupérez interview, and why this was chosen as the flagship wine.