Bodegas Vinicola Real 200 Monges Reserva Seleccion Especial2005

Alcohol: 13.5%

Grape(s): 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo

Localization: Rioja, Spain

Tasting Notes: Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 94 Points
The 2005 200 Monges Reserva is a blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo that spent 20 months in French and American oak before bottling without filtration. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it reveals a brooding bouquet of earthy minerals, exotic spices, lavender, licorice, black cherry, and blackberry. Dense, layered, and powerful in the style of the outstanding 2005 vintage, it will reward another 6-8 years of cellaring and provide a drinking window extending through 2030.

Food pairing: Beef, lamb, veal, and poultry

The Domain: Bodegas Vinícola Real is a small winery located in the town of Albelda de Iregua in La Rioja where, with painstaking hard work, the winery has come to produce some excellent high quality wines. With a lot of care, Vinos de Pago has found a medium between new wines from Rioja and traditional crianzas from the area.