Red

Crianza

Rioja · Spain

Fact sheet

grilled red meats · tapas · aged cheeses · chorizo

200784 pts

Hot earth, baked cherry and mild vanilla aromas come in front of a snappy, angular palate with tangy pie-cherry and red-plum flavors. Sheer and basic Rioja with high acidity, lean fruit, a cleansing finish and a light body.
200585 pts

Solid, fragrant and as you'd expect, but also high-acid and nervy. Otherwise, this is a perfectly good quaffing Rioja; it's sort of sharp but food-friendly, with tangy cherry and raspberry flavors. Not sour but angular on the palate.
200485 pts

Year in and year out this is a consistent wine that's dry, traditional and confident but also rather reserved. The palate shows classic but quiet cherry, raspberry and tobacco flavors, while the finish is warm and offers a dash of molasses and balsamic vinegar. Drink now.
199885 pts

Angular and tasty, Montecillo's regular offering is an appealing, uncomplicated ready-to-drink red. Dried fruit, herb and oak flavors meld nicely in this light-medium weight wine best for drinking now through 2004. Best Buy. —M.M.