Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Reserva 2006

Pure Tempranillo, 30 months in American oak. Cherry cola, blackberry jam and dried rose, with a thread of woodsmoke and warm spice underneath. Full-bodied and open-handed on the mid-palate, that ripe sweetness carrying the dark fruit and floral character through to a long, spiced close. Tannins are soft and well-absorbed, you barely notice them until the finish settles. The most lively, well-preserved bottle I've come across from this historic bodega in the US market.