Montecillo Tempranillo Rioja 2015 750ml

Montecillo, one of Rioja's most traditional producers, delivers a perfectly mature expression of the excellent 2015 vintage with this Crianza that has benefited from additional bottle age. Now showing beautifully, this wine demonstrates how even entry-level Rioja can evolve into something special when the vintage and producer align.

The wine displays a lovely evolved color—ruby-garnet with distinct amber tones at the rim that signal its maturity. On the nose, the extra bottle age has worked wonders, transforming what was once a simple Crianza into something more complex. Dried red fruits, leather, and tobacco dominate, while the American oak aging has mellowed to show integrated notes of vanilla, coconut, and sweet spices. Tertiary notes of mushroom, dried herbs, and earth add the complexity usually associated with more expensive Reservas.

The palate reveals a wine that has exceeded expectations. The texture is smooth and polished, with fully integrated tannins that caress the palate. This is textbook mature Rioja—dried cherry and plum flavors mingle with leather, tobacco, and sweet oak notes in perfect harmony. The acid balance is exemplary, providing freshness that keeps the mature flavors lively. What started as a simple Crianza has evolved into something much more interesting through patient cellaring.

Montecillo's 2015 Crianza proves that Rioja's magic doesn't require expensive bottles. Good wine from a good vintage, given time, can deliver remarkable pleasure. The finish is surprisingly long and complex for this level, with alternating notes of fruit and earth. This is perfect autumn/winter wine, ideal with hearty stews, roasted meats, or aged cheeses. An object lesson in the value of cellaring even modest wines and a reminder that traditional producers like Montecillo deserve more recognition.