MONTECILLO GRAN RESERVA 1994 Winery: BODEGAS MONTECILLO (Founded in 1874) D.O./Zone: D.O.C. RIOJA Country Spain Location: NAVARRETE Type of wine: Red wine Aging: Barrel-aged Graduation (vol): 13% Capacity: 75 CL Lot: 6 bottles from a total box of 12 (rest in another auction) Bottle identification numbers: 658232, 658243, 658235, 658236, 658242, 658247 Six bottles (6) in excellent condition from a private collection. Lot 2 of 2 in total (also up for auction here) A legendary and unrepeatable wine. Perfect to consume or to store. Transport with UPS. Special and protected packaging. Insured shipping. ___ Since 1874, Bodegas Montecillo, one of the oldest wineries in La Rioja, has selected only exceptional harvests of 100% Tempranillo grapes from Rioja for the exquisite production of its Gran Reserva. Its careful maceration, fermentation and subsequent reservation in Bordeaux French oak barrels, handcrafted in the Winery, make it a broth with intense and elegant aromas of ripe fruits, with great body and robust, although elegant and balanced, with a lot of verve and long life. ___ 1994 Vintage quality: Legendary Current condition: Ready to drink The 1994 Spanish vintage was extremely good. A warm winter prompted early budding but April frosts drastically hindered development. The summer was warm, broken only by the occasional storm, which, after three years of drought, were more than welcome. The harvest began early September for Rioja Baja and, by the end of the month everyone was picking. The resulting harvest was small but brilliant, producing rich, ripe and complex wines with color and depth. Each region excelled with favorable comparisons made to the wines of 1964. There should be a fair few wines, mainly reservas, still drinking well today.