Montecillo's roots lie in Fuenmayor, one of the towns with the longest winemaking traditions in the Rioja Alta. Surrounded by vines and close to the waters of the serene and gentle Ebro River, Fuenmayor's surroundings are nestled between flat hills, with the distinctive rocky masses of the Cantabrian Mountains visible in the distance. The expertise and unique traditions of this winery are passed down from father to son, and have been so for 140 years. Montecillo literally translates as "little hill," a tribute to Montecillo's original terroirs, which to this day lie on small, sunny hills in the Rioja Alta.
The grapes are harvested with great care and transported to the winery in small containers. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, preceded by a long maceration of three weeks in contact with the skins. Aging takes place in French and American oak barrels (90%-10%) for 28 months, followed by bottle aging for at least four years. But you get what you pay for!
It is a wine with the color of dark black cherries, clear and sparkling. The bouquet is intense with complex, elegant aromas of ripe fruit, dominated by scents characteristic of the Tempranillo grape, with notes of balsamic and hints of oak. The palate is round, intense, fragrant, concentrated, very complex, and exceptionally lively. Warm and powerful, with notes of pepper and clove. Its excellent structure and elegant tannins give it a very long finish.
