Montecillo Rioja Reserva

That earthy smoke on the nose gave way to a surprisingly smooth finish with dark currant, perfect with a simple steak dinner. For a Reserva, it's got nice complexity without being too heavy or tannic.

Opened this with some mushroom-laced brie and roasted lamb—the dark blackberry and currant fruit balanced the earthy smoke beautifully. Savory enough to stand up to dinner but still smooth enough to sip on its own. Definitely glad I grabbed a couple bottles.

The smoky, earthy notes right up front really set this apart from your standard Rioja. I was surprised how well the dark fruit balanced the mushroom and leather flavors through the long finish. This bottle delivered exactly what I was hoping for with a Reserva.