You could taste hundreds of Riojas in the sub-$15 category, and I guarantee you won't find a better value than Montebuena's Cuvee KPF. There's just a lot to like about this smooth, fresh, juicy, and highly attractive red wine, and you really can't beat the price!
This has been one of my go-to "house reds" for many years now. I remember the first time I had this one. It was 2003, we had just moved to Asheville, and I was working at a wine shop downtown. We loved this wine's silky, medium-bodied, and mildly complex style, and I'm pleased to say it's just as good today as it was then.
- The KPF stands for Kysela Pere et Fils, the importer of Montebuena for the past 2+ decades. The name Montebuena means ‘good mountain,’ and it's also the name of one of the best quality areas of the ancient village of Labastida, in the Rioja Alavesa.
- Can you say crowd-pleaser? All Tempranillo from 25-30-year-old vines, aged in French oak for 4 months, this medium-bodied, fine-grained, and juicy red displays notes of ripe cherry, plum, strawberry, vanilla, and spice box.
- Enjoy this extreme value with burgers, BBQ, and other cookout classics. It also makes for a perfect "cocktail red." That means no food required!
We consider it an extreme value, and it will please lots of palates! Enjoy with burgers, pizza, or BBQ, but no food required, as this one is pretty darned smooth.
