Hacienda Monasterio

Hacienda Monasterio is the result of many excellent factors: south-facing vineyards located in the exceptional Golden Mile area between Pesquera and Valbuena de Duero; soils rich in limestone which adds fineness and elegance to wines; a micro-climate perfect for good ripening of the grapes; vines planted on slopes with perfect natural drainage; and, last but not least, the work of two expert oenologists, Carlos de la Fuente and Peter Sisseck.

Hacienda Monasterio is one of the emblematic red wines from the winery bearing the same name, and a flagship Ribera del Duero wine. It is produced principally from Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) grapes but has a reminiscence of Bordeaux wines thanks to small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Every action in the vineyards and at harvest time is carefully taken depending on the particular conditions of each year. In unusually warm years, grapes are harvested early to maintain the acidity and freshness of the wine and keep its alcoholic strength under control. In the production process, the grape skins are left in the must for 24 days to add colour and aromas. Fermentation takes place using native yeasts and it undergoes an extended yet delicate maceration. Finally the resulting wine is aged for 17 or 18 months in Allier oak barrels — 30% of which are new, and 70% second use.

It displays a bright and intense ruby red colour, and a mineral nose with aromas of fresh red fruit, strawberries, cherries and a touch of mint well-integrated with its ageing. It has a balanced fragrance with nuances and subtleties. Bright and sharp in the mouth, it is powerful yet fluid with rounded tannins giving the wine volume in the middle of the mouth. It is a generous wine with a juicy texture, whose mature flavours are still to be completely developed. It has sufficient personality and balance for a lengthy and successful evolution in the bottle. Its complex and lingering finish is accompanied with freshness and fragrance giving a comforting pleasant sensation with every sip. The vines were planted back in 1990 and their maturity and defined personality are more noticeable with every vintage.