200 Monges Reserva 2011 [Dec 94]

Decanter Magazine 94 points. Winery Note: It is a blend of Tempranillo (85%),Graciano (10%) and Garnacha (5%) grape varieties which are grown from very old vines. The harvest is done by hand and the grapes are transported to the winery in small 15kg boxes which ensures that they are not damaged before they reach the winery. The grapes are destemmed before fermentation and then placed in Allier wood vats for 11 days at a temperature between 24 to 28 degrees. They stay with their skins for an additional 25 days which contributes to the wines fine tannins and the final colour which lasts for a long time. The winery applies a daily pumping of three times a day and regular racking. The aging takes place for 24 months in new French and American oak barrels that are placed in an excavated rock cave and maintained at a constant temperature and humidity. After the aging process, the wine is moved into deposits before it is bottled. Then the wine stays for a minimum of 15-16 months in the bottle before it is released onto the market. A marvelous wine from La Rioja with a happy medium between modern development and classic barrel aging. It is recommended that you decant this wine at least 30 to 45 minutes before drinking.