Hacienda Monasterio Reserva Especial 2018
£110.20 (Inc. VAT bot. 75 cl.) / North Ireland
Bodegas Hacienda Monasterio
Ribera del Duero
Last 2 bottles. Immediate shipment
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I had not tasted the 2016, so from the last vintage I tasted, we jumped to the 2018 Reserva Especial, a wine that could qualify as Gran Reserva, as it spent 27 months in barrique and enough time in bottle to do so. 2018 was a very cool year with lots of rain (700 liters), and the wines have a special freshness. This is evolving at a very slow pace. It's serious and austere despite the alcohol on the label (15%). It has a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, up to 25%, and it's noticeable in the wine, the only head-pruned Cabernet they have on the property now, aged 34 years. It has a more Bordeaux-ish profile, more balsamic, with some peppery and spicy notes and very tasty flavors. It has terrific balance on the palate, very elegant tannins, very fine and chalky. It finishes clean, long and with very focused flavors. This could very well be the finest Reserva Especial to date. It matured in 70% new oak and doesn't smell or taste of oak. 4,300 bottles were filled in March 2021.
Features
Type of wine
Pairings
Style
Occasions
Winery
Size
Country
Region
Appellation
Alcohol
15.0%
Grapes
Serving
Between 16ºC and 18ºC
Winemaking
Malolactic fermentation and ageing for 20 months in new French oak barrels.
Description
Hacienda Monasterio Reserva Especial represents the maximum expression of the Hacienda Monasterio winery, a consolidated entity in the prestigious Ribera del Duero. This winery, located between the towns of Pesquera and Valbuena de Duero, has a surface area of 113 hectares, 78 of which are dedicated to vineyards. The composition of this wine combines 78% Tinto Fino and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, which adds a distinctive and robust character to the final profile.
The vineyards are grown on a north-south facing slope, which allows a balanced exposure to the sun, favouring an optimal ripening of the grapes. The soil, with a high concentration of limestone, gives the wines a marked minerality and structure. The climate of the region is continental, with cold winters and hot summers, as well as a considerable temperature oscillation between day and night, factors that contribute to the development of grapes with balanced acidity and concentration of flavours.
Winemaking
The Hacienda Monasterio Reserva Especial winemaking process is characterised by meticulous techniques that ensure the highest quality. After manual harvesting and strict selection, the grapes undergo 100% destemming and a 24-day maceration to extract the maximum aromatic and polyphenolic compounds. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak barrels, allowing a harmonious integration of tannins and a smooth texture.
Ageing is a key point in the elaboration of this wine, with a total of 29 months in French Allier oak barrels, 60% of which are new and the rest second use. This type of oak contributes subtle notes of vanilla, spices and a structure that allows the wine to evolve favourably in the bottle. Throughout this stage, the wine refines and develops an aromatic complexity that translates into tertiary notes of liquorice and balsamic hints.
Taste
Hacienda Monasterio Reserva Especial dazzles in the glass with its deep ruby colour and dark hues, reflecting its density and concentration. On the nose, it offers a complex range of black fruit, cassis and mineral nuances, characteristics that come from its origin in chalky soils and its long ageing. The entry on the palate is enveloping, with firm but silky tannins that give it great volume on the mid-palate. The perfectly balanced acidity intertwines with the ripe fruit, maintaining a freshness that lengthens the persistence on the palate. The finish is lingering and leaves a mineral and slightly balsamic sensation, anticipating its great ageing capacity. Each sip reflects the meticulous work in the vineyard and winery, consolidating Hacienda Monasterio Reserva Especial as a benchmark among the great wines of Ribera del Duero.
Shipping to North Ireland
50% discount on orders over £350.86Estimated transit time: 4-5 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Over £350.86 |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | £11.32 | £5.66 (-£5.66) |
| 7-12 | £15.35 | £7.67 (-£7.67) |
| 13-18 | £21.49 | £10.74 (-£10.74) |
| 19-24 | £29.38 | £14.69 (-£14.69) |
| 25-30 | £34.12 | £17.06 (-£17.06) |
| 31-36 | £38.16 | £19.08 (-£19.08) |
| 37-42 | £46.05 | £23.02 (-£23.02) |
| 43-48 | £50.44 | £25.22 (-£25.22) |
| 49-54 | £56.97 | £28.49 (-£28.49) |
| 55-60 | £61.22 | £30.61 (-£30.61) |
| VAT included | ||



