Winemaker Notes
There is a change in the air at Hacienda Monasterio under winemaker Peter Sisseck who has declared the era of high alcohol over. The chalky soils where the vineyards of Hacienda Monasterio are located have no difficulty making powerful wines but harnessing the terroir to make balanced wines requires a tremendous effort in the vineyard matching yields to vintage. Organic farming followed by a strict selection of fruit certainly helps. In the cellar, Peter has started employing increasingly higher proportions of stems, is moving towards a more gentle maceration, and is employing more larger and more seasoned French oak barrels. The cuvée, formerly known as Crianza, is a blend of Tempranillo with about 10-15% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller portions of Merlot and Malbec.
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Ribera del Duero, Spanish wine region, is located in northen Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive from Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back more than 2000 years, it was in the 1980s that 9 wineries applied for and were granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 300 wineries call Ribera del Duero home, including some of Spain’s most iconic names.
Notable Facts Ribera’s main grape variety, Tempranillo, locally know as Tinto Fino, is perfectly suited to the extreme climate of the region, where it must survive scorching summers and frigid winters. Low yields resulting from conscientious tending to old vines planted in Ribera’s diverse soils types, give Ribera wines a distinctive depth and complexity not found in other Tempranillos. Rich and full-bodied, the spice, dark fruit and smoky flavors in a bold Ribera del Duero will pair well with roasted and grilled meats, Mexican food and tomato-based sauces.
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.