Bodegas Hacienda Monasterio

2012 is an excellent vintage in Ribera del Duero, shown to great effect here. Dark and robust, there’s an attractive bloody character to the fruit. Supple and gentle throughout with a lovely creaminess to the fruit. Lots of violets on the finish, with herbs and spicy richness. Drink 2016 - 2021

The 2011 Reserva continues the fine run of form at Hacienda Monasterio, the wines are now consistently amongst the finest of Ribera del Duero. Whilst the core is dark and concentrated, this is a wine full of aromatic expression with a nose featuring floral and violet notes alongside meaty, savoury characters. The palate continues in the same vein, dark and rich but with no lack of finesse; fine acidity and fine, velvety tannins create a juiciness and linear flow. Very complete and beautifully harmonious. Drink 2016 - 2026

A blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet-Sauvignon and aged in oak for 16 months, the nose of this wine is floral yet profound and fruit-driven with notes of damson, blackcurrant and cherry. The palate is far more mineral than the nose indicates, with great structure based on firm but fine-grained tannins and harmonious acidity. The wine is still in its youth and will develop for a few years yet in bottle. 
Nick Stewart Wine Buying  

2014 is a fantastic vintage in Ribera, Hacienda Monasterio believe this could be one of their best ever Cosecha wines.
 
“Attractive ruby in colour, the nose really opens up with a gentle swirl of the glass bringing decadent forest fruit, redcurrants, blueberries and complemented by hints of allspice. Impressive concentration across the palate, there’s serious substance to this yet kept in check an ever balancing acidity and almost unnoticeable such is the silky texture and glossy mouthfeel. Dominated by Tempranillo, the additional 10% of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the blend bring a different dimension to this with greater depth and richness of flavour; toasted plum, mulberry and hints of milk chocolate. Simply gorgeous, very hard not to spit it out! Detailled through to the finish with a rolling freshness, you can look forward to enjoying this from 2018 – 2025.”

Chris Lamb, Private Account Manager

The Especial suffix is used sparingly in Spain, so we can rely on its value. Herewith a case in point; made from 78% Tinto Fino and 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2009 has been aged in Alier oak for 20 months, and is a delight from start to finish. As with all truly fine wine, it is quite subtle initially, its attack hardly meriting such a noun, its evanescent floral elegance underwritten by hints of aniseed and blackcurrant leaf. Self-assured and dignified, this is an outstanding effort.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

Hacienda Monasterio is one of the great names in Ribera del Duero. Located between the villages of Pesquera de Valbuena del Duero on the so-called Golden Mile, the estate covers 170 hectares, its vines all north-south facing, with plots of Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec complementing the Tinto Fino. Peter Sissac, who actually lives on the estate, is consultant winemaker here and it should therefore come as no huge surprise that the quality of the wines is of the highest rank. The wines (only crianza and reserva wines are produced) are matured in one-year old Bordeaux casks and the wines are consistently amongst the region’s finest.

The Reserva Especial, as its name indicates, is made only in the best years, its previous incarnations being 2009 and 2005. 2010 is a more feminine elegant style and therefore completely complementary to its forebears. The blend ,as usual, favours Tinto Fino over Cabernet Sauvignon, but with a little more of the latter ( 24%) than in the other cuvées. This, allied to a longer ageing in French barrel, imparts spicy richness and a black fruit foundation upon which is built the pleasing idiosyncratic characteristics of the property, among them herbs, spice and a distinctively savoury kick at the back of the palate. Most impressive.
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

A resounding success, flourishing from a late, cool vintage. Beautifully perfumed, boasting precision and definition.

“2013 by the Bodegas’ own admittance was, to use that great wine-trade euphuism, ‘difficult’ in Ribera del Duero. The mark of a great estate however, is what they can achieve when the elements don’t play ball; that this Reserva was produced from the latest harvest in history, is testament to Peter Sisseck’s stellar site, fruit and barrel selection. Cool, pure and precise throughout this is refinement to the last. Fruit-forward yes, but it isn’t necessarily the fruit that keeps your nose so absorbed, granite, cool stone and a touch of blackcurrant leaf add layers of complexity to the 80% Tempranillo 20% Cabernet blend. Concentrated and silky, the tannins have been honed by 20 months in French oak and the finish is so harmonious and complete that you wish to repeat the entire experience instantly.”

Jared Ehret, Private Account Manager