2016 Monasterio Reserva

The difference between the 2016 Reserva and the regular Hacienda Monasterio (the wine labeled as Crianza in the past), is that they select the grapes from the parts of the vineyard where there is more limestone in the soil. It's mostly Tinta del País (a.k.a. Tempranillo) with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and it fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts, then matured for 20 months in French barriques, 40% new. The oak is perfectly integrated, and the wine has an impressive nose with more red than black fruit, denoting freshness. It's quite polished and has very elegant tannins. This is a superb vintage for this bottling—the Cabernet Sauvignon is very integrated with the Tempranillo and complements it. It's powerful but has terrific balance and great finesse. This is my favorite vintage of the Reserva. It's a modern version of the 1996, a wine that I'm very fond of. It's the idea that I have of a wine from Ribera del Duero. Bravo! 30,000 bottles were filled in August 2018.