Bodegas Viñícola Real 200 Monges Reserva Red 2014

93 points Peñín

WINERY NOTE:

It takes its name from the 200 monks who lived in the now-disappeared Monastery of San Martín de Albelda and who dedicated their lives to safeguarding culture. We write it with a “G” because that is how the word appears in the early days of Castilian.

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 marvellous 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.

200 Monges Reserva was the first wine marketed by Bodegas Vinícola Real; the soul of our wine project, a benchmark recognized by the most demanding palates. A modern classic that is the result of observation, continuous learning, artisan work and patient aging.

The regularity of the vintages of our 200 Monges proudly tells the story of a wine and its extraordinary evolution in the bottle. Many of these vintages – some of them legendary – are still kept in our cellar, and we continue to share them with our friends and customers.