TARIMA Monastrell 2016
Deep ruby with purple lights. Floral and bright dark fruit in your mint, chocolate, as well as a subtle depth of herbs and floral qualities. On the palate, dark cherry and currant fruit, chocolate, liquorice, pepper and meaty notes. Some concentration with no much finesse; chewy tannins with the chalky finish; good structure and fit body(alcohol strength 13.5% only). Medium finish. Can age- fruit will survive for some years.
2016 is a dry vintage with wide temperature variation in the last weeks of August and first of September. Slow ripening of the Monastrell points to some intensity. Vineyards are on an altitude of 600 to 750 metres, so we expect more elegance though.
So there is traditional viticulture with minimal intervention, using40 years-old vines of100 % Monastrell on limestone bedrock under chalk topsoil.
Harvest takes place in the second fortnight of October to facilitate wine structure and ripeness. Native yeasts, fermentation in vats, malolactic fermentation in steel pools and ageing in a French mix of Bordelais and Burgundian barrel (used the previous year for Tarima Hill) for six months, hence the fruit-forward Mourvedre style and the wine is not oaky at all.
Consistent scores across vintages. Vintage 2016 gets JS92 and WS88; vintage 2017 Guía Peñín 92(!) ; vintage 2015 RP91 and Guía Peñín 92; vintage 2011 RP91. Stable tastings; excellent value.
