Monteabellón 14 Meses 2022

Monteabellon 14 Meses is made by the Garcia family at Bodegas y Vinedos Monteabellon in Nava de Roa, a small town in the heart of Ribera del Duero. The estate works ninety eight hectares spread across different plots in the municipality, a parcellation that lets them match each site to the wine. The vineyards sit on the high Duero plateau, where poor limestone and sandy soils and a cold continental climate slow ripening, while the wide day to night temperature swing builds colour and aromatic intensity and holds acidity in the Tempranillo. The wine is aged fourteen months in a mix of French and American oak barrels, the French wood lending fine spice and structure and the American adding a rounder note of vanilla and coconut, while slow oxygen exchange softens the tannins. The colour is deep cherry. The nose shows dark cherry and plum over vanilla, cocoa and sweet spice. The palate is medium to full bodied and juicy, with ripe tannin, fresh acidity and a long, spiced finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees, decanted if young. It is an easy match for roast and grilled meats.