Parker om:
Hacienda Monasterio Crianza
The 2023 Hacienda Monasterio is a blend of 89% Tinto Fino and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon (and perhaps a touch of Malbec). In 2018, they began harvesting earlier, in early September, because they managed to achieve ripeness a little earlier, so they picked most of the grapes before the rain; that rain helped the Cabernet to finish ripening well, much better than in 2022, when the variety suffered from the south exposure and the stony soils. They pruned to save the plants after 2022, and they got lower yields in 2023. It has a clean and focused nose, with bright fruit, elegant and nuanced. It's young but already shows some complexity. In 2023, they had some challenges but managed well after the experience with 2022; they did a softer vinification and were very careful with the extraction. This has the influence from the limestone-rich soil, and the grapes ripen well. It achieved 15% alcohol, a pH of 3.79 and 5.1 grams of acidity, and the tannins are super fine and elegant. It's a very balanced year for this bottling and is a wine that showcases the character of the property. 174,230 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2025.