Teso la Monja Alabaster is a prodigious and historic wine. The Toro region boasts some of Spain's oldest vines, including some that escaped the scourge of Phylloxera and have been growing, ungrafted, on their own roots since planting more than a century ago. Alabaster is made from the fruit of vines originally planted before 1915. These ancient vines, together with Toro's arid climate (it receives half the rainfall of Rioja) mean that crop size is infinitesimal, making this an extremely rare wine. Keeping these unproductive vines in the ground instead of replanting means the wine has to be expensive. Is it worth it? Oh yes! One of the most extraordinary wines we have ever tasted, with an incredibly deep, black-fruit flavour, cradled in a cosy nest of sumptuous (but never overbearing) French oak. The tannins go beyond 'velvety' - they give a sensation like treading on a luxurious,deep-pile plush carpet with bare feet. While it is massive, concentrated and succulent, it also boasts vibrant acidity that will stand it in good stead for long cellaring. That said, you don't have to wait a long time - decant at least an hour before serving, and this will impress at a relatively early age. It's costly, but if you can swing for a bottle, then do!
Alabaster
Teso la Monja
Single
£180.00
Multibuy
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£162.00
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Press Review
" They got even lower yields in 2019 than in 2018, and the centenary vines used for the 2019 Alabaster produced only 11.2 hectoliters per hectare. This wine was produced with hand-destemmed grapes that fermented for 23 days at 26 degrees Celsius and matured in brand-new French oak barrels, including malolactic, for 18 months. This is quite nuanced and harmonious, and the oak feels very integrated already. It must be the quality of the fruit that year that was able to absorb the oak so early on. In fact, it's a very showy, aromatic, floral and open, elegant and harmonious wine. It's nuanced and complex, with lots of elegance, among the finest vintages for this bottling. It's both powerful and elegant, floral and nuanced. This feels very approachable already but should also be long lived in bottle. Drink 2022-2034. "
Winemaking
Hand picked, hand destemmed and crushed by foot, with additional pigeage also carried out by foot make this a truly hand made wine. All this takes place in open wooden vats upon where the wine is subsequently aged for 18 months in new french oak
Customer Reviews
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Product Specification
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ColourRed
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CountrySpain
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StyleMedium to Full Bodied
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ClosureNatural Cork
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SKUH4101419
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Alcohol %14.5%
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GrapeTempranillo
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Unit Volume75cl