CVNE Monopole Classico Rioja Blanco 2021

“The 2021 Monopole Clásico Reserva comes from a cooler year with a long cycle and was produced with grapes that were picked on October 7 and 8, fermented in stainless steel, then matured in oak barrels and Sherry casks of different sizes—300, 400 and 500 liters—where it matured for eight months and managed to grow a veil of flor yeasts in the butts filled with the wine. Still pale and young but with incipient complexity, it has a very spicy nose with notes of esparto grass, hints of pollen and cereals. It’s fresh and comes in at 13.38% alcohol, with a pH of 3.26 and 5.61 grams of acidity, meaning balance and freshness. It has depth, complexity and character, with more freshness and acidity and some grip, showing more of the character of the vintage. It’s very tasty and ends with a very pleasant bitter twist in the finish.” 93+ Luis Gutiérrez The Wine Advocate

An exciting re-introduction from CVNE’s past. Viura blended with a little Manzanilla Sherry and aged to produce a unique, moreish style. Great with a variety of tapas. 

Winemaking

We harvest manually in boxes of 20 kg. The grapes are pressed gently and, as in the 1960s, the must is transferred to concrete vats where it is allowed to settle. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats and once completed, the wine is racked, along with its fine lees, to used barrels and “botas” to complete its ageing. These are barrels and “botas” that have previously contained various wines and with capacities of 300, 400 and 500 liters. The wine remains in these used barrels and “botas” of different capacities for around 8 months including a period of biological ageing under a layer of “flor” yeast. This method of ageing contributes the peculiar organoleptic characteristics of Monopole Clásico, enriching the wine with aromas of chamomile and nuttiness, at the same time as augmenting the sensation of freshness from acidity and conferring a long finish. All of this enables us to produce a wine which demonstrates the attributes of the variety as well as the peculiarity of a wine from times gone by.