Produced with a blend of white varieties, hand harvested in 20 kg cases at optimum ripeness. Soflty pressed, as in the 60s, the must goes into concrete tanks for their debourbage; then into stainless steel tanks for the alcoholic fermentation. Once this is completed, the wine will go with its lees into vats and botas of 300 lts and 500 lts that have been previously used by two, three or more wines. The wine ages in these recipients for around 8 months, with regular tastings. The uniqueness of this wine lies in the contribution of a small quantity of manzanilla, developed by the traditional method of biological crianza under “velo de flor”. The wines’ ageing contributes to its peculiar organoleptic characteristics, adding aromas of chamomile, dried fruits, and a long and persistent aftertaste. The marked acidity increases Monopole Clásico’s freshness
93pts The Wine Advocate– 2016 vintage
FOR THE 2016 VINTAGE
The second white is an homage to the old times when they added Sherry to it! The 2016 Monopole Clásico was produced with Viura grapes, but they added Manzanilla de Sanlúcar (produced with Palomino grapes) that was purchased from the same producer that always supplied the wine to top up the old bottlings of Monopole. It matured in used 300-, 400- and 500-liter oak barrels for around eight months. It has a deliciously nutty nose with clear notes of biological aging and a tasty, almost salty touch. This is a year with great freshness, which seems to add to the deliciousness of the wine. This is a wine for food. Ideally, this should be kept in bottle for two or three years, as the experience with white wines with flor develop nicely in bottle. In fact, they have kept some wine to do some kind of late release. 30,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2018
00pts Vinous – Antonio Galloni– 2016 vintage
FOR THE 2016 VINTAGE
(made from a selection of the “regular” Monopole but made in the traditional manner, which extended from he bodega’s establishment in 1914 to the early 1960s: aged in Sherry casks and topped up with Manzanilla Sherry, which is purchased from the Hidalgo house) Light, bright yellow. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes dried lemon rind, pear skin, sweet butter and honey, with an intense mineral note that emerges as the wine opens up. Chewy and tightly focused on the palate, offering sappy, penetrating citrus and orchard fruit flavors that slowly flesh out on the back half. Smoothly blends power end liveliness. Finishes on a repeating mineral note, with outstanding clarity and suave floral touch.
