Hacienda Monasterio Ribera del Duero 2002 – Top Spanish Wine from a Famous Region
I enjoyed this wine with my family on Super Bowl Sunday. OK, there was beer at the party too, but it was fun to enjoy a Ribero del Duero during an amazing Super Bowl game and a great Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers halftime show. My brother, Dave, is the person who initially taught and inspired me about food and wine, and he was there to enjoy this delicious Spanish treat. Ribero del Duero is an appellation located to the northwest of Madrid and the main grape is Tinto Fino. Plenty of experts believe Tinto Fino is a clone of Tempranillo (the mainstay of Rioja), but many others (especially the locals) think it is a distinct grape with unique characteristics. Winemakers in Ribero del Duero also like to use Bordeaux varietals in the blend, and this particular wine is also comprised of 10% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. This vintage showed nice layers of flavor including earth, dark fruit and pepper, and had a creamy texture that paired well with red meat and a delicious chili that my sister made. Other notable wines from Ribero del Duero include the fabulous Vega Sicilia, Pesquera, and Pingus (Pingus’ owner/winemaker, Peter Sisseck, also crafts the wines of Hacienda Monasterio del Duero). 2005 is the current vintage of this Hacienda Monasterio wine, but previous years are still available at a few retailers listed at www.wine-searcher.com for about $40.00. http://www.haciendamonasterio.com
Thomas
ThomasFavorite.com 