Nauta Monastrell - Crianza - Espagne

Nauta

Crianza 2012

D.O. Alicante

Coupage

100% Monastrell

Winemaking

Wine made from grapes grown on Monastrell vines over 40 years old, from around the town of Villena in D.O. Alicante. In this area each vine's yield barely reaches 2kg, giving an average of 3500 kg per hectare.

The vines are bush pruned ant the area is un-irrigated. Grapes are picked at a point between full ripeness and over-ripeness. Wines are made in a very traditional way, destalking and crushing followed by controlled temperature fermentation at between 24 and 28°C. Maceration then lasts for around 15 days. The exact maceration time is decided on the basis of regular analyses and tasting, with special attention being paid to developing levels of tannins and phenolic compounds in general. Once the young wine is racked from its lees, malolactic fermentation follows, and again this process is monitored by daily analysis.

Once it is complete the wine spends 8 months ageing American and French oak barrels, the majority of which are new.

Tasting note

Deep, dense red in color, with hints of russets and some touches of violet.

On the nose ripe fruit and dried grape aromas dominate, mingled with notes of coconut and vanilla from oak, as well as baked pastries and some toast.

The palate is deep and powerful, but at the same time silky, velvety and very elegant, with very ripe tannins. The finish is extremely long, seemingly sweet and warming.

This is a wine for drinking now, bit its structure will allow it to develop in bottle for some years to come.

Winemaking data

Alcohol : 12,8% vol.

Total acidity : 5,2 g/L (in tartaric)

pH : 3,65

Bottling : end of may