Montecastro Reserva 2021

Ribera del Duero is home to some of the greatest red wines in the world and this top-quality wine region is on the rise. It is home to greats like Vega Sicilia and Pingus, scoring perfection and found in the finest cellars in the world. The wines of Ribera del Duero tend to be bigger and brawnier than Rioja. The rival the big reds of Napa Cabs, the Super Tuscans and Bordeaux with their richness, power and concentration. The biggest difference is the price you pay for top quality.   Today we have a wine and winery that has the potential to be a true superstar. The winery is Montecrasto and the wines are spectacular. Montecastro came to me attention when it was taken over Hacienda Monasterio one of the top producers in Ribera del Duero and is owned by the iconic Peter Sisseck. Mr. Sisseck makes Pingus, one of the greatest red wines in the world mentioned earlier, sells for over $1000 a bottle. Peter Sissecks right hand man is Carlo de la Fuente and is now the technical director of Montecastro. Wait it gets better, the wines are made by Jean-François Hébrard who formerly made wines for Chateau Cheval Blanc.

Another key asset of Montecastro is the elevated position of its vineyards, at an altitude ranking among the Ribera del Duero’s highest, lying at between 860 and 923 meters, a location which bestows greater freshness on the wines since it protects the grapes from the heat and allows them to ripen more slowly. The wine I share with you that absolutely blew me away is the 2021 Montecatsro Reserva. The wine is made from a selection of ancient vines up to 100 years of age. 2021 is a great vintage for Ribera del Duero: 96pts Wine Spectator and 94pts Parker’s WA. The wine got 94pts by Parker’s who hails the wine as ‘exceptional’. I can tell you it is and at under than $40 a bottle, you will hard pressed to find anything better.