Montebuena Cuvée KPF 2020, DOCa Rioja, Spain

Montebuena is 100% Tempranillo harvested from the Montebuena vineyard in northern Spain. In the mid-1960s, 70% of the winegrowers (175 vintners) decided to join forces and found the Unión de Cosecheros of Labastida, which currently ranks as the largest co-operative winery in the Basque Country, with a production capacity of 7 million liters. Right from the outset, these winegrowers wanted to be involved in the entire process, from cultivating vineyards to barrel-ageing wine to bottling. Towards this end, the co-op has established its own brands and striven to enhance its facilities, equipping them with the most modern equipment available, as with its stainless steel tanks, a cooling unit for regulating fermentation temperatures and new bottling plant. The ageing of wines has always been one of this winery’s passions and primary concerns. At present, the co-op has 6,000 American oak casks in storage, with an average age of five years. 2018 vintage: Bright, sharply focused aromas of fresh red fruits and flowers, along with a spicy overtone and a hint of vanilla. Lithe and appealingly sweet on the palate, offering vibrant, oak-spiced raspberry and cherry flavors, and a subtle rose pastille nuance. Finishes supple and long, displaying silky, slow building tannins and resonating spiciness.