Hacienda Monasterio Reserva Especial 2020

2020 / 95 puntos

The darker 2020 Reserva Especial is from grapes selected from two plots from their estate vineyards. The difference with the Reserva is the origin of the Cabernet Sauvignon, selected from gravel soils, which represents a higher percentage here, around 25%, but it feels very integrated. The wine spent two years in barrel, 45% of them new, and three years in bottle. In fact, this would qualify as Gran Reserva, but they prefer to call it Reserva Especial. It has notes of ripe berry fruit, with herbal freshness and very integrated oak—there's no trace of new oak in the aromatics, and the Cabernet takes the new oak very well and integrates it, plus there's less toast in the barrels. It comes in at 15% alcohol, with a pH of 3.76 and five grams of acidity. It has a bone-dry finish. It's full-bodied and is a powerful wine with balance and abundant tannins. 3,734 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2023.