Rioja Alta Ad Libitum Monastel de Rioja Juan Carlos Sancha 2016

Lot presentation

Rioja Alta Ad Libitum Monastel de Rioja Juan Carlos Sancha 2016

The wine

This cuvée is produced in very small quantities because only 600 bottles are produced per year. It comes from a Spanish grape variety which is very rare and found almost only in Rioja. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 11 months. On the nose, we discover aromas of stone fruit (plum, cherry) enhanced with sweet spices. On the palate, the wine is fleshy and we find the same aromas as on the nose. The tannin grain is fine and the wine is balanced between alcohol and freshness.

About the Producer Bodegas Juan Carlos Sancha

An icon of viticulture in Spain, Juan Carlos Sancha is also professor of enology at the University of Rioja. His 5-hectare domain is located in the coolest part of the Rioja appellation. Rather rare, unknown grape varieties are planted, such as Tempranillo Blanco, Maturana Tinta, Maturana Blanca. The wines are organic. The combination of a clement climate, high altitude and limestone soils makes the vines ‘suffer’, producing few, very concentrated grapes.

Detailed characteristics