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Wine Description
The Story
The highland estate of Milmanda, dominated by the castle that gives it its name, is where Chardonnay finds the most favourable conditions for its development. Years of patient research have resulted in Milmanda. The complex and harmonious combination of aromas of this elegant, noble wine elevate it to truly world-class status.
Estate of origin: Milmanda (Conca de Barberà)
Appellation: DO Conca de Barberà
Grape variety: Chardonnay
Story: 1,000 years of history. Milmanda was part of a route of medieval castles that sheltered Christians during the period of the Reconquista. The 12th century brought peace to the region and with it the return of winegrowing. In the vineyards around the castle, the Torres family now grows Chardonnay to produce this exclusive wine.
Yield: 5,000 Kg/ha. Manual selection of grape clusters.
Year vines planted: 1980
Surface area: 15 ha/ 37 acres
Elevation: 500 m
Slope: 0-5%
Orientation: North-East
Soil: Deep silt-rich calcareous clay soils that are moderately well drained and have a very high water holding capacity. They encourage balanced vegetative growth in Chardonnay and produce wines that are very varietally expressive and well suited to barrel aging. Reddish marl formations dating from the Oligocene period.
Rainfall: Annual average rainfall (historical): 587 mm
Temperature: Annual average temperature (historical): 14.2ºC
Winemaking: Barrel fermented (100%) and later partial malolactic fermentation (50%). Number of days of fermentation: 2-3 weeks. Fermentation temperature: 16ºC
Ageing: Aged in 300-liter barrels (60% new oak) for 4–6 months. Followed by 10 months of lees aging in vats.
Vintage 2000
The Rioja vintage of 2000 in Spain is generally considered a very good vintage, although it may not have reached the same exceptional status as Bordeaux's 2000 vintage. Here are some key characteristics of the Rioja Vintage 2000:
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Quality: The 2000 vintage in Rioja produced wines of good to very good quality. While it might not be regarded as one of the absolute best vintages in Rioja history, it was a solid year overall.
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Weather Conditions: The weather during the growing season was generally favorable, with warm and dry conditions in the lead-up to the harvest. This allowed the grapes to ripen well and resulted in wines with good fruit concentration.
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Aging Potential: Rioja wines from the 2000 vintage tend to have the potential to age gracefully, particularly those from top producers and reserva or gran reserva wines, which are aged for extended periods before release.
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Varietal Characteristics: Rioja wines are typically made from Tempranillo grapes, which often show characteristics of red fruit, spice, and oak aging. In the 2000 vintage, these characteristics were generally well-expressed.
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Diversity: Rioja is a diverse wine region with various subzones and wineries, so the quality and style of wines can vary depending on the producer and specific terroir.
Overall, the Rioja Vintage 2000 produced wines that are well-regarded by enthusiasts and collectors. It may not have garnered the same level of global attention as some Bordeaux vintages, but it remains a solid vintage for Rioja wines, and well-made bottles from this vintage can still be enjoyable and have aging potential today.