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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 2018
SPAIN VINTAGE REPORT 2018
Wines from Spain has released its 2018 vintage report detailing the performance of each region, with most reporting a return to average yields following a challenging 2017 harvest, which saw widespread drought and heatwaves impact production.
“After several dry, hot vintages this year the rain came to Spain and in some regions the rainy spell lasted until early summer,” the report said. ” It was also a much cooler year with more gradual vine development and one where intense work in the vineyard was often necessary to keep yields in check and vineyard diseases at bay.
“The harvest began later and, with the benefit of fine weather in most of the country, picking took place steadily and well into the autumn. Yields were far more generous than last year and this should leave Spain in a strong competitive position.”
In brief:
– Weather: a cooler year with far more rain; fine harvest weather for most regions.
– Regional highlights: a far better year for Ribera del Duero, Bierzo, most areas of Castilla y
Leén and Valdeorras. Record crops for Campo de Borja and Monterrei and more
generous for Rioja and Carifiena.
– Wine character: fresher wines with moderate alcohol levels and strong varietal character.
Wine of Spain estimates a harvest yield of 48 million hl (source: OEMV), compared with the 36-38 million hl that was reported in 2017.