Grapes of Spain

Porta Regia Monastrell 5 Meses (months)

"poised and complex...this is simply a terrific value!" —

John Gilman, View from the Cellar

Winery

SIERRA NORTE, BODEGAS

Appellation

Jumilla D.O.

Grape(s)

100% Monastrell, from 35 year old, organically farmed, estate grown bush vines

Altitude/Soil

625 meters / limestone, poor in organic matter and low salinity

Farming Methods

Organic methods, not certified

Harvest

Hand harvested

Production

4-day cold soak, 8 days further maceration with skins. Malo in stainless steel

Aging

Aged for 5 months in 70% American and 30% French 2nd fill barrels

Suggested Retail Price

$17

Wine Name

Scores

Downloads

Reviews

Porta Regia Monastrell 5 Meses (months) 2015

90+ (VfC) 90 (VM)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
90+	View from the Cellar	The bouquet is a bit deeper and just a touch more black fruity in personality than the 2015 Old Vines cuvée, but equally poised and complex, as it wafts from the glass in a blend of cherries, black raspberries, lovely spice tones, wild fennel, a nice touch of meatiness, a fine base of soil and just a whisper of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a good core, modest tannins and lovely length and grip on the very well-balanced and vibrant finish. Again, this is simply a terrific value! 2017-2025+. Jan/Feb 2017
90	Vinous Media	(fermented in stainless steel tanks followed by malolactic fermentation and five months of age in 70 percent American and 30 percent French oak barrels, all of them used) Deep ruby. Oak-spiced dark berry and coconut aromas show very good clarity and an emerging peppery nuance. Fleshy and seamless on the palate, offering bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors and a repeating coconut flourish. Closes sweet, energetic and very long, with lingering dark fruit character and slow-building tannins. Spain’s New Releases, Part 2: Triumphs and Travails – May 16, 2017

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Porta Regia Monastrell 5 Meses (months) 2016

91+ (VfC) 90 (VM)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
91+	View from the Cellar	As I mentioned last year, the Monastrell “Barrica 5 Meses” from Porta Regia is essentially the same wine as the above, except that it is aged for five months in “one wine” casks, whereas the Old Vines bottling spends its entire elevage in stainless steel tanks. The 2016 Barrica 5 Meses is another excellent wine, showing just a bit more precision on both the nose and palate from its short stay in barrels than the regular Old Vine bottling. The nose offers up a fine blend of black cherries, roasted meats, chicory, beautiful, salty soil tones, wild fennel, a touch of oak and a topnote of bonfires. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a fine core, excellent soil signature, suave tannins and impressive length and grip on the very well-balanced finish. Fine, fine juice. 2018-2030+. Issue #75 – May/June 2018
90	Vinous Media	Lurid ruby. Smoke- and spice-accented dark berry and licorice aromas are accented by hints of vanilla and cracked pepper. Smooth and broad on the palate, offering sweet cherry and cassis flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. Shows building sweetness and a subtle floral quality on the gently tannic finish, which leaves a repeating vanilla note behind. (aged for five months in a 70/30 combination of French and American oak barrels, some new and some used) Drink 2021-2026 Mediterranean Spain: Diversity and Consistency, April 25, 2019

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Porta Regia Monastrell 5 Meses (months) 2018

91 (WE) 90 (VM) 89 (VfC)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
91	Wine Enthusiast	Aromas of cherry, flint and hillside brush prepare the palate for flavors of pomegranate, raspberry, leather and licorice. It is juicy on the palate despite chewy tannins that dwindle to reveal notes of baking spice and orange zest on the finish. M.D. - June/July 2022
90	Vinous Media	Saturated ruby. Assertive aromas of fresh red and dark berries are complemented by suggestions of violet, vanilla and white pepper. Focused and energetic on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors that unfurl slowly through the midpalate. Gentle, slow-building tannins lend shape to a smooth, persistent finish that echoes the floral note. 70% American and 30% French oak. 2021- 2026 Josh Raynolds - March 2021
89	View from the Cellar	The 2018 “5 Meses” bottling from Porto Regia also comes in tabbed at 14.5 percent alcohol, but to my palate, it seems just a touch lower than the 2019 Old Vines bottling. The bouquet is deep and quite refined, delivering scents of black cherries, a touch of fruitcake, cigar smoke, a good base of soil, lovely, clove-like spice tones and a deft framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, complex and really quite elegant in profile, with a fine core, good soil signature and grip, a bit of chewy tannin and a long, well-balanced finish. This will need a bit of bottle age to soften up its tannins but will be an excellent wine in due course and does not show any of the backend heat found in the 2019 version. 2026-2045. John Gilman - Issue #91 / February 2021

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Porta Regia Monastrell 5 Meses (months) 2019

90 (VM)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
90	Vinous Media	Shimmering ruby. Primary black fruit and cherry scents pick up hints of licorice and smoked meat with air. Chewy and tightly focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors and a hint of spiciness. Shows a subtle floral quality on the clinging finish, which is framed by gently chewy tannins. 2022- 2027 Josh Raynolds - March 2021

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Porta Regia Monastrell 5 Meses (months) 2020

91 (WE) 90 (VfC) 90 (OB)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
91	Wine Enthusiast	This wine offers a bouquet of black currant and black plum with hints of clove and flint. There are bright flavors of cherry and raspberry, followed by midweight tannins and notes of clove, mint and toffee. Bright fruit and orange zest regain power on into the finish. M.D. - June/July 2022
90	View from the Cellar	The 2020 vintage bottling of 5 Meses Barrica from Porto Regia is a really lovely wine. It delivers fine aromatic complexity in its blend of dark berries, smoked meats, lovely spice tones, a fine base of soil tones, woodsmoke, celery seed and just a touch of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a fine core of fruit, moderate tannins, lovely balance and grip and a long, tasty finish. This comes in at the same 14.5 percent octane as the Old Vines bottling did in 2019 (which I covered a year ago), but it seems fresher and better balanced to me by quite some measure. This is very good wine. 2022-2040. John Gilman - Issue #98 March/April 2022
90	OwenBargreen.com	The 2020 Porta Regia Red Wine comes from old vine Monastell. Rich, with a soft mouthfeel, this offers stewed black fruits that combine with saline drenched orange rind and red fruit flavors. Drink 2022-2028. Owen Bargreen - July 20, 2022

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Porta Regia Monastrell 5 Meses (months) 2021

88 (VfC)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
88	View from the Cellar	The 2021 Porta Regia Monastrell from Bodegas Sierra Norte is made from thirty-five year- old, organically farmed vineyards. The wine is aged for one year in a mix of seventy percent American oak and thirty percent French oak casks, both of which are “one wine barrels”, rather than new. The 2021 version offers up a ripe and nascently complex bouquet of cassis, black raspberries, cigar ash, dried spice tones, a touch of garrigue and a bit of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and just a touch raisiny in personality this year, with a good core, ripe tannins and impressive length and grip on the complex and well-balanced finish. This wine comes in at 14.5 percent octane this year, but is cool in the mouth and the only signs of its warm vintage origins is in the bit of dried fruit tones evident on the palate. It should age quite nicely, but I would love to have just a touch more “fresh fruit” personality on display here. 2030-2050. John Gilman - Issue #103 January/February 2023.

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