Monasterio de las Viñas Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 90/100

Cloves, cherries, mint chocolate and orange peel on the nose. Some vanilla bean, too. It's full-bodied, spicy and zesty, with sleek tannins. Drink now or hold [till end of decade]. (Claire Nesbitt,jamessuckling.com,June 14, 2024) MINE: Monasterio de las Viñas Reserva from Cariñena D.O. is a dry, medium-bodied red blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo, Cariñena, and Cabernet Sauvignon with a characterful nose of ripe red cherry, crushed blueberry, dried herbs, clove, warm earth, and a lifted whisper of walnut and tobacco leaf that speaks to its Reserva aging. On the palate it is savoury and structured, with firm, grainy tannins, lively acidity, and a core of dark berry fruit woven through with earthy, old-school depth and a satisfying finish of dried fruit and balsamic spice. Serve it at room temperature and enjoy now through 2026. Winemaker Marcelo Morales crafts this wine from vineyards growing exclusively in the municipality of Aguarón, one of the highest-altitude zones in the Cariñena appellation, where the powerful northerly wind known as el cierzo sweeps through the vines and contributes to the distinctive concentration and personality of the fruit. The wine pays tribute to a Cistercian monastery built in the 11th century in the Sierra de Aguarón, whose medieval monks were celebrated as much for the spiritual power of the place as for the exceptional quality of the wines they produced. Cariñena is also the only wine region in the world to lend its name to a grape variety, a distinction that speaks to the depth of this often overlooked corner of Aragon. Pour it alongside grilled lamb chops rubbed with rosemary and garlic, where the wine's earthy red fruit and firm tannins will meet the richness of the meat perfectly, or pair it with a slow-roasted pork shoulder in red wine and herbs, letting the wine's savoury depth and spice echo every tender, slow-cooked bite. NEW: Cariñena sits in a windy corner of Aragon, where a fierce local wind called the cierzo helps concentrate the fruit on the vine. Black plum and a whisper of iron come through first, a savoury, earthy edge underneath. Firm tannins carry real depth, structured and fresh throughout. Serve it with grilled lamb chops or roast pork.

Food pairings: grilled lamb chops, roast of pork in wine jus, veal chops.

Luscious Lamb Wine

Natalie MacLean reviewed this Monasterio de las Viñas for the Vintages release of December 5, 2026.

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Please note that our reviews are based on a variety of sources: samples sent to our team, those we purchase in store, tasting events, those tasted in restaurants and while traveling domestically and internationally.