Montsant ROSA, 'Dido'

Score

93+

"A wine that has fascinated me since the first time I tasted it is already in its fifth vintage with the 2018 Dido La Solució Rosa. It's produced with Garnacha, Garnacha Blanca, Garnacha Gris, Tempranillo, Macabeo and Cariñena, so a clarete rather than a rosé, as it's a combination of red and white grapes. It's a pale pink but is structured and has aging potential, produced mostly with grapes from limestone and clay soils in Falset, pressing all of the varieties together and fermenting the juice in well-seasoned, neutral oak barrels with native yeasts. The wine matured in a 4,600-liter oak foudre and a 3,000-liter tinaja for 14 to 16 months. For the first time, it reminds me of the classical rosés of long aging (think Tondonia); it's spicy, with the fingerprint from old oak, a medium body, great acidity, focused flavors and a long, tasty finish. This is a unique rosé. 10,116 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2019."

Score

93

"This rosé may seem simple at first, with aromas of watermelon and roses, but as it opens up, it turns complex and savory. Flavors of salted grapefruit, red-apple skin, and even cured meat develop, as well as some tannins gained while the wine aged in a mix of barrels and clay jars. It’s substantial enough to match with a meal of crab legs."