The world of wine is confusing, it’s true. We use a lot of obscure words and often call the same thing by different names, seemingly “just for the fun of it”.

This week’s wine highlights the conundrums and confusions that arise. The wine comes from Spain and is made from the Monastrell grape variety. Mona-what, you ask? Monastrell, say I. A.k.a Mouvedre.

Mouvedre possibly sounds more familiar, because it is one part of a very famous three part blend from Australia (a conversation for another day, no doubt) - or maybe it doesn’t. It’s admittedly a somewhat obscure grape, especially on its own. The point I’m trying to clumsily make however is simply that this grape sometimes plays hide-and-seek behind different names. And yes, it does confuse a lot of people.

Any way you slice (or call) it however, Monastrell/Mouvedre makes gorgeous wines in the right conditions. Often, they don’t even cost that much. We have one such example this week. It’s a beauty, no matter what its name.

And with that, let’s get right into this week’s wine pick!

2019 Juan Gil “Silver Label” Jumilla Monastrell

This week’s wine comes from a smaller region of coastal Spain. It is an unctuous and expressive wine that really delivers a punch at a great price point. Keep reading to see what else you should know about this wine.

What does this wine cost?

$22.95 CAD.

What in the (wine) world is Jumilla?

You might be tempted to think Jumilla is a grape but no, we already know that the grape in this week’s wine is Monastrell aka Mouvedre.

So what is Jumilla?

Jumilla is in fact a small Denominacion de Origen Protegida (“DOP”) - what would commonly be called a protected designation of origin - located approximately 50km from the Mediterranean coast of Southeastern Spain. Though it is relatively small and was established as an official denomination only 50 years ago, it is in fact considered to be the most important region in this political area of Spain. In fact, wine has been made here since Roman times.

Jumilla (pronounced “hoo-mi-ya”) experiences difficult growing conditions which the Mouvedre grape seems to respond well to. Winters are harsh and cold and summers are harsh, arid and very hot.

Mouvedre represents approximately 80% of the region’s plantings and it is well known for producing quality wines from this varietal. In addition, Jumilla has attracted a lot of attention since being recognized as an official denomination and many large companies have moved into the region, bringing along other grapes with them. As a result, plantings of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are also growing in size. White grapes are also grown here.

Where does this wine come from?

As noted above, this wine comes from the coastal area of Southeastern Spain. This is a land of contrasts and extremes, plains and mountains and a long history in the world of wine.

Why is this wine unique?

This is a certified organic wine made from a grape that we don’t commonly see and that too, in a single varietal expression. It is made from a specific parcel of land that has old vines on it, is dry farmed and produces low yields. These are all markers of a wine that is of noteworthy character, even for the most discerning of wine enthusiasts.

Who makes this wine?

This wine is made by Gil Family Estates. This family has a history in winemaking that goes back more than a century. Today, they own eight wineries across Spain.

A few Wine Geek “essential facts” about the wine (feel free to skip this if you don’t care about detailed wine-making information!):

Grape Varieties - 100% Monastrell

Soil Types - chalky, stony, limestone.

Vinification - grapes were macerated and fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by aging in contact with french oak.

ABV - 15%

Residual Sugar - 6 g/L

My tasting notes:

In the glass, this wine presents with deep ruby colouring that is almost purple at the core. On the nose, the wine demonstrates an unbridled expression of ripe purple and black fruit alongside lavender, baking spice and forest floor aromas. It is a rich and inviting bouquet that is matched by an equally rich palate that is bursting with ripe plums, blackberry, black cherry, cinnamon, clove and cedar notes. The tannins are silky and the oak is well integrated, with a nice mouthwatering acidity that invites one to dig into a meal while enjoying this wonderful wine!

Aging potential:

1-2 years.

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

Enjoy this wine with roasted meat or vegetables, meat lasagna or beef burgers. It would also pair nicely with aged cheese and charcuterie. I personally would love to try this with jerk chicken….but be ready for a nice satisfying burn in your mouth if you decide to try the same! ;-)

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 92 points

For me, this wine drinks like a much more expensive wine than it really is. It’s a solid “recommended buy” for me. You can’t go wrong if you like a structured rich wine - this is just that!

FINAL VERDICT:

Definitely buy this. Buy a few in fact and serve it at your parties. You’ll thank me later.

If you’ve tried this wine already, or decide to pick it up and try it after reading this post, I’d love to hear from you and hear what you think of it! Please do drop me a line.

Until next time, wishing you love, light and of course - good wine!……

Cheers…..XOXO