Jumilla is a pretty hot, dry region, but this Monastrell and Tempranillo blend shows surprising finesse, with fragrant floral notes together with complex fruit, fine spice and subtle oak on the nose. Refined, harmonious red and dark fruit flavours come with moderate tannins and harmoniously integrated fruit, spice and oak on the finish.
Clear, pale silver-yellow. Faint nose of apple, pineapple and pear. Light-bodied with crisp acidity and apple and melon flavours. A food wine; excellent accompaniment to crusty white bread and mussels in a garlicky tomato/wine sauce. Drink now.
This fleshy Rioja is based on older Vine Viura and splashed with other local white grapes. 3 months in French oak has further upped the creamy palate weight, and added additional heft and sandalwood spicing to the pear curd and peach fruit. You can taste the heat of the Spanish sun here. A sharp bitter note cuts the finish, finishing this wine a bit short.
Clear medium-deep yellow. Fairly intense nose of peaches, apricots and grapefruit. Light-bodied with refreshing acidity, lots of peach and citrus fruit accented by a hint of tea. Drink immediately.
Made from a varietal rarely used in hot climates like Spain, but well handled here. Clear medium-deep yellow. Powerful and complex nose: rose petals, elderflower, lychee, citrus, ginger, papaya and more. Full-bodied, viscous, tasting of tropical fruits like papaya and mango, but well-balanced with acidity and some rose-petal bitterness on a long finish. Will last another year or 2.
The weight and heft on the palate reflects both the old bush vines in this 70/30 Garnacha Tintorera/Monastrell, and the intense heat of Almansa. Fortunately, the altitude of the vineyards (700-1000 m) and calcareous soils have laced this concentrated wine with freshness. Brooding cassis, black plum, dark florals and black liquorice are etched with scrubby resinous herbs, thorns, espresso and medicinal blackberry, all bolstered by thick and sticky tannins. This packs weight and complexity far past its price point. Bodegas Atalaya was founded in 2007 by the Gil Family of Jumilla.
Medium ruby. Expressive nose of ripe red fruits, oaky notes. Seductive, very smooth, almost silky texture and a great ripe fruity taste. Reminding of a new-world Pinot Noir, it is actually made of Mencia, a Spanish grape on the rise.