Write: Álvaro Hernando. International Sommelier
DO JUMILLA (Murcia)
This DO was established in 1966. The appellation of origin Jumilla is located in the southeastern Spain and the region of Murcian Altiplano. This town celebrates every year in August its Harvest Festival.
Hectares of vineyard: approximately 25000
Varieties of grapes
-White: Airen, Malvasía, Chardonnay, Macabeo, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo, Pedro Ximénez, Muscat of small grain.
-Inks: Monastrell (main), Cencibel (tempranillo), Garnacha tintorera, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Merlot.
Generalities of DO Jumilla wines
It is an area of Murcia Wild, where the vineyards extend on a plateau surrounded by mountains, is this wine-growing town.
The soils of the denomination are brown, brown limestone and limestone, in general they have a great water capacity and medium permeability. The vineyards are located up to 700 meters.
El climate of the region of Murcia It is of a continental type influenced by the proximity of the Mediterranean to the east and the La Mancha plateau to the west. It is a sunny and arid climate, with about 3.000 hours of sunshine a year and little rain.
Talk about the appellation of origin Jumilla is to talk about the variety M. This being the variety of grape that has best adapted over time to climatic conditions. Also from the soil of this appellation, which gives character to its wines. This variety represents more than 80% of the vineyards of the appellation.
M It is a strain of Spanish origin, it is found throughout the Mediterranean coast. Being in Spain the third most planted variety.
Their wines are tasty, meaty and of great aromatic complexity. Without forgetting the sweet, natural and liquor wines. They are bright and dense wines, of great intensity of color, with aromas of ripe fruits (raisins, figs,….). With good tactile sensations and very persistent in the mouth. They are traditional wines of the area and of undeniable quality.
DO BULLAS
Denomination of Origin bullas was established in 1994, with today a total of 14 wineries inscribed. They market their wines under the quality brand DO Bullas.
Hectares of vineyard: approximately 2300.
Varieties of grapes
The grape varieties that best adapt to the climate and type of soil of the territories of Murcia that encompasses the DO Bullas they're 14:
-White: Airén, Chardonnay, Macabeo, Malvasía, Muscat of Alexandria, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat of small grain.
-Inks: Moscatel (preferred), Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha Tinta, Syrah, Tempranillo, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Generalities of DO Bullas wines
It is located between Mediterranean coast and the mountains of the interior of Andalusia, in the northwest region of Murcia. The area of the denomination has very hot summers despite the fact that the climate is generally colder than other Murcian areas, with sudden icy winds coming from the mountains.
The soils on the slopes are brown and so hard that they need to be mechanically opened before planting the vines. They are made up of brown limestone and limestone crust soils, with a low content of organic matter, good drainage and a high level of limestone, as well as alluvial soils.
The wines protected by the Denomination of Origin Bullas and its typologies depending on the type of alcoholic graduation acquired are:
Reds: with a minimum graduation of 12% (vol) they must contain a minimum of 60% Monastrell. The rest of any of the other varieties welcomed are Tempranillo, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha and Petit.
Rosés: with a minimum graduation of 11% (vol) they must contain at least 60% of Monastrell. The rest of any of the other red varieties received.
Whites: with a minimum graduation of 11% (vol) made with Macabeo, Airén, Malvasía, Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat of small grain, Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.
DO YECLA
It is formed solely by the lands of the municipality of Yecla, also located in the Murcian Altiplano. Since May 1975 it has been a denomination of origin.
Red varieties
Monastrell (main), Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Garnacha tintorera, Garnacha Tinta and Petit Verdot.
White varieties
Macabeo, Airén, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merseguera, Muscat with small grain and Malvasía.
If something identifies this DO Yecla is its variety M, becoming practically like a monoculture.
In this way, they are wines with intense color, very expressive and fruity on the nose. With lively tannins in the mouth and with great structure, they have high oxidative power. Wines of remarkable graduation are obtained. Monastrell alone develops its varietal potential from 13 degrees.
It is a variety of Spanish origin that likes the sun very much (and in Murcia long ago), prefers light, deep, well-drained soils with the presence of limestone.
Generalities of DO Yecla:
Yecla is a transition zone between Plateau and Mediterranean coast. The soils are limestone, with a subsoil with the presence of carbonates. Then the sandy surface contains clay formations. They are also poor in organic matter but quite healthy and with adequate permeability.
On the other hand, the climate is continentalized Mediterranean, with long winters and hot summers. The DO Yecla It authorizes a wide range of variety of styles of wine, although they are mainly reds as a Monastrell base. Alone or accompanied with other authorized varieties, specific varietals of Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot are also worked.
The wines of this town of Murcia They are characterized by their diversity where balance predominates, a high aromatic intensity and a great fruit concentration. Reds, whites and rosés are made. In addition to its unique liquors.
Liquor Wines
They are produced with Monastrell grapes, very special. They are made with wine additives during fermentation. This leaves them halfway in their transformation of sugar and alcohol. For this reason they have a great aromatic load of raisins, dates and red fruit jam.
Very high robe and garnet red with violet touches, on the palate they are very unctuous, tasty and a very long finish.
