Bodegas Luzon Altos de Luzon 2018
Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Bodegas Luzon Altos de Luzon is a deep red in color with ruby reflections, its aromas are expressive and intense, with notes of red and black fruits, sweet spices and soft smoked from the aging. In the mouth it is frank with a lively freshness that speaks of the vintage, supported by its fruity character. Wide and voluminous on the palate, with fine tannins and a persistent finish that shows its complexity. It is a unique red that transmits the terroir and philosophy.
Ideal pairings for this wine include steak with mushrooms, hare, partridge, leg of suckling kid, lamb, smoked meats, stews and rice with meat. Fish such as casserole hake, salmon, cod and bluefin tuna. Smoked, blue cheeses and in general cured cheeses.
The grapes are sourced from the family-owned estate of 216 acres. The estate is surrounded by small mountains, 60 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. The vineyards are at the altitude of 1,500-2,100 ft. The soils are a combination of sand and chalk covered with chalky gravel and stones. Jumilla has a continental climate due to the high altitude of the region, despite the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea; there are large fluctuations in temperature from day to night during the growing season and cold winters. Rainfall is scant.
Famous for the robust and earthy, black-fruit dominated, Monastrell (known as Mourvedre in France), Jumilla is an arid and hot region in southeastern Spain. Its vine yields tend to be torturously low but this can create wines of exceptional intensity and flavor. Quality combined with accessible price points give the region great recognition on international markets far and wide.
The reds from Jumilla are heady and spicy, packed with fruit and show aromas of dried licorice and herbs. If you like Syrah, Grenache or Pinot noir, a red wine from Jumilla would be a perfect next choice!
Full of ripe fruit, and robust, earthy goodness, Mourvèdre is actually of Spanish provenance, where it still goes by the name Monastrell or Mataro. It is better associated however, with the Red Blends of the Rhône, namely Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Mourvèdre shines on its own in Bandol and is popular both as a single varietal wine in blends in the New World regions of Australia, California and Washington. Somm Secret—While Mourvèdre has been in California for many years, it didn’t gain momentum until the 1980s when a group of California winemakers inspired by the wines of the Rhône Valley finally began to renew a focus on it.