Winemaker Notes
Not surprisingly, Las Gravas comes from a profoundly rocky, single vineyard of the same name. You’d also be hard-pressed to call it soil since before you can get to anything resembling dirt, you have to go through a foot of stones. Here Jose Maria and his father planted Monastrell, and Garnacha, each of which contributes to the final blend of Las Gravas. While the other cuvées from the estate show the unique expression of site and variety, Las Gravas is a broader lesson in terroir and the varieties that thrive here. Las Gravas is harvested by hand and fermented in underground stone tanks with manual pigeage. Once primary fermentation is complete, the wine is aged in 5000L foudres and 500L French oak demi-muids for 16 months. In most vintages, only 20% of the barrels are new.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Las Gravas is a blend of 88% Monastrell from limestone gravel soils and 12% Garnacha also planted in the same gravel soils, but it's obviously much younger than the Monastrell and there's more Garnacha in this vintage marked by rains during the harvest. It fermented in underground pools fully destemmed with indigenous yeasts and matured in 5,000-liter oak foudres and 500-liter oak barrels for 14 months. This is expressive but subtle, faintly balsamic, with good ripeness (14.5%) alcohol, fully developed flavors and hints of Mediterranean herbs, with more pine needles in this north-facing exposition and grainy tannins. In 2019 they played up more of the varietal profile, and it shows in the wine. It has fine-grained, chalky tannins and a long, dry finish. It should improve in bottle. 26,500 bottles were filled in March 2021. Best from 2022.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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!