Winemaker Notes
Aromas of sweet cherries and rose water, with highlighted notes of chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla. Followed by a rich mix of succulent fruit-driven flavors which fill the palate, sparked by the nuances of spices, wild strawberry, and pear. The long perseverance at the end, which is gripping, alluring, and lingering, is the identity of this iconic wine.
Blend: 50% Monastrell, 30% Syrah, 20% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
-
Decanter
Ego is one of the youngest wineries in Jumilla, founded in 2011 by Santos Ortiz and Ioana Paunescu. El Goru is a rich, seductive blend of three intensely flavoured varieties, showing that Petit Verdot (20%) has potential in this continental zone. The varieties (also 50% Monastrell, 30% Syrah) are fermented separately and then blended before barrel ageing.
-
Wine Enthusiast
This dark red-violet wine has a bouquet of black plum, vanilla and mountainside herbs. It offers smooth tannins and flavors of black cherry, raspberry, milk chocolate, coconut and mint. There is a splash of cranberry on the finish and a lingering note of eucalyptus.
Best Buy
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
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!