I bought the wine in Kyiv in one of the wine franchises. In addition to wine, they also sell a rather interesting range of alcoholic beverages. As a fan of red wine, I couldn’t resist and my choice clearly fell on this bottle. And to tell the truth, it was a very good choice.
Monastrell is one of the most characteristic blue varieties of Spain. Its origin is associated with the Mediterranean region, and it achieves its best results in the hot and dry climate of southeastern Spain. In France, this variety is known as Mourvèdre, but it is in the regions of Murcia and Valencia that it has retained its most authentic form. The variety creates wines with an intense color, pleasantly pronounced fruitiness, firm tannin structure and good potential for archiving.
Barahonda winery is one of the most important producers of the Yecla DO (Denominación de Origen) appellation. The Candela family has been farming in the region for several generations and the beginning of modern winemaking began in 1925. Today they farm around 150 hectares of vineyards, with a significant part of the production coming from organically farmed plots. The philosophy of the winemaking is based on respecting the local terroir and working consistently with the Monastrell variety, which is the basis of the identity of this region. The name Summum denotes one of the highest categories of winemaking production and refers to the effort to present Monastrell in a concentrated and complex form.
The grapes for the Summum Monastrell 2022 come from older vines planted around the town of Yecla. This area is located in the interior of the province of Murcia, approximately 60 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea. The vineyards are located at an altitude of 700 to 900 meters on calcareous and stony soils with very low rainfall. The high diurnal range (significant differences between day and night temperatures) allows the grapes to maintain their freshness while reaching high phenolic ripeness.
After fermentation, the wine was aged for 16 months in American oak barrels, which gave it greater depth, structure and aromatic complexity without suppressing the varietal character.
The wine is intended for vegans.
The wine also bears the designation “ES-ECO-024-MU Agriculture Spain” on the label, which is the designation of organic farming certification within the European Union and means that:
- the grapes were grown according to the established rules of organic viticulture;
- no synthetic herbicides were used during cultivation;
- the use of pesticides and fertilizers is subject to strict restrictions;
- the entire production process is subject to regular inspections by the certification body in the Murcia region.
For the Barahonda winery, organic farming is a logical step, as the dry climate of the Yecla area with a low incidence of fungal diseases allows vines to be grown with minimal intervention and at the same time it is an opportunity to preserve the health of the old Monastrell vines.
Here is the description of the wine:
The wine has a deep ruby-garnet color with an opaque core and purple reflections. The high intensity of the color is typical of a well-ripened Monastrell.
The aromatic profile is dominated by blackberries, black cherries, plums and forest fruits. After a short aeration, notes of cocoa, vanilla, sweet spices, roasted coffee and subtle hints of Mediterranean herbs appear. The aroma seems concentrated, but at the same time it retains good purity and varietal identity.
In the mouth, the wine is full, structured and harmonious. Ripe dark fruits are complemented by notes of dark chocolate, sweet spices, tobacco and slightly toasted wood. The tannins are pronounced but well integrated. The wine retains enough freshness to balance the higher alcohol content. The finish is long, concentrated and spicy.
The alcohol content is 15% vol.
The recommended serving temperature for wine is 16-18 °C.
The wine goes well with grilled beef, lamb, game, roasted ribs and slow-braised meat dishes. It also works very well with mature hard cheeses, cured meats and cuisine based on intense flavors and spices.
Barahonda winery regularly receives high ratings from international critics, including James Suckling, Wine Enthusiast and Guía Peñín. The Summum series is among the producer’s best-rated wines and has long been in the category of wines with a rating of over 90 points.
Summum Monastrell 2022 represents a concentrated and at the same time cultivated expression of the Monastrell variety from the Yecla appellation. The wine combines an intense fruit core, firm tannins, spiciness and the character of a dry Mediterranean terroir. Despite the high alcohol content, it has a balanced effect and maintains varietal purity. It is a good example of why Yecla has become one of the most interesting areas for lovers of the Monastrell variety and modern Spanish red wines in recent decades.
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