WINERY: Telmo Rodriguez
GRAPES: Monastrell (Mourvèdre)
REGION: Alicante
Organic wine
 
Produced entirely from the Monastrell grape, the black-fruit reminiscent Al-muvedre captures the spirit of the Mediterranean, showcasing the luminous expression Monastrell uniquely offers in the wines of this region. Viticulture in this region is traditionally unirrigated, and the vines are cared for by long-time winemaking families. These grapes are grown on bush vines planted in sandy loam soils, sometimes with pebbles on the surface, and harvested at yields often less than 2/3 of a ton of fruit per acre. Although this is a hot Mediterranean area, the sea has a cooling effect, resulting in a late harvest and moderate alcohol content.
 
The grapes for this wine are all harvested by hand, and the fermentation is accomplished with indigenous natural yeasts in concrete and stainless-steel tanks to preserve the spicy character of the grape.
 
Telmo Rodriguez is one of Spain’s pioneer winemakers, advocating native grapes that intimately match the climates and conditions of their sites. Rodriguez makes world-class wines from both undiscovered and known sites, and many of his wines are rare and limited bottlings of astonishing character and quality. His everyday wines have been equally praised, and are widely recognized as tremendous values.