Never Heard of Monastrell? Maybe You Have.

Fast Facts:

• 2020 Ego Bodegas Goru Verde Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain ($7.99 @Costco in California – Item #1258623)

Let’s start with the basics.  Monastrell is a grape variety.  It’s a deeply bold, smoky red wine found in abundance in Central Spain and Southern France (where it’s known as Mourvèdre) and where it is the “M” in the Rhône’s GSM blends. And you know how much we love our GSMs here.

This particular wine (which is certified organic) which is 100% Monastrell, hails from Jumilla, Spain.  Like other wine regions of the area, Jumilla specializes in wines based on the Monastrell grape variety, which accounts for around 80 percent of vines. It is Murcia’s oldest region, established in 1966. Since the 1990s, when the region’s potential to produce quality wines came to the fore, Jumilla has attracted a lot of outside attention. Producers from other Spanish regions as well as foreign companies have set up wineries there.

Monastrell is well-suited to the harsh conditions here, and the best wines demonstrate a varied flavor profile. This includes lively fruits and earth and mineral notes when young, developing into complex aromas of matured fruit, coffee and oak spices with extended barrel aging. At three years of age, this particular wine from Costco is a nice blend of the two styles.

The landscape of Jumilla is characterized by wide valleys and plains, interrupted by mountain ranges that cross Murcia between the sea and the Meseta Central (central plateau) of Spain. Hot, dry and harsh is the best way to describe the zone. Despite these seemingly adverse conditions, vines have been grown here since Roman times, when the region had a reputation for its full-bodied red wines.

The wine industry in Jumilla received a big boost when the phylloxera plague struck neighboring France in the late 19th Century. This resulted in demand for Jumilla wine soaring. Despite escaping the major outbreak, Jumilla was struck down by the pest in 1989. This offered the region a chance to modernize and refocus on lighter, more elegant wines.

Tasting Notes:

Spicy plum and berry aromas come with a level of roasted wildness that’s familiar to well-made Monastrell from Jumilla. This is tight and well-structured, especially for the variety. Roasted, savory black plum and blackberry flavors finish smooth and easy. Enjoy with chacuterie, roasted and grilled meats, both white and red.

 

Need More Wine Picks from Costco – or Trader Joe’s Even?

If your wine shopping excursions land you in Costco, prepare by grazing our most recent reviews of Costco wines here in our Lucky 13 list.

And if your shopping finds you at Trader Joe’s, you can find our Lucky 13 list of TJ’s wine here.

Happy hunting.

Cheers!