Castilla-La Mancha is most famous as the homeland of Don Quixote and Manchego cheese. It is also the largest vineyard surface area in the world!
Bodega Las Aljibes, Chinchilla de Montearagón, Albacete
Yet, in spite of a long history in wine making going back to Roman times, until recently the area has not been well known for quality wines. The regions hosts 9 denominaciones de origen (D.O.), and 8 Pagos [super estate equivalent to the Chateau concept in France]. D.O. Jumilla, which one associates more with Murcia, actually stretches into the province of Albacete, in Castilla-La Mancha.
Indeed our wine this month comes from Albacete. Viña Aljibes is located in the Finca Los Aljibes estate, in Chinchilla de Montearagón. The estate covers 178 hectares and is situated at nearly 1,000 meters of altitude, giving it unique growing conditions for viticulture. The high altitude and continental climate contribute to a longer ripening process, resulting in wines with great complexity and expression.
Like many quality wineries within the area, Viña Aljibes have adopted the use of French red varieties, such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Merlot, in addition to the local grapes such as Tempranillo , Garnacha, Garnacha Tintorera and Bobal. [The vineyard makes an uncommon white blend from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc that is worth a try].
Albacete’s hot summers and cold winters, combined with its high elevation, result in a slow ripening process, contributing to intense flavours, deep fruit notes of blackberry, cherry, and plum, with secondary characteristics like coffee or spice from barrel aging. The wines are often rich in tannins, offering longevity and aging potential. Albacete’s soil, a mix of limestone and clay, contributes to the mineral nuances found in many of its wines. The cooler nights at higher elevations help preserve acidity, giving balance to these bold wines.
Albacete wines fall under the broader Vino de la Tierra classification (specifically, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla), one level below a D.O. status. The lack of (the often strict) D.O. status allows for more flexibility in grape variety choices and winemaking practices, which usually appeals to producers seeking creative freedom, such as mixing of indigenous and international grape varieties. On the other hand, the intense, high tannins and robust style of many Albacete wines may be overwhelming for those who prefer wines with more subtlety and finesse.
Having said that, here we have a sample that is much more understated than the Albacete stereotype. With 30% Merlot, 20% Garnacha Tintorera, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot &10% Syrah, our wine is more Bordeaux than Spain, with 90 James Suckling points. Note that the composition of the wine varies year on year, we had the 2020 vintage.
Medium black cherry red, with garnet hues. On the nose cherry and blackberry, with toasted and coffee notes [thanks to 8 months of aging in French oak]. On the palette smooth, softer tannins than expected, with robust acidity. Well balanced. A Bordeaux style wine that does not break the bank.
Open two hours before serving, and serve at 16C. The vinyard recommends serving it with lomo de orza (a traditional Spanish marinated pork loin with a fried egg). We had it strong cheese.
88 Bruja points, 6.40EUR from https://fincalosaljibes.com/tienda-online/
(Feature/Wine: Viña Aljibes, Tinto, 2020)
Keywords: Feature, Wine, Viña Aljibes, tinto, 2020, El Brujo