Wines from Bodegas Olivares in D.O. Jumilla ~ A Few of My Favorites

An afternoon visit to Bodegas Olivares in D.O. Jumilla located in Spain’s Region of Murcia resulted in a wonderful meeting with Elena Selva Olivares as well as a tasting of some delightful wines. As mentioned in a recent post, following are three of my favorites. Although this post is short and sweet, it will give you some time to review some of my previous articles (see links below). And if you locate these wines in your area, please let me know what you think~

**Olivares Rosado 2012 – I have found this wine in a small wine shop in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin of all places and am considering the purchase of the balance of their inventory! Needless to say, I love this dry Rose which is 70% Monastrell and 30% Syrah. Harvested in late September and fermented in stainless steel, the aromas and tastes of pomegranate, red fruits, and flowers are fruity, fresh, and crisp without being sweet. Serve this wine chilled and with any appetizers, grilled fish, pasta, or with Spanish Omelette! Cost is around $12. and you may find it for less.

**Olivares Crianza 2010 – The wine is 100% Monastrell (I know you know about this grape by now!!) from ungrafted vines and using wild yeast fermentation. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels and 12 months in the bottle, the wine is bright red in the glass and gives a ripe fruit, spicy feeling in the mouth. Definitely enjoy this wine with food…red meat, cheeses, and stews would be perfect. At this time this wine is not available in the United States, but the projected price is $16~

**Olivares Dulce Monastrell 2010 – Before this trip to Spain I was not a fan of sweet dessert wine…I have always preferred dry wines and I’m not a big dessert lover (I know, I know, that’s crazy, but…) However, once I began tasting the sweet wines of Monastrell, I can honestly write that I’m undergoing a palate transformation! This particular wine of 100% Monastrell was from some of the oldest vines on the estate. In fact, the first vines were planted in 1872 and the very low yields are approximately one pound per vine. No wood aging is used in this wine and Elena Selva Olivares remarked that this Dulce is the “ultimate expression of Monastrell”. I loved the aromas and tastes of raisins and figs…and our tasting prompted one member of our wine loving group to state that this is a “Fig Newton in the bottle”! The Dulce Monastrell has been in the United States since 1999 so please find this one! Cost is around $28.