Members enjoying a pre-dinner drink

A full house of 69 Members assembled at Ca La Iaia for the last tasting of the year, December being the Christmas function.  Four red wines from their Bruma range were being presented by Elena and Loles from Bodegas Viñaelena which is located in DO Jumilla.   This family run bodega, one of the oldest in the region has initiated a project with the idea of making and marketing 100% Monastrell wines but combining the qualities of this variety with diversity of climates and soils that exist within Jumilla.   They use different plots, which have different soils and are at different heights resulting in different products.  Three of the four red wines were 100% Monastrell; the fourth was a Cabernet Sauvignon.   The word Bruma means mist and reflects the early morning mists which they have in the valley where their winery is situated

The first wine tasted was Bruma Marin 2014, which was the first wine of their project and which aims to show how Monastrell behaves in the far south of Jumilla, in the place called Strait of Marin, which is the warmest and driest of the DO and where the winery is also located.  The plots located in the Strait of Marin, are in a valley created by the approach of the Rajica Mountains. The vines are grown on both sides of the valley, the plots on the east are the darkest and they bring freshness, minerality and elegance and those on the west, with more hours of sunshine, bring maturity and warmth to the variety.   The soil is very stony and permeable allowing it to maintain the existing low humidity and the roots go deep allowing the vines to survive in extreme situations of drought.   A deep purplish colour with a lighter red around the edges, it has an aroma of blackberries.  It has an Alcohol by Volume (ABV) of 14% costs 5.75€ and members awarded it an average of 83 points.

The second wine was Bruma Viñas Viejas 2014 and it comes from a vineyard rootstock that is more than 45 years old.   The vineyard is located at a height of 800 metres in the north of Jumilla, with fresh soil and wide temperature range which produces well structured wines with very pleasant tannins.   50% of this wine has been aged for three months in new French oak barrels with a gentle toasting to respect this fruit variety and the rest has remained in storage.   A deep cherry colour, it has an aroma of strawberries and cherries.   It costs 8.50€, has an ABV of 14.5% and received 84.7 points.

The third wine was Bruma El Calvario 2014, which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, shown on the bottle as 100% No Monastrell, which was explained as being a family joke as it is the only wine in their project which is not a Monastrell.   Finca El Calvario is a young vineyard at a height of 500 metres which creates controversy in the family and among their friends in the wine world.   Many wonder why plant Cabernet Sauvignon in Jumilla and specifically on this plot that people in the Strait Marin call Calvary because it’s a very steep plot and a very poor calcareous white stone.   The locals advised that the plants would not live there.   However, since 2007, a Cabernet Sauvignon trellis without irrigation has become a mature and dense vineyard.   El Calvario has spent 10 months of fermentation in 5,000 litre barrels.   It is a smooth velvety wine with an aroma of black fruits and has a limited production of 5,000 bottles.   It costs 12.75€ and members gave it 89 points.  

The final wine presented was Bruma Mandiles 2014  again a 100% Monastrell wine and also grown in the Straits of Marin and like Bruma del Estrecho sinks its roots deep to take its

moisture.   It uses the oldest vines in on the estate, in excess of 6o years which where planted by Elena’s grandfather.   It is fermented in 1,000 litre French oak barrels and also has a limited production of 5,000 bottles. Mandiles is a wine with character, but with tenderness, delicate, fresh and mineral with great harmony in mouth.   It is a fruity wine with a spicy aroma, costs 12.75€ and was given 88 points by members.                                                                                                                                   

 All of the wines can be purchased at A Catarla Todo in Teulada at the prices given above and Jose was offering them at a 10% discount if purchased on the night

 A vote of thanks was proposed to the two speakers by Gordon Sellars and   President Tim Fawle thanked José and his staff for an excellent meal.

Members enjoying the meal and the tasting 

Text and photos by Gaby Ferenczy                                                                                                                                                                                    20th November 2015