Parajes del Valle Jumilla Monastrell

Pairs with: Lamb tartar

Good for: Unwinding after a chaotic day with a good meal and a full bottle of wine.

Grape: Monastrell (Mourvèdre)

I am from: Jumilla, Spain

The story: Winemaker Maria Jover, who honed her craft at Vega Sicilia, before she returned to her native Levante, produces wonderfully fresh wines from the organic, old-vine Monastrell grapes in Spain's Jumilla DOP. Since its beginning, the winery has focused efforts on the preservation of the "Terraje" farming system whereby landholders rent their vineyard to the farmers, ensuring care and respect for the vines in return for a small percentage of production. While nearly all of the 80-90-year-old vines in Jumilla are currently farmed in this manner, the future is less certain as many landowners are advancing changes that would increase the productivity of the vines. Parajes del Velle is committed to ensuring that the "Terraje" farming system is preserved, ensuring the higher quality old vine fruit and higher pay for those tending the vines.

Why you'll love me: Bright and lively, this wine pours a bright cherry red, crisp and glistening in your glass. The nose is also bright, intense, with concentrated notes of currants, cherry, raspberry, and some bell pepper. On the body, it's fresh and juicy but with piercing, clean acidity and young, grippy tannins. Concentrated and elegant, the fruit persists on the finish before revealing notes of spice and fresh tobacco.