Jumilla wines dominate blind-tastings

Wines from Jumilla in southern Spain bagged an impressive haul of medals in db‘s global Masters competitions. Here’s why the region’s wines are hitting the spot.

For all the hype about ‘cool-climate’ wines, Jumilla stands out for producing the exact opposite. Ferocious sun, desert-like conditions and limestone plots that look more like pebble beaches than vineyards miraculously combine to produce wines of exceptional personality and freshness.

Located around an hour’s drive from Alicante, the historic wine-producing region of Jumilla receives just 300mm of rainfall annually, and for this reason most of its vineyards (79%) are dry-farmed.

The region’s flagship grape variety is Monastrell, which accounts for about 80% of total plantings in Jumilla, with Syrah, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon also permitted under DO rules.

A small quantity of white varieties is also planted, including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Airén and Malvasia.

Due to the altitudinous nature of the region with the highest sites climbing to a dizzying 1,000m, fragrant aromas and delicate flavours of mountain herbs including thyme, rosemary and fennel are often present in Jumilla wines, which lean towards medium acidity.

Jumilla wines are proving a favourite with consumers, and one of the reasons they have been so successful in db’s global Masters competitions is due to the incredible quality-to-price ratio that they offer.

Top-end expressions of Jumilla wine are often significantly cheaper than those from Rioja and Ribera del Duero, especially in the on-trade, where diners can pick up a bottle of Jumilla fine wine for a stitch of the price.

You can read more about Jumilla here in our exclusive and detailed report on the region.

And for Patrick Schmitt MW’s tasting notes for Jumilla’s gold-winning wines, see below.

From the Autumn Masters 2022:

ALCENO INEDITA 03, 2016 – Gold

Very clean and fresh on the nose with a medium-light intensity. Showing plum, cherry and blackberry notes. Dry with a low acidity, warming alcohol and a full body, this lovely wine has dry tannins and a mid-length finish.

JUAN GIL ROSE, 2021 – Gold

Floral and yeasty, with notes of cream and strawberries jumping from the glass, this is an intense and charming wine with rich layers of ripe fruits and crunchy berries. Great texture and intensity, and a long, complex finish. The oak provides a lovely texture and complexity.

SENORIO DE TOBARRA, 2021 – Gold

This red has a juicy raisiny core with a ripe raspberry edge. Ample body supports supple acidity, giving a well balanced, off-dry wine with impressive concentration.

PATA NEGRA APASIONADO, 2021 – Gold

Polished blackberry and boysenberry notes with a vibrant fruit core, this fulsome, just off-dry wine has vibrant acidity, impressive balance and a beautifully fresh finish.

From the Organic & Vegan Masters 2022:

LUZON COLECCIÓN MONASTRELL, 2021 – Gold

Bright burnished juicy plum skin with an inky raisin edge, this single-varietal Monastrell has ample vibrant acidity, moderate fleshy tannins and good flavour concentration, with a rich, warm finish.

For the full list of medal-winning wines from Jumilla producers in db’s master competitions see below.

The Global Syrah Masters 2022

The Global Rose Masters 2022

The Global Organic & Vegan Masters 2022

The DB Autumn Blind Tasting 2022