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Barahonda Sin-Madera

Barahonda Sin-Madera

Barahonda Sin-Madera is an estate-bottled wine made by Señorio de Barahonda, the oldest winery in the Yecla DO region. The Candela family established the bodega in 1925. ‘Sin-Madera’ means this wine sees no oak, and the objective of winemaker Araceli Gonzalez is to show the unadulterated purity of the Monastrell grape. Araceli is one of the key figures whose work has shown the potential of Monastrell in Yecla. Monastrell is better known as Mourvèdre in France’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, where the terroir and climate are similar to Yecla. Both regions have a Mediterranean climate with warm days and nights. Located in the warmer southeast part of Spain, Yecla is one of the country’s oldest wine regions, with a rich history that dates back to the 6th Century. In recent years, the astounding rediscovery of Yecla by American journalists and consumers has prompted international acclaim for wines based on Monastrell, a grape native to Spain, was brought to France around the 5-6th Century.

What makes this wine unique?

This wine is made from organically grown, estate-owned grapes. It is 100% un-oaked and one of the few 100% Monastrell wines from Yecla. Normally, winemakers in Yecla blend Monastrell with other grapes. The vines are situated in high-altitude vineyards, at 713 meters (2,339 ft.) elevation, which results in pretty, almost floral wines that contrast with other Monastrell wines, which can show more animal and barnyard characters.

Grape:

100% Monastrell.

Pairing Suggestions:

This wine’s pretty, spice-inflected fruit will pair wonderfully with sweet or savory veal or pork sausage, Cuban ropa vieja and beef or pork empanadas. There’s also enough spine and substance to stand up to Mexican turkey or chicken mole poblano.

Vinification and ageing:

The best bunches are harvested by hand in the cool, early morning hours, then the best grapes are selected and gently crushed. The whole clusters are macerated at cool temperatures (59°F). The skins and stems are macerated before and after fermentation, for a total of 14 days. Malolactic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tank. The wine is aged in stainless steel tank for 3 months before bottling.

Production:

7,160 cases are made; 3,500 for the U.S.

Location, Soil, Climate:

The vineyards are located within the Yecla DO in Zone 8, within Murcia in southeastern Spain. The vineyards are in the Campo Arriba district of Yecla, at 713 meters (2,339 ft.) elevation. Monastrell is called Mourvèdre in France and Mataro in Italy and in the New World. Monastrell is the most planted grape in the area and is the second most planted red grape in Spain. Yecla’s higher altitude makes it significantly cooler than neighboring Jumilla, and the resulting wines are more aromatic, with a fresher, more easy-to-drink character. The area’s soils are composed of limestone and chalk with subsoils of clay and gravel. Poor in organic matter, the soils are deep and have good drainage. The clay subsoil retains water, essential for the health of the vine in this arid climate. Due to the low content of nutrients in the soil, the vines have low vigor and yields are only 2 kilograms (4.4 lbs.) of fruit per vine, which produces smaller berries with a higher skin-to-juice ratio. These grapes produce wines with greater concentration and complexity in aromas and palate flavors. For climate, the area’s average temperature from May-October is 66ºF, with only 13 inches of rain per year. The climate is Mediterranean with a light Continental influence due to region’s higher altitude. The vine virtually shuts down or slows considerably during the cool nights, which helps to prolong the ripening period. This allows the Monastrell grapes to ripen slowly and prevents over-ripe grapes. The Mediterranean Sea’s cool breezes help moderate the arid and sunny climate. The area receives a high amount of sunshine per year (3,893 hours). In sum, this region has ideal conditions for Monastrell.

Tasting notes:

Barahonda Sin Madera offers up an enticing bouquet of mineral, earth notes, lavender, incense, and blueberry. Structured, on the palate it has excellent volume, savory black and blue fruit flavors, plenty of spice, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Notes by Jay Miller of The Wine Advocate.

Alcohol Content:

14.0%

UPC Code:

810411010730