2021 Barahonda Monastrell, Yecla, Spain

This wine is made from estate-owned grapes. It is 100% un-oaked and one of the few 100% Monastrell wines from Yecla, in the Murcia Region. 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.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

This family company was established in 1925 and has been growing and evolving ever since, latterly passing to Antonio Candela Poveda and his two sons Antonio and Alfredo. The company began in a small bodega (cellar) which has expanded over time according to capacity and technological requirements and now boasts a second winemaking cellar. Today Bodegas Antonio Candela forms part of the family group which also encompasses Señorio de Barahonda as well as Viña de Aliagar, the company which manages the family estates.

Señorio de Barahonda is situated in the north east of the Región de Murcia in the Altiplano district. It is a transisitional zone between Spain’s central plateau and the Mediterranean, surrounded by a ring of low mountain ranges.

Yecla received its D.O. status in 1975 although 20 years prior to that certain bodega had already begun to concentrate on quality, leaving behind more robust and rustic styles to offer new, more interesting bottled reds, the majority of which fully exploit the great potential of the Monastrell grape.

Today the Yecla D.O. comprises 6500 hectares of vineyard.