BODEGAS VOLVER | Eje | Monastrell | 2021
monastrell

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Today we are are going to review a single varietal monastrell wine that comes from the Alicante wine region on the Mediterranean Coast of Spain – Eje | Monastrell 2021 by Bodegas Volver. Monastrell (also known as mataro in Australia or mourvèdre in southern France) is an indigenous spanish red grape variety that makes very bold, smoky and deeply colored red wines. It is a thick-skinned grape variety that ripens very late into the season. Monastrell is also drought-tolerant, thus making it an perfect grape for warmer climates. Legend says that the seafaring phoenicians brought it over to the Iberian Peninsula as early as 500 BC. Monastrell is the ‘M‘ in the Rhône‘s famous GSM blends and is one of the major blending grapes in the renown Châteauneuf du Pape wines, along with grenache and syrah. In some regions, such as Bandol (France) and Jumilla (Spain), monastrell-based wines can have a pronounced gamey flavor, which might be wrongly attributed to a wine fault called reduction. Because of this, most of the mourvèdre/monastrell wines will benefit from a bit of aeration (at least 25 minutes are recommended). In order to soften the tannins and gain extra complexity, this wine has been aged for 6 months in french oak barrels at second use. That said and without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
colour: medium | ruby color
clarity: hazy | indigo shades

//Olfactory
intensity: rich & savory
fruit character: ripe

On the first nose, this wine combines ripe fruits with savory undertones. On the forefront, it reveals a harmonious blend of black and blue fruits, intertwining with nuanced savory notes of barnyard, horse saddle, old leather, brown olive and brine. These flavors are complemented by notes of blueberry, blue plum, blackberry and black cherry. In the background, earthy and spicy hints emerge, with notes of soil dust, peppercorn, charcoal and charred wood. This combination creates a captivating, fruity-savory bouquet, offering a fine balance between fruity allure and rustic delicacy.

//Palate
sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: medium+ | balance: good
finish: medium | aftertaste: crisp & seedy

On the palate, this wine exhibits a captivating interplay of ripe black and blue fruits, accompanied by distinct earthy and spicy nuances. The mouthfeel is characterized by crisp acidity that adds a refreshing touch, and ripe tannins that contribute to the wine’s structure. There is quite a touch of alcoholic warmth on the mouthfeel, enhancing the wine’s depth. As the flavors unfold, a crisp and seedy aftertaste lingers, providing a satisfying conclusion. The wine feels firm and slightly rough, exuding a youthful character that showcases its ageing potential. With its old world’s combination of flavors, this wine offers a memorable and enjoyable tasting experience for those eager to discover new regions and their indigenous grapes.

//Verdict
maturity: youthful | needs time – age for at least 1 or 2 years
verdict: fine | highly recommended

All in all, this wine reveals itself as a firm and plump expression of the grape variety and the region it represents. With its pronounced rustic character, the wine displays a distinctive, terroir-driven delicacy. Although it may exhibit slight angularity and roughness on the palate, this wine presents a very nice varietal typicity of monastrell grape variety. While in its current state the wine clearly lacks finesse and a bit of complexity on the palate, its fruity-savory nature shines through, providing an enjoyable and authentic tasting experience. With further refinement and bottle ageing, this red wine has the potential to unlock some of its hidden potential and round up some of those rough corners.

//Scoring
BODEGAS VOLVER | Eje | Monastrell | 2021
variety: monastrell
country: Spain
region: Alicante
rating: 92.6
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This is definitely a fine wine of Spain and, with a total of 92.6 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Pairing: Judging by the wine’s savory-rich flavor profile, we would recommend to pair it with a hearty and rustic dish that will complement its flavor profile, like for example a slow-cooked braised lamb shank with a rich red wine reduction. The plump nature of the wine and it’s rustic flavor profile will harmonize with the tender and succulent meat, while the wine’s earthy background notes will resonate with the depth of flavors in the dish. In the same key, the angularity and slight roughness of the wine’s palate will be counter-balanced by the dish’s robust and complex textures, resulting in a balanced and very appealing pairing. This combination will create a delightful synergy, where the wine’s varietal typicity and the dish’s delicacy will enhance each other, creating a memorable culinary experience. Cheers!

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© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation.