Luzón Crianza Selección 2014

They say whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger and, for Jumilla, which was one of the last wine regions to be affected by the phylloxera bug that wiped out vineyards across Europe, that is certainly the case. After getting hit in 1989, it picked itself up, planted a heap of the native Monastrell grape and went on to become a modern, exciting region.

Bodegas Luzón, founded in 2000, is one such winery and their Crianza is an intense (owing primarily to the low yields) wine with balsamic, rosemary and liquorice hints. Pair with a goat stew and you'll feel like you've got a second wind, too.

Bodegas Luzon is a leader in the making and export of quality wines from the DO Jumilla in Murcia, Spain. It was established in 1916 and has more than 500 hectares of its own vineyards. The Fuertes Group acquired ownership of the majority of the winery in 2005, undertaking major investments to refurbish and completely modernise Bodegas Luzón to the highest standards possible. Today, they are a modern and innovative winery, preserving the best of their past to produce wines of great personality and character.

The technical department is led by Luis Sánchez Sánchez who has plentiful experience. He has a Masters degree in Viticulture, Oenology and Wine Marketing and is an accredited Member of the Spanish Tasters Union. He started his career in Omblancas Wineries in 1978 and, after various winemaking positions around Spain, he returned to Jumilla in 2000 to help build the Bodegas Luzon project.

The grapes selected for this red come from low yielding vineyards and are chosen for their fine quality and structure. The grapes are harvested manually at the optimum maturity. It remains in contact with macerated skins for a period of 15 to 20 days, not exceeding a temperature of 28C. Each grape variety is aged separately in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels for 12 months.

Luzon Crianza is an intense cherry colour with a red ruby rim. It has aromas of red and black fruits, with balsamic, rosemary and liquorice hints. The structure is delicate and elegant, with sweet tannins and a generous finish. It would be superb with a tomato and goat curry.