Finca CQ 2024 Red

In Jumilla, we have long kept a close eye on the work of Bodegas Viña Elena, particularly the Bruma del Estrecho de Marín range, which aims to showcase sites and vineyards with different soils, elevations and vine ages. Since the project began, the selection of vineyards has evolved and now comprises five red wines and one white.

Finca CQ, the latest addition to the project, debuted in the 2020 vintage and is a particularly successful addition to the range, not only because of the source of the grapes, but also because of the winemaking.

The initials CQ stand for Casa Quemada, a 47-hectare estate planted with Monastrell vines. It features a variety of soils and aspects and is sheltered from the region’s fierce sunlight by the Sierra de la Cingla and Peña Rubia mountains. For this wine, the north-facing slopes are favoured, combining two distinct sites: a plot of deep, sandy soils at the foot of the hillside, where the roots reach the limestone subsoil and access water, and a shallow loamy-sandy area that provides structure and concentration. This contrasts with the juicy, fruit-driven character of the former.

Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, but the most interesting aspect is the ageing, with most of the wine spending time in concrete vats. According to Elena Pacheco, concrete is ideal for refining Monastrell reds. “The wines come out beautifully clean, and concrete also helps to round out some herbaceous hints,” she explains.
 
2024 was a year of severe drought in the region. According to Isio Ramos, Pacheco’s partner on the Bruma del Estrecho project, malic acid levels were so low that malolactic fermentation did not occur.

This expressive red wine showcases generous red and blue fruit alongside elegant floral notes. It is flavourful, clean and lively, retaining good freshness and showing more length than is usually found at this price point. It is a pleasure to drink and easy on the wallet.

14.5% abv.
€14 
14,799 bottles
Score: 92