For those of you unfamiliar with D.O. Yecla, I can assure you that it’s not something you’d say when tasting a glass of old milk, well past its suggested date of consumption. “D.O Yuck-la?!” Instead, this tiny D.O, with only 4,300 hectares under vine, is increasingly gaining in popularity abroad, as traditional winemaking is crafting high-quality wines made from the Monastrell variety.

Located in the northern eastern corner of the political region of Murcia (Spain), DO Yecla is surrounded by three other DO’s: Jumilla to the southwest, Almansa to the north and Alicante to the east. Having driven through this area only once in route to Bodegas Castano, I can tell you that the area is absolutely gorgeous, with rolling hills and sandy lime soils. Yecla is also enjoys both the temperate Mediterranean climate coming from the east and the continental climate from the central upland plateau known as La Mancha. Therefore, summers are generally long, hot and dry with mild, cool winters, and very little rainfall throughout the year.

DO Yecla is not primarily known for its whites or roses, however, although I have read that they produce some lovely examples made from Merseguera, Macabeo and Malvasia. Instead, what I am familiar with is their dark violet reds commonly made from Monastrell, showing lovely dark fruits and spices and fine silky tannins. These are typically fruity dense wines that tend to marry well with rich foods.

Today, we popped open a bottle of 2004 Cueva de los Secos from Bodegas y Vinedos del Mediterraneo. Interestingly, unbeknown to us until today, this winery is actually located in Jumilla and under the control of Bodegas Castaño, but named Bodegas y Vinedos del Mediterraneo in order to avoid confusion …

Have you ever been sent back in time after looking at wine label? Personally, I tend to have these experiences most often with aromas, rather than images. Maybe the bouquet of a wine will catapult me back to my aunt’s kitchen helping her make a sweet cranberry strudel, or a vacation I took horseback riding through a pungent compost field. This, I can relate to, but never have I had it happen with a label of a wine bottle.

The blue hues of the 2005 Beryna watercolor label depicting a boat drifting at sea was the instigator for my most recent time warp. Years ago, when I lived in New Mexico, I had a secret getaway I would religiously take every week. In my 1993 black Subaru Legacy, a poor choice in color while living in the Southwest, I would sneak away from the university and drive north with my sunroof open, joyfully singing along to the Cranberries. Down the empty sand encrusted highway, the intense dry heat and rich musky smell of the desert surrounding me, I eventually arrived to the front door of a small art dealer on the north end of Santa Fe. The studio was run by a friend’s mom, easily recognizable by her flowing skirts and turquoise necklaces, who just so happened to have a painting I absolutely adored. The painting reached approximately 5 feet long and 3 feet high depicting the intense primary colors of the desert mesas. In the front right corner were two Indians sitting on disproportionately long horses with limbs that looked so bizarrely thin and long, you couldn’t imagine them carrying the weight of the men. The entire scene pulled you in, making you feel equally stretched either vertically or horizontally to the point you wanted …

D.O./D.O.C/D.O.Ca: Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana
Address: Paraje Alcaydías, 4, Novelda 03660
Telephone: +34 965 603 763
Fax: +34 965 603 703
Email: casa-sicilia@casa-sicilia.com
Web: www.casa-sicilia.com
Date Bodega was Founded: 1998
Hectares of Vines: 23 hectares
Grape Varieties Grown: Monastrell (indigenous variety), Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah for the red wines; Macabeo, Moscatel, Sauvignon blanc and Chardonnay for the white wines, along with some other varieties which are currently being tried out, such as Petit Verdot and Albariño
Production in Liters: 60,000
Enologist(s): Sebastien Boudon
Wines Elaborated:Lizana, Heretata de Cesilia, Ad Gaude, Azal, Señor de Sirera
Importers:None as of yet, but VERY interested in exporting their wines
Short History Provided by the Bodega:
The present Casa Sicilia farm was founded in 1707, during the period of the third Marquis de la Romana, as a farmhouse dedicated to the production of high quality fruit, wine and oil.

Almost three centuries later, in 1998, the present-day wine-making project was started, thanks to the efforts of members belonging to the A.S.T. (Agrarian Society of Transformation) company no.5685 CASA SICILIA. It’s aim is to produce a high quality wine, combining the best tradition and the newest technologies to achieve a unique result in the region. Our winery and vineyard are called “Heretat de Cesilia” in memory of the former name of the present farm house, which is of Valencian origin.

Located in Novelda, Alicante, 240 metres above sea level, Casa Sicilia has been a very important agricultural production centre in the area of the Medio Vinalopó for centuries. It owns land throughout the Medio Vinalopó valley and includes the areas of Mola, Ledua, Sicilia and Alcaydías.

Catavino Notes:
I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited their winery on several occasions now, but this particular visit was a little different in that - full disclosure - my partner Emilio Saez van Eerd is working to …

Last month, when I was in Alicante, I received a mixed case of wines from Bodega Salvador Poveda. Four bottles were from a series of wines called, Toscar. All monovarietals, they were created to demonstrate the region’s terroir as it relates to each varietals unique characteristics. Over the past two weeks, Gabriella and I have been slowly making our way through each bottle, discussing the pros and cons as we experienced them. Being that they came from 3 different vintages, it was hard to tell if the wine was better/different due to the varietal’s influence from the Alicante terroir or if the vintage was affecting the quality and style. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are both Crianzas, while the Monastrell and Syrah are Jovens. Personally, we both fell in love with the Cabernet. Rich and complex, the 2003 was a very ripe yea, allowing for the Cabernet fruit to fully mature. All of the others had their moments, meaning that the wines went from being fresh and alive shortly after opening and then fading to the opposite extreme. For example, it wasn’t until the very last sip when we both looked at each other in silent understanding that the Monastrell was just showing itself off.

Hopefully, we’ll have a chance to try a horizontal of these wines at some point to see how they stand up to each other on equal vintage footing. These wines are widely available and I do suggest seeking them out.

Cheers,

Ryan Opaz

2005 Salvador Poveda Alicante Toscar, Monastrell - Spain, Valencia, Alicante (4/18/2007)Nose of dark fruits and deep earthy pepper. Brambly and rough, with smoke, black pepper and earth. In the mouth the tannins are not forceful and the acidity is medium. Dark black berry, …

As Ryan and I were enjoying a “lazy” Sunday morning filled with articles to be written, ideas to be churned and coffee to be drank, we decided that the day was too beautiful to be spent inside, preferring a quick jaunt up a mountain with a bottle of Salvador Poveda. Made with Monastrell grapes and containing only 12 percent alcohol, it was the perfect addition to a much needed lunch stop in the nature reserve of Sant Llorenç del Munt on top of the Serra de l’Obac mountain chain. We later tried the wine at dinner, allowing it to both chill and rest after hours of being rattled about, but the consensus was basically the same: it is a wine best drank for the experience and not for a rating.

Cheers,
Gabriella and Ryan