For some time Murviedro, one of Requena´s emblematic bodegas, has been studying some of the plots (or parcels) of vines that they own throughout the Valencian Community. During this time some very special wines have appeared including a new Premium Range sitting above the single variety range Sericis (Monastrell, Bobal and Merseguera).

The range began with the fabulous Casa de La Seda, a pure Bobal from Finca El Ardal, vines which dates back to 1923.

This was added to a couple of years back with the introduction of the ‘Vallejo Avenas’ a pure Chardonnay and now another white, ‘Cañada La Torre’ a 100% Malvasia and another red, ‘CV05’ a very Mediterranean Cabernet Sauvignon.

We were delighted to be able to attend the presentation of these two latest wines in the SH Valencia Hotel at the begnning of last week fronted by Marc Grin the Director General of Murviedro and Juan José Muñoz the Technical Director.

They explained how the investigations carried out had led them to believe they had some parcels of vines that stand out from those which generally surround them. Experimentation with single vinification of the vines from each plot had shown these differences are marked and show each year, giving the wines produced certain characteristics and unique elements.

We have never reviewed the Vallejo Avenas Chardonnay before so we start with this wine from a parcel in Venta del Moro (DO Utiel-Requena) which is on a plateau of chalky land, shallow poor soils, a mix of limestone, fine red sand and clay. They are however well oxigenated. Although well into the interior of Valencia the area is still influenced by the Mediterranean sea which together with sustainable agricultural practices gives a wine which they describe as having an elegant personality.

Planted in 2002 the plot is 2 Hectares, each producing around 40 Hectolitres at 700m above sea level.

The grapes are lightly pressed with only the first elements of the juice being used. Fermented in oak, the wine is kept on the lees for 5 months. They remain in 500 litre barrels for six months.

We tasted the 2020, a production limited to just 5967 bottles and an ABV of 13.5%. The wine is pale yellow in colour, very clean and brilliant in aspect. On the nose it is complex and quite intense. Initially green apple which gives way to mature white fruits, pineapple and citric notes.

In the mouth it is fresh on entry, and which has a good acidity, is well balanced, with a long dry finish. There is however also an unctuous element, a creaminess which fills the mouth and the fruit is more evident in the aftertaste. This is an elegant wine with a personality of its own which can be drunk now or which will certainly keep for a while due to its very solid, muscular structure.

Turning back to the presentation we began with the Cañada La Torre, from the Malvasia variety, not widely grown in Requena but which is capable of producing a range of versatile and different styles of wines. The plot of 2 Hectares is between Fuenterrobles and Utiel at 1000m above sea-level. Planted in 1995 these produce around 25 Hectolitres per Hectare. The soils are a sandy loam, the vines planted on trellis, trained as ‘Double Cordon Royal’ – a central trunk with a branch on either side and around 5 fruiting spurs on each, generally. There is a limited production of just under 4000 bottles and it has a 13%ABV.

The influences are identical and the plot is in the centre of a valley surrounded by almond and holm oak trees.

The wine is yellow in colour with bright green flashes, again the wine has a certain brilliance. On the nose it is very intense, a complex and frankly vast array of aromas which only increase as the wine is swirled in the glass with time! This provoked much comment from the specialists who were invited who identified lychee, peach, ripe red apple, orange flower and an afternote of nuts and raisins amongst others. We found initial notes of cats-pee and asparagus which passed quickly.

In the mouth it has a fresh acidity, is well balanced, full of complex flavours, aromatic, fat with a good volume during the pass and a very long finish with competing elements. To say this wine is very ‘original’ would be a gross understatement!

The second wine in the presentation was the red, CV05 which is Cabernet Sauvignon, from vines planted in 1996 on a plot of 4 Hectares and production of 30 Hectolitres per Hectare. The parcel is in the Finca del Serrano in DO Valencia and is therefore more affected by the Meditteranean with some influence from the mountains of the interior. The soils are sandy and good for the production of vines, granulated and well-drained.

.The wine undergoes the least possible intervention to preserve the potential of the soils. Fermented with their own natural yeasts with smooth pump-overs, the grapes are pressed after 15 days of maceration. Malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks before transfer with the lees and a further 4 months of rest before bottling.

The wine is a very Mediterranean rich Cabernet. Very deep, black cherry with a purple rim. Long slow legs.

A creaminess on the nose, fresh young red and black fruits and licorice, a touch of ash, tobacco and leather. 

Very big on entry, jammy fruit, butter, chocolate, cherries in licor. This wine has a solid structure, fruit, silky tannin and acidity but integrated, not lineal and a good lengthy mineral finish. it has 14.5%ABV. It needs a little time in bottle to show its full potential but as there are less than 5000 of these buy it quickly.

The presentation was followed by a buffet, an opportunity to try the wines at leisure on the hotels roof terrace and to catch up with colleagues who we haven’t seen for some time because of Covid. Our thanks to Murviedro for the invitation and congratulations on the excellent individual wines!