Viña Elena - Jumilla

This exceptional project is the personal brainchild of Elena Pacheco and Isio Ramos aimed at making 100% Monastrell wines from select DOP Jumilla vineyards.  Working organically and using winemaking techniques acquired from local viticulturists, they skillfully craft their wines to reach their full expression with regard to microclimate, soil, location, and the age of the vines.

Viña Elena Paraje Marín 2020

100% Monastrell (Mourvèdre) from 15-35 year-old organic vines planted at 1,200-1,300 feet elevation.  A combination of different plots, located in the Marin Valley, southern sub-zone of the DO Jumilla.  Limestone soils.  Dry Mediterranean climate.

Winemaking: Hand harvested in September 2020.  Fermented in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of 24-26 °C using natural yeasts.  Malolactic fermentation in concrete vat and aged in concrete for 7 months.  Bottled without clarification in June 2021.

Production: 1,000 cases

Viña Elena Paraje Marín 2022

100% Monastrell (Mourvèdre) from 15-35 year-old organic vines planted at 1,200-1,300 feet elevation.  A combination of different plots, located in the Marin Valley, southern sub-zone of the DO Jumilla.  Limestone soils.  Dry Mediterranean climate.

Winemaking: Hand harvested in September 2022.  Fermented in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of 24-26 °C using natural yeasts.  Malolactic fermentation in concrete vat and aged in concrete for 7 months.  Bottled unfined without cold stabilization in April 2023.

Production: 1,700 cases

Viña Elena Finca CQ 2022

100% Monastrell (Mourvèdre) from 32 year-old organic vines at 2,300 feet elevation planted on a single estate (Finca) named Casa Quemada (CQ).  Soils range from deep, sandy soils with organic matter and very little active lime to more robust, loamy soils with green marlstone, and even sandy, conglomerate limestone soils.  Dry Mediterranean climate.

Winemaking:  Hand harvested in September 2022. Fermented in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of 24-26 °C using natural yeasts. Malolactic fermentation and aging in used 500L French oak and concrete for 7 months. Bottled in May 2023.

Production: 850 cases

Viña Elena Paraje Las Chozas 2018

100% Monastrell (Mourvèdre) from 35-50 year-old organic vines at 1,950 feet elevation.  From the valley of "Las Chozas" located near the town of Tobarra in the northern part of DO Jumilla. Fresh chalky soils strewn with stones and some sandier areas. Mediterranean climate with continental character.

Winemaking: Hand harvested in September 2018. Fermented in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of 24-26 °C using natural yeasts. Aged in french oak foudre of 5,000 liters for 6 months. Bottled in June 2019.

Production: 1,050 cases

Viña Elena Paraje Las Encebras 2020 (Orange Wine)

100% Airén from organic vines planted between 1980-1986 at 1,100-1,200 feet elevation in the village of "Las Encebras". From a combination of different plots, located southern sub-zone of the DO Jumilla. Sandy soils and Mediterranean climate.

Winemaking: Hand harvested in September 2020. Fermented in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of 14-16 °C using natural yeasts. Maceration with the skins and whole bunches (less than 30%). Biological ageing in 20L glass demijohns for 10 months. Bottled in June 2021.

Production: 998 bottles

Peñín 90 - Viña Elena Paraje Marín 2020

Color:  Deep cherry.  Nose:  Ripe fruit, dried herbs.  Palate:  Ripe fruit, spicy, round tannins.

Peñín 92 - Viña Elena Finca CQ 2021

Color:  Cherry, purple rim.  Nose:  Fruit expression, red berry notes, floral, spicy.  Palate:  Flavorful, fruity, good acidity, long.

Peñín 90 - Viña Elena Paraje Las Chozas 2018

Color:  Deep cherry.  Nose:  Dried herbs, red berry notes, ripe fruit.  Palate:  Ripe fruit, spicy, fresh.

RP92 - Viña Elena Finca CQ 2020

Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

Issue Date: April 29, 2022

I love the floral nose of the new (at least to me) 2020 Bruma del Estrecho Finca CQ, pure Monastrell selected from different plots of the Casa Quemada property (CQ stands for Casa Quemada) with different soils and expositions at some 700 meters in altitude. It's very expressive and clean, aromatic and elegant with unnoticeable oak and a juicy medium to full-bodied palate with good ripeness and pleasant ripe flavors coupled with very fine chalky tannins. It matured in oak barrel for six months. 2,679 bottles produced.

RP91 - Viña Elena Paraje Las Encebras 2020

Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

Issue Date: April 29, 2022

The "orange" white 2020 Bruma del Estrecho Paraje Las Encebras has an amber color and an expressive nose redolent of quince paste, yellow flowers, earth and spices. It has moderate alcohol and a balanced palate with fine tannins and a tasty, dry and chalky finish.

RP90 - Viña Elena Parcela Vereda 2018

Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

Issue Date: September 10, 2020

The 2018 Bruma del Estrecho Parcela Vereda, from a plot that tends to deliver riper and darker wines, has notes of ripe black fruit and a spicy/smoky touch from the aging in second use 500-liter French oak barrels. There's a more pronounced earthiness that gives it a rustic profile. It's powerful and has abundant earthy tannins that called for food. 2,666 bottles were filled in October 2019.