Taja Bodega Serie Green 2019
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Wilfred
Wong
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Winemaker Notes
The Taja vineyard is like a green oasis in the desert of Jumilla. This certified Organic wine is made from a blend of Monastrell and Grenache. This fresh bright wine is velvety smooth with complex and deep flavors of plum and licorice.
A perfect pairing with grilled meats, BBQ, or burgers.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Taja Serie Green is an authentic and spot-on red. TASTING NOTES: This wine excels with aromas and flavors of black fruit, earth, and clean rusticity. Enjoy it with a savory lamb stew. (Tasted: January 1, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
The history of Taja wines can be traced back to 1987 with the Maison Mähler-Besse. This highly innovative négociant recognized the excellence of the Jumilla terroir which is an oasis nestled among arid lands in the region of Murcia, in southeastern Spain. Taja is situated not far from the Alhama de Murcia fault, one of the most seismic regions in Spain. Its wines are particularly expressive of their terroir and extreme climatic and geological conditions. All Taja vines benefit from a dry and sunny continental climate with Mediterranean influences, featuring hot days and cool nights. The terroir consists of clay-limestone and gravelly soil. The grapes are harvested into small bins.
Monastrell is a traditional vine type from the region of Jumilla. Indeed, this type of vine is very well adapted to the rigorous climatic conditions of the Jumilla region. With very hot summers and particularly cold winters, the Jumilla region is very well suited to organic vine growing. All the wines from Taja are produced from 100% Monastrell and are hand harvested and very naturally processed. Jumilla is regarded by Robert Parker “as one of the most important wine-making revelations of the last twenty-five years.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Famous for the robust and earthy, black-fruit dominated, Monastrell (known as Mourvedre in France), Jumilla is an arid and hot region in southeastern Spain. Its vine yields tend to be torturously low but this can create wines of exceptional intensity and flavor. Quality combined with accessible price points give the region great recognition on international markets far and wide.
The reds from Jumilla are heady and spicy, packed with fruit and show aromas of dried licorice and herbs. If you like Syrah, Grenache or Pinot noir, a red wine from Jumilla would be a perfect next choice!