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We sat down with Juan José Cerdan, Ilaria Martini and Carlos Garcia to taste some of the new bottlings of Bodega Cerron. This is a Jumilla estate. This is a Fuente-Alamo estate. They feel their provenance demands more than just being under the Jumilla blanket. Yes they do Monastrell really well as it is expected in these parts, but Bodega Cerron is so much more. Of course, I am biased.

2017 El Tiempo Que Nos Une, Merlot.

The time that unites us. While limestone is the song that Cerron sings, this is one of the reds that grows on sandy and clay soil. The other is their Chardonnay. This is all about fruit. The wine we tasted was just bottled a month ago and was quite closed when we opened it. An hour later, it opened up to reveal red berries, violets and some toffee! This is a crowd pleaser of a wine, but like the vintages before this is a serious wine.

2016 El Tiempo Que Nos Une, Monastrell.

I thought the label might be confusing as it could be seen as either Merlot or Monastrell. Maybe not. But the wines couldn’t be more different and not just in the variety. This is unabashedly Monastrell. This was mostly fermented in concrete although some of the wine from this vintage spent time in clay amphoras. A powerful wine that is ready to drink now. But, it’s age, limestone provenance and low yield promises many years in the bottle. Sourced from ungrafted vines 60 – 80 years old. For those who wants to know more, Monastrell is  Spanish for Mourvedre. You see why it is, what it is?

2014 Remordimiento Red.

This is an extremely likable  blend of Petit Verdot, Cencibel (aka Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Big red fruits that is so drinkable now, but will age really well as well. One of those wines, where you are tempted to keep refilling the glass. Maybe this was designed to be an easy drinking wine, but has terrific complexity. Bodega Cerron takes their “entry level” wines seriously.

2015 El Sentido de la Vida.

2015 was a tough vintage where almost 80% of the fruit was lost due to 4 separate storms. But what was left on the vines was great fruit. Beautiful nose of cedar, eucalyptus and mint. Always a delicious wine. Where the matriarch is placed on the label, the wine better be fly! This delivers.

2016 Rabia.

This is the flagship wine of Bodega Cerron. 100% Petit Verdot. It spends 14-16 months in 10,000 Liter foudres. This is a rich luxurious wine with notes of chocolate, fine cigars and red and blue berries. The tannins are fine. If drinking today, decant for an hour or two or more. Spectacular!

2017 Chardonnay.

We tasted this, but no notes were taken as we were having a great time with Juan José, Carlos and Ilaria over lunch The Todo Sobre Mi is a crisp fruit forward steel fermented Chard. Lovely food wine.

The wines we tasted featured the new labels which are still awaiting approval from the USA label certification folks. Soon…. Until then check out our shop to explore the wines of Bodega Cerron.