Monastrell, the principal grape grown in Spain’s eastern coastal region, is one of the best native varieties. Its old, dry-farmed vineyards are a unique and highly valuable asset. These vines have produced Mira Salinas 2018, a wine that’s been barrel aged for 14 months and is full of varietal expression.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
100% Monastrell
Type of barrel
225-litre medium-toast French oak barrels
Type of bottle
Truncated cone
Barrel aging time
14 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Total acidity (g/l)
5.7
Sugar
1.1
pH
3.49
Alcohol content (% vol.)
15
General Information
Mira Salinas 2018 is a Monastrell from a year that was rainier than usual. This caused the grapes to ripen more slowly and produced fresh and fruity wines with a great tannic balance. The grapes were picked by hand and thoroughly selected both in the vineyard and again on sorting tables in the winery. The firm employs a gravity-flow system, with malolactic fermentation in stainless steel vats and ageing in new 225- and 500-litre medium-heavy-toasted French oak barrels for 14 months. After blending, the resulting wine was further matured in the bottle for at least two years.
Of the wineries that have emerged in recent years, Bodegas Sierra Salinas is among those that have contributed the most to the D.O. Alicante’s acknowledged rise in quality. The Castaño family (Bodegas Castaño) started up Sierra Salinas in 2006 after five years’ work, purchasing vineyards in the foothills of the Sierra de Salinas – after which the firm is named – and building innovative facilities. In 2018 Bodegas Sierra Salinas was acquired by the MGWines group (who also own Bodegas Estefanía in the D.O. Bierzo and Bodegas Lavia in the D.O. Bullas, among others).
Bodega Sierra Salinas is based in an exceptional location next to Murcia, on an estate where the vines are cultivated using organic practices and grow alongside almond and olive trees on slopes at an altitude of nearly 700 metres. The facilities, equipped with cutting-edge technology and a gravity-flow system, are situated beside the vineyards. The grapes are treated with loving care and utmost respect to extract all their properties. The firm only uses French oak barrels, which are kept in an underground cellar where its wines are aged under optimum conditions.
The red Mira Salinas 2018 (D.O. Alicante) is ideal with meat dishes such as rabbit chasseur or roast chicken with potatoes
Creators' opinion
Deep maroon colour. Notes of black fruit, hints of spice with touches of dark chocolate and nuts. Fresh and delicate palate with smooth tannins coasted in subtle woody notes and a long, balanced finish.
The winery
Bodegas Sierra Salinas is one of the projects that have emerged in recent years and has most contributed to the qualitative growth now recognized in the D.O. Alicante. The journey of Sierra Salinas began in 2006, led by the Castaño family (Bodegas Castaño), after five years of work, the purchase of vineyards on the slopes of the Sierra de Salinas - which gives the winery its name - and the construction of an innovative winery. In 2013, Bodegas Sierra Salinas was acquired by the MGWines group (also the owner of Bodegas Estefanía in the D.O. Bierzo and Bodegas Lavia in the D.O. Bullas, among others).
The Sierra Salinas winery is located in an exceptional setting, bordering Murcia; on an estate where the vineyards are cultivated following organic viticulture principles and coexist with almond trees, olive trees, and hillsides at almost 700 meters above sea level. It comprises 51 hectares of vineyards, mostly monastrell (the queen grape of southeastern Spain), from old vines with limited yields that grow on limestone soils. Additionally, the winery cultivates cabernet sauvignon, alicante bouschet, and petit verdot varieties.
Next to the vineyard, there is a technological winery where all processes are carried out using gravity. A carefully crafted and highly respectful production process allows the grape to express itself to the fullest. For aging, the winery exclusively uses French oak barrels, which rest in an underground cellar where the wines mature under optimal natural conditions.
The Sierra Salinas winery is located in an exceptional setting, bordering Murcia; on an estate where the vineyards are cultivated following organic viticulture principles and coexist with almond trees, olive trees, and hillsides at almost 700 meters above sea level. It comprises 51 hectares of vineyards, mostly monastrell (the queen grape of southeastern Spain), from old vines with limited yields that grow on limestone soils. Additionally, the winery cultivates cabernet sauvignon, alicante bouschet, and petit verdot varieties.
Next to the vineyard, there is a technological winery where all processes are carried out using gravity. A carefully crafted and highly respectful production process allows the grape to express itself to the fullest. For aging, the winery exclusively uses French oak barrels, which rest in an underground cellar where the wines mature under optimal natural conditions.