The story of one of the most emblematic wines, “Altos de Luzón”

One of the most emblematic wines Bodegas Luzón is undoubtedly Altos de Luzón. Now a symbol of the DOP Jumilla that a few months ago, in the presentation of the new 2019 vintage, we had the opportunity to travel through time in an unprecedented vertical tasting, where we were able to taste the 2003, 2005, 2014, 2017 and of course, the new vintage of Altos de Luzón 2019 (you can read about it here).

Altos de Luzón, together with Alma de Luzón were the first bets of our winery to create wines of reference, which marked the quality of the wines at a time of change for Bodegas Luzón, where we left aside the sale of bulk wines, so deeply rooted in the Jumilla area during the 80s and 90s, to create our own brand, and a quality wine, Altos de Luzón.

Thus began the first vintage of Altos de Luzón in 2000. The name, which was clear from the beginning, refers to the Monastrell vineyards of our winery located in the high altitudes of the Jumilla PDO, between 650 and 700 meters above sea level, in a purely Mediterranean landscape, with calcareous soils, a large temperature oscillation between day and night and a very low level of rainfall throughout the year, which ensures a land where the Monastrell shows its best version, grapes of small size, but full of flavor and flavor.

Until 2017 and the complete change of direction we gave to the wine, Altos de Luzón had a triple blending, where although our native grape occupied the highest percentage, we also added Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, grapes with a gentler character than Monastrell that gave the wine a different character and notes, which added to the year of aging in French and American barrels, made Altos de Luzón a very perfumed, rounded wine that delighted both critics and audiences.

However, with a whole team passionate about challenges and nonconformity, we decided to carry out a complete remodeling, both inside and out, of Altos de Luzón in its 2017 vintage. We abandoned the Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo varieties and worked on a 100% Monastrell wine, with the idea of making a wine that would represent the tradition and wine-making history of Jumilla. We started a completely sustainable and organic winemaking process, resulting, since the 2018 vintage, in an organic wine suitable for vegan consumption, where the Monastrell is the absolute protagonist of a wine full of character, very perfumed and that does not leave indifferent.

In its presentation and label, this homage to our land, to Jumilla, a land that looks harsh and rugged but hides real treasures if worked properly. A tribute to our vineyards marked by altitude in one of the most characteristic and representative wines of our winery and that can be found in restaurants in the most important cities of the world.