2021 Bodegas Familia Bastida Genio Espanol Monastrell Roble Jumilla 750 ml

In nice, ordinary conditions, the Monastrell (Mourvèdre) grape gives nice, ordinary wines.

But starve the vine of water and nutrients, ripen it under 3,000 hours of sunshine, force its roots to dig through raw rock—that’s when something extraordinary occurs.

Monastrell’s ability to turn suffering into sublimity is why Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Bandol powerhouses like Château de Beaucastel and Domaine Tempier are built on the grape. And it’s a big reason why the 2021 Bodegas Familia Bastida Genio Espanol Monastrell Roble Jumilla is such a superstar.

From a 155-year-old, family-run estate, grown on coveted plots in Jumilla that sit at up to 2,900 feet in elevation, this rich, floral-toned Monastrell won a whopping 96 points at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards. It’s the perfect rustic but elegant old-vine red to have close by, whether it’s the dead of winter or grilling season!

Bodegas Familia Bastida is an institution in Jumilla, which has become one of Spain’s most talked-about regions. Jumilla’s drought-resistant, bush-grown Monastrell is now a “monster hit” according to The Guardian while Josh Raynolds has advised that ““Insane value” isn’t far off the mark” when it comes to bang-for-buck return.

2021 presented a rare opportunity for the Bastida family to craft wines that showcased not only the inky depths these vines can achieve, but also the freshness and even classical balance that the most sensitive producers are attuned to. It was one of the largest harvests in recent memory, which enabled more gradual ripening, opening the door for greater purity and poise.