Description

(+) de 50 by Tarima | DO Alicante, Spain

(+) de 50 by Tarima is a powerful yet elegant Monastrell from Bodegas Volver, made from a single old-vine parcel in the heart of Alicante. The wine comes from La Cruz, a vineyard in El Rodriguillo planted at approximately 670 metres above sea level and recognised under the exclusive Alicante Singular category.

The vineyard contains Monastrell vines more than 50 years old, trained as traditional bush vines and grown under strict dry-farming conditions. Their roots push deep into limestone-rich soils with very little organic matter, while the Mediterranean climate and low rainfall naturally limit yields and produce small, concentrated berries.

The team harvests the grapes by hand during the first week of October and selects only the best bunches. They place the fruit into small 5 kg boxes and transport it quickly to the winery, just two kilometres away. After another selection at the winery, the grapes undergo a gentle maceration in open vats before fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts.

The wine then spends 10 months in French oak barrels, where it also completes malolactic fermentation. The oak adds depth and complexity without overpowering the distinctive character of the old-vine Monastrell.

In the glass, (+) de 50 delivers ripe red fruit, spice and fresh balsamic notes, with subtle oak in the background. The palate feels silky and concentrated, with fine, creamy tannins, elegant tension and a long finish where chocolate, liquorice and fresh fruit gradually emerge.

This is a serious Alicante Monastrell with depth, elegance and a strong sense of place — a wine that shows exactly why old-vine Monastrell remains one of the great treasures of the region.

🍇 Key Details

• Region: DO Alicante  (Spain)
• Grape: 100% Monastrell
• Vineyard: Single parcel “La Cruz”, El Rodriguillo, 50 years old, altitude around 670 meters
• Farming: Dry-farmed
• Harvest: Hand-harvested in 5 kg boxes
• Fermentation: Open vats with indigenous yeasts
• Ageing: 10 months in French oak
• Alcohol: 15% Vol.
• Production: Limited and certified – 15,000 bottles
• Style: Concentrated, silky, elegant
• Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
• Contains Sulfites

🍷 Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Intense, bright red
• Aroma: Ripe red fruit, spice and fresh balsamic notes with subtle oak in the background
• Palate: Silky and concentrated with fine, creamy tannins, elegant structure and a long finish of fruit, chocolate and liquorice

🍽 Food Pairing

• Grilled red meats
• Slow-cooked lamb
• Mediterranean stews
• Roasted vegetables
• Mature cheeses
• Rich rice dishes

💎 Why We Love It

Old-vine Monastrell at its best — concentrated and powerful, yet surprisingly elegant. The combination of altitude, dry farming and old vines gives this wine real depth without losing freshness.

About the Producer

Bodegas Volver is based in Pinoso, Alicante, and forms part of the wine projects led by winemaker Rafael Cañizares. The winery focuses strongly on traditional Spanish varieties, old vineyards and distinctive Mediterranean terroirs, with Monastrell playing a central role in its Alicante wines.

The vineyards around Pinoso sit at considerable altitude and experience a dry Mediterranean climate with low rainfall and large temperature differences between day and night. These conditions allow Monastrell to ripen fully while retaining freshness and aromatic complexity.

For (+) de 50, the winery selected the exceptional La Cruz parcel in El Rodriguillo. The vineyard sits at 670 metres above sea level and contains bush-trained Monastrell vines more than 50 years old. Strict dry farming and poor limestone soils naturally keep yields low, giving the grapes remarkable concentration and character.

The wine belongs to Alicante Singular, a special category within DO Alicante created to highlight individual vineyards, local varieties and wines with an especially strong sense of origin.

(+) de 50 represents exactly that philosophy — one old vineyard, one native grape and a style designed to express the character of the parcel rather than hide it behind winemaking.

Explore more in our Red wine collection.