Stratum Wines is a project from Bodega Cerrón in Jumilla, helmed by the fourth generation of the Cerdán family: siblings Carlos, Juanjo and Lucía. The family biodynamically farms about 30 hectares of high-altitude ungrafted vines, mostly Monastrell, on calcareous soils. Their farming was certified organic in 1989 and were certified biodynamic by Demeter in 2021. There are abundant cover crops in the vines, they work extensively with animals, and champion biodiversity. In the cellar, they work in a low-intervention style, with only spontaneous fermentations with native yeasts and mostly without oak influence. Sulfur is used judiciously and only at bottling. The results of this careful work are well-balanced wines that express a sense of place, with bright minerality that complements the pristine fruit.
The Wines
Maulao: 85% Monastrell, 15% Garnacha Tinta from own-rooted biodynamically farmed 25-50-year-old vines near Fuente-Álamo. The soils are calcareous sand and sandstone gravels at 820-920m above sea level. The grapes were harvested and fermented spontaneously by parcel in large open-top wood vats and barrels without temperature control. After fermentation, pressed by gravity to neutral oak barrels and foudres to complete malolactic conversion and rest for 12 months before bottling without fining or filtering.
Matas Altas: 90-95% Monastrell, with small amounts of Moravia Agria, Blanquilla, Forcallat, Bobal and Rojal from selected vineyards of old own-rooted vines at 900m above sea level. The soils are calcareous: mostly limestone, with a sandy texture. The grapes were mostly destemmedand fermented in wooden vats on their skins for about 2 weeks. After fermentation, the grapes were pressed and transferred to a large neutral French barrels to complete malolactic fermentation and rest without racking until bottled without fining or filtering.
La Servil: 90-95% Monastrell, with small amounts of Moravia Agria, Blanquilla, Forcallat, Bobal and Rojal from selected vineyards of 70+-year-old own-rooted vines at 900-960m above sea level. The soils are calcareous: mostly limestone gravels and sands.The grapes were mostly destemmed and fermented in wooden vats with their skins. Then, the grapes were pressed and transferred to a used French oak foudre and 500L used French oak barrels to complete malolactic fermentation and rest without racking for more than a year. Bottled without fining or filtering.
Los Yesares: 90-95% Monastrell, with small amounts of Moravia Agria, Blanquilla, Forcallat, Bobal and Rojal from the Las Pedreras vineyard of 70-year-old own-rooted vines at 960m above sea level on sandy calcareous soils. The grapes were mostly destemmed and fermented in small wooden vats on their skins in an infusion style with infrequent pump overs. Then, the grapes were pressed and transferred to 600L used French oak barrels to complete malolactic fermentation and rest without racking for more than a year. Bottled without fining or filtering.