The brighter, white expression of Monastrell
Noumon 2025 is a white wine from Alicante made predominantly from Monastrell, a grape variety usually associated with red wines. Here, it is vinified as a white to reveal a lesser-known side: fresh, delicate and precise, with the natural tension provided by high-altitude vineyards in Alto Vinalopó.
Its blend combines 90% Monastrell and 10% Merseguera. The former contributes Mediterranean identity and structure, while Merseguera complements the wine’s fresh, food-friendly profile. Rather than reproducing the character of a conventional white wine, it broadens the way in which this deeply south-eastern Spanish grape variety can be understood.
Monastrell vinified as a white wine
The distinctive character of this wine begins with its conception. Although Monastrell is a red grape variety, its pulp is pale. To produce a white wine, the juice must be separated quickly from the skins to prevent any significant extraction of colour.
In Noumon 2025, this approach preserves the identity of the variety while presenting it in a different style. Monastrell appears less ripe and full-bodied, offering a more restrained, vibrant and contemporary expression. Freshness and acidity take centre stage without sacrificing its Mediterranean origins.
The grapes are harvested early. This decision preserves their natural acidity and prevents excessive ripening. In a warm region such as Alicante, choosing the correct harvesting date is particularly important for maintaining balance, tension and precision.
High-altitude old vines in Beneixama
The grapes come from a selected plot of old vines in Beneixama, within the Alto Vinalopó area. The vineyard lies on clay soils and naturally produces Monastrell grapes with high acidity and excellent balance.
These conditions make it possible to create a fresher expression of the variety. The altitude and the characteristics of the plot help preserve the grapes’ vitality, an essential quality in a white wine produced in a Mediterranean region.
Selecting a specific plot also brings coherence to the wine. This is not simply a matter of vinifying Monastrell without its skins, but of choosing fruit capable of supporting this particular style. Natural acidity, vineyard balance and early harvesting are all part of the same objective: to produce a clean, refined white wine with a distinctive identity.
Finca Collado thus presents a new interpretation of a grape variety it has worked with for many years, focusing on one of its least familiar profiles.
Free-run juice and exceptionally gentle pressing
After harvesting, the grapes undergo exceptionally gentle pressing in a vertical press. Only the free-run juice is used: the fraction obtained under the lowest pressure, prized for its purity and finesse.
This method limits the extraction of compounds from the skins and other solid parts of the grapes. In a white wine made from a red grape variety, careful control of the pressing process is essential to preserve its colour, avoid harsh sensations and maintain a clean expression.
Using only free-run juice also reinforces Noumon’s delicate character. The aim is not to extract the maximum possible yield from the grapes, but to select the finest fraction of the juice to create a precise and balanced wine.
Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature. This preserves the wine’s aromatic expression, varietal identity and natural tension. The temperature remains stable to encourage a clean fermentation and prevent the loss of its freshest nuances.
A Mediterranean white wine made for the table
Noumon 2025 is conceived as a gastronomic wine. Its acidity and restrained profile allow it to accompany a wide range of dishes without overwhelming the palate. It can be served as an aperitif, although it truly comes into its own with food, where its freshness helps balance saline, rich or mildly spicy flavours.
We recommend serving it chilled, but not excessively cold. Too low a temperature can restrict its expression and conceal the texture of the Monastrell. The bottle should ideally be opened a few minutes before serving and poured into a sufficiently generous white wine glass.
Its character makes it particularly well suited to:
- Mediterranean rice dishes with fish, seafood or vegetables.
- Baked or grilled fish, or fish served with light sauces.
- Salt-cured specialities, preserved seafood and maritime-style appetisers.
- White meats, poultry and vegetable dishes.
- Mild or medium-mature cheeses.
It can also be an interesting pairing for moderately spicy Asian cuisine. Its freshness helps cleanse the palate, while its structure ensures that the wine is not overwhelmed by aromatic ingredients.
A vintage that reveals another side of Alicante
This wine is aimed both at those seeking distinctive white wines from Alicante and at Monastrell enthusiasts interested in discovering the variety beyond its usual style. Its appeal lies not only in the unusual practice of vinifying a red grape as a white wine, but also in the coherence between the vineyard, harvesting date and winemaking process.
At Licorea, we believe that Noumon 2025 offers a particularly interesting perspective on contemporary Mediterranean wines. It maintains a strong connection with its place of origin, but expresses it through freshness, acidity and precision rather than ripeness or power.
It is an excellent bottle for a special meal, a tasting of Mediterranean grape varieties or a comparison of different interpretations of Monastrell. Its production begins with a specific vineyard plot, uses only free-run juice and reveals one of the least familiar expressions of this Alicante grape variety.
