The producer
Bodegas Bleda is a family bodega in Jumilla, Murcia, founded by Antonio Bleda in 1915. Four generations of wine producers have operated the company. Pino Doncel carries the red wines, while Castillo de Jumilla is the historic flagship brand with white and Reserva expressions. Bodegas Bleda was the first bodega in Jumilla to bottle its own produce, and Oro Viejo won the Gold Medal at the Barcelona Universal Exposition in 1929.
Known for
Pino Doncel reds and Castillo de Jumilla wines
Notable facts
- Founded in 1915 by Antonio Bleda.
- Four generations of family wine producers have operated Bodegas Bleda.
- Bodegas Bleda was the first bodega in Jumilla to bottle its own produce.
- Oro Viejo won the Gold Medal at the Barcelona Universal Exposition in 1929.
From the atlas
Bodegas Bleda
Bodegas Bleda is a family operation in Jumilla spanning four generations, with Pino Doncel reds and Castillo de Jumilla wines.
At A Glance
| Field | Detail |
| Region | Murcia, Spain |
| Appellation | Jumilla |
| Main red line | Pino Doncel |
| Historic brand | Castillo de Jumilla |
| Featured bottle | Pino Doncel Black |
| Defining feature | First bodega in Jumilla to bottle its own produce |
The Producer
Pino Doncel and Castillo de Jumilla divide Bodegas Bleda's labels. Pino Doncel is the red line, while Castillo de Jumilla is the historic flagship brand with white and Reserva expressions. The two names cover the house's red and white bottles.
Place
Jumilla appears as the appellation on Pino Doncel Vintage and Castillo de Jumilla Blanco, placing the range in Murcia, Spain. Castillo de Jumilla takes its name from the emblematic castle monument in Jumilla. The use of that name was secured before the Spanish Civil War, and the local landmark is part of the brand wording.
Story
In 1915 Antonio Bleda laid the foundations of the current company from a small family business that made wine and oil. He put the bodega's own produce into bottle, making Bodegas Bleda the first bodega in Jumilla to do so. The range includes wines under the Pino Doncel and Castillo de Jumilla names.
Vineyards And Cellar
The oak aged Pino Doncel expression combines Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon and spends time in French and American oak. Oak ageing brings gradual oxygen contact and can add vanilla and cacao notes while softening tannin. In this expression, the oak is well integrated.
Wines
The Pino Doncel line is divided into Black, 12 Months and 24 Months, with Pino Doncel Vintage also carrying Jumilla on the label. Black is the named red expression without a month count, while the other two labels state ageing periods. Castillo de Jumilla covers Blanco and Reserva, a white wine and a red Castillo de Jumilla bottle under the historic brand. Oro Viejo is another named wine in the house's range.
In The Glass
The shorter aged Pino Doncel red is deep cherry red in the glass. Its aromas are intense and complex, led by sweet spices and ripe fruit. The palate brings oak derived spice, fruit and ripe tannins, with good volume through the finish.
Castillo de Jumilla Blanco is straw yellow with a bright green tint. Its nose combines complex herbs and green fruit. The palate is gentle and fresh, with persistent fruit and aroma that returns after the sip.
Castillo de Jumilla Reserva is cherry coloured with ruby undertones and dense tears. The bouquet combines red berries, stewed fruit and toasted aromas with well balanced spiced wood notes. Soft tannins and pleasant acidity shape the palate.
A Bottle To Understand It
Pino Doncel Black is the first bottle to open. It is a red wine in the Pino Doncel line, bright cherry red in the glass, with great aromatic intensity and red fruit, sweetness and spice. The palate is very jammy, with good body and roundness. The label carries the Pino Doncel name without a month count, separating Black from the month marked bottles in the same line.
Anecdote
In 1902, the Oro Viejo solera began. A solera blends portions of older wine with younger wine through successive withdrawals. Each withdrawal leaves part of the older wine in the system for the next blending, so the date marks a cellar history rather than one harvest. The method can preserve continuity across releases while allowing younger wine to enter the system. In 1929, Oro Viejo won the Gold Medal at the Barcelona Universal Exposition. Oro Viejo is a named Bodegas Bleda wine.
Final Word
Jumilla's Bodegas Bleda bottles Pino Doncel reds and Castillo de Jumilla wines across red and white expressions.
Sources
- https://www.bodegasbleda.com/en/
- https://rutadelvinojumilla.com/bodegas-bleda/
- https://murciatoday.com/jumilla-wine-route-bodegas-bleda_33389-a.html
- https://bodegasbleda.com/en/producto/pino-doncel-24-months/
- https://bodegasbleda.com/en/producto/pino-doncel-12-months/
- https://bodegasbleda.com/en/producto/pino-doncel-black-en/
- https://bodegasbleda.com/en/producto/castillo-de-jumilla-blanco-en/
- https://www.bodegasbleda.com/en/vinos/castillo-de-jumilla-reserva/