winemaker's notes:
This wine is made from a combination of the most widely planted local grape variety called Monastrell (50%); barrel aged Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and Shiraz (30%). Monastrell is a sexy grape that originated in the South of France but has flourished in this region of Spain, South East of Madrid, due to the warm weather that fosters the late ripening period of this particular varietal. 2003 was hot as hell in Jumilla, the hottest on record in fact. The harvest was moved up by 15 days to accommodate for the weather, also breaking records. The result is a wonderfully ripe, high quality wine that proudly represents this emerging growing area in Spain. The Monastrell grape brings raspberry, loganberry and mulberry flavors to the palate while the Shiraz carries white pepper notes. The Cabernet provides the backbone to the wine with a soft, round mouth feel and a sweet mid-palate.
user reviews:
The top 3 most liked reviews for this wine.
A Customer - Seattle WA
This is our new favorite wine. We had never tried a Monastrell- based wine before and now we are sold. There are lots of great Monastrells from Jumilla these days but we particularly like the balance that this wine has with the addition of Shiraz and Cabernet. You can't beat this wine with great steak dinner and it is quickly becoming our favorite pizza wine as well. We always keep a case on hand as we get rave reviews when we bring it as a gift to friends.
A Customer - Purdue University
Based on the American Wine Society wine evaluation chart, (available at their website) also used at Purdue University for the Wine Appriciation course, which was started by Dr. Richard Vine Enologist and Grand Master of the largest wine competition in the US in Indianapolis. Appearance (3 points max) I give a 1, which is poor, because of a slight browning around the edges of the glass. Aroma/Boquet (max 6) I give a 5, which is excellent, there are hints of cherry, carmel, toasted marshmellow, rose, dried herb, and oak. Taste/Texture (max 6) I give a 5, which is excellent, the first flavor is like a slightly under-ripe cherry (a bit tart, which could be accounted for by the early harvest), with a bit of pepper, cedar, and a hint of vanilla. The texture is a little thin, a bit thicker than water. Aftertaste (max 3) I give a 2, which is good, it last for about a minute to a minute and a half, it is oaky and herby whith a hint of orange. Overall Impression (max 2) I give a 2, which is exellent, because the aromas and flavors are complex and the aftertaste is longlasting and tasty, despite the fact that the appearance is a bit sub-par. Total Score (max 20) I give a 15, which is right at the bottom of the excellent range (15-17).
