2005 Castillo De Jumilla Monastrell
I’m on this Spanish wine kick still and continuing in that vein, I picked up this bottle of 100% monastrell (or mourvèdre as they call it in France) from producer Bodegas Bleda at Esquin Wine Merchants for only $6 on sale. Mouvèdre is generally blended with other types of grapes so I was surprised to see it sold as a single varietal. I didn’t have high hopes for such an inexpensive bottle but once again, Spanish wines surprise me.
An unfiltered ruby red color in the glass, it had some earthy notes along with the fresh raspberry and cherry notes. On the palette, it had nice acidity and was well structured yet light-bodied with crisp berry flavors and a touch of spice. Not a long finish but warm which could be from the 14% alcohol. Since it lacks any oak aging, it’s not as complex as some more expensive wines but it compensates with a lively fruit freshness that goes well with chicken, pork or semi-soft cheeses. And for under $10, it’s a great buy.
I’m a litte hesitant to write about this wine because I kind of hope that Spanish wines stay under the radar. Once people realize just how good they can be, the demand will surely raise prices. For those of us who already know and appreciate Spanish wines, this wine is a pleasant surprise from an unlikely grape variety. Who knew?
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