Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Juan Gil Monastrell

Juan Gil
Monastrell
Jumilla, Spain
2004
14%
$18.99 -- Wine Pro, Paducah, KY

Color: Deep ruby red
Nose: Spicy cherry, tarragon
Body: Stout
Front: Tannins with blueberries wrapped in sawdust
Middle: Walnuts; after being open awhile it gets chocolatey
Back: Spicy oak; palo verde branches
Burns clean?: Yes
Cap: Cork

It's not quite like being in Spain. Not leathery dirt and smoked prunes and corky olives. But this wine is structured, seductive, evolutionary, and just plain tasty. We had it with chili and a spinach salad and it went well with both. What do you mean, you've never chewed on palo verde branches?