Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $19.97
The Monastrell grape, as it is known in Spain, is the same as France’s Mourvedre, the defining grape of Bandol which is Provence’s best red wine. Jumilla, located just inland of Valencia on the Mediterranean coast, is Spain’s sweet spot for Monastrell which is a slow-ripening grape that needs heat to thrive. For economic and political reasons, Jumilla has rarely been grown and vinified to its full potential and, instead, made in a cheap and hearty style. Now, however, a new generation of winemakers are rethinking things and aiming at a much higher quality level. The Cerdan brothers of Stratum are leading the way and this wine is proof that they’re on the right path. Full-bodied, with an elegant complexity and layered tannic structure which keeps the flavors going endlessly, this is a world-class wine from a region just beginning to realize its potential. Drink this with roasted, braised or smoked red meats and beans and stews.
