2003 Juan Gil, Jumilla Red Wine, Spain
~$14.00
This was another birthday wine that I had with dinner. It is 100% Monastrell, more commonly known as Mourvedre. History says that the grape actually originated from Jumilla, Spain but it didn't become popular until the French started using it in their blends so it is now more commonly known by its French name. Robert Parker scored it at 91 points and at $14 its a real bargain.
Color: Dark inky purple with fine ruby red edges.
Nose: Dusty chocolate and leather characters with a complex tar aroma and a core of black currants and some other dark exotic fruit that I can't put a name to. It has a very intriguing bouquet that changes over time. To me that is a real sign of quality, it's not a one dimensional wine.
Palate: Big well structured tannin, full-bodied and hot alcohol on the finish. The tannin pops up everywhere on the palate but the flavor of the wine skips the mid-palate. You get loads of ripe tree fruit flavors up front with hot and spicy flavors from the 14.8% alcohol on the back but the mid palate just picks up a layer of tannin that makes your tongue tingle.
Overall: This was really tasty but it is better on its own than with food. The high alcohol makes it really spicy with any dish you try and serve it with but after dinner we finished the bottle because it tasted too good to put in the fridge.
I give it an A-
posted by David Ogilvie @ 1:41 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Your descriptions of the wine are really good and when you know where we can purchase the wine it would also be nice to know.
Hello anonymous, I have seen this wine in a few retail outlets in the Atlanta area over the past couple of months but I understand from a distributor that I have talked to recently that it is becoming sparse. I bought it at a Cost Plus World Market and now they are out too. In future, when reviewing a wine that is a little out of the ordinary I will go ahead and try to leave the name of the outlet that I purchased the wine at.
Killer juice! And it is going fast. Also, try the 2002 or 2003 Altos de Luzon ($17 in Ohio) while it lasts.
jens at cincinnati wine
I had the chance to taste the 2005 Juan Gil and I was impressed. You get a lot for $14 spent on this wine. The nose is just alluring, makes you sniff and sniff and sniff again. The tannins in the 2005 version are also well structured. Very exotic wine with a beautiful purple colour. The only thing that bothers me ( just a little bit ) is the hot alcohol on the back - 14.5% for the 2005 release. But you get a lot in this wine for 14 bucks. This is just one example of what Spain is capable of. Looking forward for other tasting notes on Spanish wines.
Ciprian, New York
aspiring sommelier
excelent wine for $14
I had the chance to try the 2005 version of Juan Gil, recommended by the distributors from Tempranillo, Inc in New Rochelle, NY
Like you said, the nose is just alluring, with that ripe black fruit and spices and leather and then on the palate layers upon layers of plums and black currants and spices again, a hint of tar...the only thing that bothers me a lil' bit is that high alcohol in the back of the throat...the tannins are there, nicely framing the fruit....a wine for corrida lovers
ciprian
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