Saturday, June 14, 2008

Jumilla, Luzon Verde 2005

This wine is one of a number of very good, inexpensive Spanish Monastrell wines on the market today. Others I have tried and enjoyed include Yecla Castano and Yecla Carro. All are widely available for less than $8.

100 percent Monastrell (Mourvedre) grown organically, Luzon Verde is apparently another product of traditional vines and know how combined with contemporary technology and marketing savvy. The wine is dark, purplish as you would expect from young Mourvedre. Smells and flavors are a bit reduced, coughing for air. When you swirl the glass or let it sit for a few minutes, lovely aromas of violets, blueberries, cherries and warm spices come out to tease you. The smells and flavors seem intense but rather muted as if they are covered by a thin cloth. That's young Mourvedre. I've heard it said that the grape's profile fluctuates between violets and tree bark. I find some of both here, and I like it. The winemakers of all three of these Spanish wines--Castano, Carro and Verde--have done a good job of highlighting the attractive features of young Mourvedre. Of the three, I think I prefer the Castano; all are very good.

9 comments:

  1. Very nice surprise. Picked up a bottle of this for a little inexpensive spanish wine, and was happily surprised. Very full, satisfying wine for the price, with hints of cherries and berries.

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  2. I just opened the bottle of 07' I LOVE this. I tried it during a wine class at the French Cul. Institute.. My boyfriend, who is from France, has a pretty developed taste.. Anyway-- Very berry and floral nose.. cherries, black berries... dark yummy berries... maybe violet?? lavender?? dark purple. had a bit of sediment in the glass on the first glass.. wish i would have decanted really... (i enjoy this sometimes) tastes fruity too! some spice and maybe wood or moss?? Is that possible? Mmm.. yummy and cheap!

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  3. Hey, you're good at this Frances. It's been awhile since I tried this wine, but I think you've picked up on the same qualities that attracted me.

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  4. Thanks! I was given the full set of the different oils to play with to help me understand the diff aromas in the wines...

    I am going to buy a few more bottles of this today :) I want one for now.. one for six months.. one for a year and to how it changes. It's so inexpensive-- Why not?

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  5. Hey, that's the way to start a cellar. You learn a lot by watching how the wine develops over a few months or a few years. Some people are afraid to do that with an inexpensive wine, but all wines grow to some degree.

    Have you ever had a mature Mourvedre? Unfortunately, I've never tasted a Bandol (the gold standard for Mourvedre) in its prime, but there are some Southern Rhones with a high percentage of Mourvedre such as Domaine Sainte Anne's Cotes du Rhone Villages Saint Gervais. And, of course, Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape. At 12 years of age or longer, they become hauntingly spicy in a way that's hard to explain. And also hard to forget.

    I doubt that Luzon Verde or Castano have that kind of staying power. But maybe.

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  6. I just looked back to some notes and I did try a La Bernardine Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2005... Had it 1-10-09..

    Nose-- Black Currant, Black Berry, black Cherry, coffee. Maybe Cumin??
    Taste--Musty Mushroom, lilac, spicy sage. Delish!

    Dry, Med Acid, Med Tanin, Med-Long finish... Prune color

    I loved this. I am having trouble remembering at the moment so I'm glad I have the notes!! lol.

    Had a 2005 Mourverde from Preston, Dry Creek in February.. Not a lot on the notes.. Black fruits, spice.. Good. Leave in bottle for one-two more years.

    I like Preston a lot. Organic and family run. They have an exquisite blend called Madam Preston. Wish I'd have bought more bottles... 55% Rousanne, 26% Viognier, 12% Grenache Blanc and 7% Marsanne... Heaven in a bottle for 30 bucks!

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  7. You clearly have a lot of experience. Excuse me if I've been talking down to you.

    I used to buy Preston wines years ago and will have to start looking for them again.

    I have a note here on the Cline Contra Costa Mourvedre. And I always like the wines of Edmunds St. John, such as Rocks and Gravel (30% Mourvedre). In my view, Steve Edmunds is one of the few New World winemakers who really understands how to deal with Mourvedre and Grenache.

    I'd be happy to have you post your own notes here, Frances. I don't know exactly what the blog site allows, but if you email me the note (fmctaggart@charter.net), I will post it for you.

    Thanks for your comments.

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  8. Mature Bandol is Heaven!
    This is real MVD!

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  9. I hope to have some Bandol Heaven before I die. In the meantime, I'll settle for mature Beaucastel and Domaine Sainte Anne Saint Gervais. Do you think the Luzon Verde will age well?

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