Recommendation: A Spanish red that’s a quality wine at a SUPER bargain price.
Winery/Producer: Bodega Bernabeleva, Madrid, Spain.
Grape Variety: Grenache.
Geographic Region, Appellation: The San Martin subzone of the Madrid DO
Vintage: 2013
Price: $14.40
Purchased From: The Caviste Wine Shop; Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Paired With: Lentil soup with assorted cheeses and sliced fresh apple.
Tasting:
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He said: Opened 20-minutes before drinking. Clear, inky dark purple/garnet color with a slightly lighter rim. Light dark fruit and smoky wood aromas. Quite smooth, medium body and dry; spicy raspberry, current and cherry flavors and a long, slightly tart, finish that was loaded with chewy tannins and earthy fruit. Lots of spice, zip and layers of distinct flavors that paired very well with the cheese. The wine really opened up in the glass when exposed to air…at the end of each pour we both commented on how much it improved sitting in the glass. A Spanish red that’s a quality wine at a SUPER bargain price.
If I was blind tasting this I never would have said it was Grenache, primarily because of the light bouquet and the Pinot Noir or even Beaujolais taste; but it clearly didn’t look anything like either of those.
She said: Dark garnet red with a slight brown rim, numerous well spaced stout slow moving legs. Mild fruity aroma with hints of spice leading to a flavorful, dry mouth-feel with a hefty body and moderate tannins. The finish was long dominated by tannins rather than flavors . The wine was a bit rough at the beginning but smoothed out over the course of the dinner. The lentil soup was poor with the wine but the cheeses were delicious probably because of the acidity of the wine. Apples did not help the wine at all but it was delicious with the cheese. An excellent buy and bargain wine at only $14.40 and I wold recommend it and buy it again.
Alcohol: 13.5%
UPC Code: 8 437011 795038
Imported by: The Rare Wine Co.; Vineburg, California.
Photo from Bodega Bernabeleva.