Monte Ducay Reserva – Trader Joe’s Strikes Again

BULK BUY!

A blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon from Carinena, Aragon, Spain.

Available exclusively at Trader Joe’s for $6.99. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

“Monte Ducay vineyard is located in a beautiful landscape, with stony, sandy and light soils. It produces very well balanced wines, with pronounced colour and distinctive character.

TASTING NOTES: Beautiful cherry red tinted with brick overtones. Fragrant and delicate on the nose. Elegant bouquet, generous and well balanced. Long, lingering aftertaste.
OAK AGING: 14 months in american oak followed by 24 months in the bottle.
SERVING TEMPERATURE: 15-17C

13% Alcohol”

One of the beauties of Trader Joe’s is their ability to find inexpensive gems, and one of the ways they do this is to source wine from some lesser known regions. Today’s wine is a case in point.

The Carinena region in Northern Spain is just northeast of one of our favorite value regions in the whole world – the Calatayud. And like the Calatayud winemaking here goes back to the Roman times. The area is also known for its rocky soils and high elevations, a fabulous combination for growing flavorful grapes. Because the area doesn’t have the same name recognition as say, Rioja or Ribera Del Duero, there is great value to be found.

The 2009 Bodegas San Valero Monte Ducay Reserva begins with abundant aromas of baking spice (nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and vanilla) plus ripe red cherry and plum. It smells great and is surprisingly complex for the price, no doubt due to the 14 months of aging in American oak. Tasting the medium-bodied wine reveals super ripe, dark, rich and juicy fruit with great depth of flavor. There’s also decent acidity and a very smooth texture. Wonderful spicy notes kick in mid-palate along with some nice graphite minerality that lasts all the way into the medium-long, dry finish. Excellent!

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