2005 Abelis Carthago Red Blend (100% Tempranillo?) (88 Points)

DATE CONSUMED

Sunday, November 04, 2012

VINTAGE

2005

WINERY/PRODUCER

Abelis Carthago

WINE NAME

Lui Selection?

TYPE OF WINE

Red blend of Tempranillo (as best I can tell)

COMPOSITION

100% Toro Tempranillo (as best I can tell)

SUBNAME/NICKNAME

N/A

VINEYARD DESIGNATION

N/A

REGION/A.V.A. (American Viticultural Area)

Toro, Castilla Leon, Spain (as best I can tell)

ALCOHOL CONTENT

15%

PRICE PAID

$12.99 (with free shipping when four or more bottles were purchased)

WHERE/WHEN BOUGHT AND/OR HOW PROCURED

We bought four bottles of this wine on winestilsoldout.com in October, 2012.

BOUQUET

This wine reveals classic European characteristics, especially a very earthy nose.  There is some dark fruit aromatics going on here, as well as suggestions of herbs and oak.  But whereas a lot of American red wines have VERY fruity, spicy, oaky bouquets and are somewhat one- or two-dimensional, this wine exhibits VERY European traits, especially as it pertains to being well-balanced and multi-dimensional.

TASTING NOTES

This wine pours DARK; it’s almost black out of the bottle (like a Petite Sirah).  Being a 2005, we poured this wine (after cooling-down) in large Pinot glasses to aerate properly before dinner.

This is a nice Spanish Tempranillo.  There’s dark fruit (especially plums and blackberries) up front, along with TONS of terrior/earth, as well as savory herbs and black pepper.  This is a rich, creamy, well-balanced Spanish red; it’s not too fruity, not too oaky, not too spicy, not too “hot” (high in alcohol), and although almost impossible, not too earthy (I like earthy wines that exhibit gorgeous terrior, in case y’all haven’t noticed). 

As far as I know, I’ve only had one other red wine from Toro/Castilla Leon, which to this day is my all-time favorite Spanish red wine (Pago Florentino, which is incredibly delicious, rich, spicy, creamy, and oaky, all in perfect balance and harmony).  Fair or not, I compare any/every red Spanish wine to Pago Florentino and, unfortunately (again, fair or not), they’ve all fallen short of that high bar that I judge every red Spanish wine against.  If I had never experienced Pago Florentino, this wine would probably be my new Spanish “favorite.”  We’ve had many Spanish Riojas at Michelin-rated restaurants that were, at best, just so-so.  And at the price, this Temp is difficult to beat.

As is common with European wine labels, it’s difficult to tell exactly where this wine came from and what exactly is inside the bottle.  As best I can tell, this is a blend of several Tempranillos.  I may be wrong (or as Billy Joel once sang, “You May Be Right”), but I do believe this is 100% Tempranillo from Toro in Castilla Leon.

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS

We paired this wine with a pan-seared rib eye nicely spiced with Kosher salt, freshly-cracked black pepper, and Herbs de Provence.  This wine went beautifully with the steak; the salt, pepper, and Herbs de Provence nicely complimented the wine’s spiciness and herbal essence.  This wine would also pair well with just about any other grilled steak, as well as lamb, richly-flavored stews, and, of course, tapas.

AGING POTENTIAL

At seven years after harvest, this is still a young, vibrant, exuberant wine.  I believe this wine has the “legs” to age beautifully for another ten to twenty years, thanks to wonderful structure (acid, alcohol, sugar, etc.).

SCORE (on a 100-point scale)

88

Q.P.R. (QUALITY-TO-PRICE RATIO) (POOR, FAIR, GOOD, EXCELLENT)

GOOD

WINERY WEBSITE

Unknown