It’s Europa Cup night, with an all Spanish final, so here’s an all Spanish wine.
I like Tempranillo, I have quite a clear mental smell-age (like an image, only smelly) of what it should be like. The fresh, oak-free fruit of this Conde de Monterroso Tempranillo took me a little by surprise. I slowed down and took a look.
It was lighter than I’d have guessed, but the surprises didn’t end there. It was sweet. Yes sweet. Well, maybe off-dry if I’m being picky, but certainly sweeter than I would have anticipated. It was a cheery fruit bomb. The Merlot that made it into the mix added extra fruit, and whilst I might have expected the Shiraz to add spiciness, I didn’t taste it.
It took a while for my brain to catch up with my senses and settle down into enjoying the wine, and enjoy it I did. That’s not something I thought I would say about sweeter than average red wine. I have another bottle from a Laithwaites mix. I think I’ll save it until it warms up outside and I’ll serve it cool. I think that would really work well.