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Mile High's Wine of the Week: October 20th
Bodegas Murtia Carmine Monastrell 2009
Regular Price: $34.99
Sale Price: $14.99
Sale End: 10/23/2016
Score: 90+ Points Robert Parker
Bodegas Murtia Carmine Monastrell 2009

Monastrell, also known as Mourvedre, can be virtually undrinkable in its youth since the wine can be so intensely tannic and earthy. But as the good ones mature they take on impressive levels of character and complexity. This week we have a shockingly good deal on a perfectly aged Monastrell from Jumilla in Spain, a winegrowing region that specializes in that grape. The 2009 Carmine is as dark and dense in the glass as you’d care for. It bursts with aromas of woodsmoke, crushed berries, tar, and even a touch of potpourri. The palate is lush and layered, offering up a style that is mature but certainly not old. The palate shows abundant notes of macerated strawberries and candied cherries as well as more rustic hints of dried orange zest, crushed black peppercorns, and black slate. It is a multifaceted red that has a personality all its own. As it sits in the decanter it will grow and change, just like a great bottle of red should. Come by the shop and taste this engaging effort for free. We think you’ll flip when you get your first taste.
On to the Tasting Notes:
Monastrell is some interesting stuff. When it’s young it can be nearly undrinkable because of it’s dark and earthy nature and high level of tannin. But as it matures, Monastrell can turn into some seriously cool stuff. We picked these cases up from a local distributor who consistently delivers great wines to us. When he said that he had some 90 Point ‘09 Monastrell in stock I couldn’t wait to taste it. After tasting it, what I found most appealing was that it offered a glimpse of classic earthy, rustic style but with all the edges rounded off from bottle age. A wine that was probably hard and grippy several years ago became bright and refined. The nose offered up layers of tar, smoke, and tobacco at first but then it opened up to deliver hints of rose petals, dried cherries, sassafras, and bittersweet chocolate. The palate was similarly built with lush flavors of kirsch, blackberry jam, and anise on the entry and an abundance of appealing secondary characteristics developing on the finish. I got slate, cedar, vanilla, rhubarb, and cinnamon as I pondered the finish between sips. It has a bit of lingering tannin but there were no hard edges to be found, a sure sign of a premium quality mature red.

If you’re looking for a wine that is out to get you then this is probably not the best bet for you. If, instead, you prefer something that shows some real poise and maturity then you’re going to be singing when you taste this one. The 2009 Carmine is very nicely balanced right now and I don’t see any reason that it should change dramatically over the next 2 or 3 years. So feel free to stash a couple of bottles in your cellar so that you can come back to them as they age.
Food Pairing:
Have you noticed the abundance of raspberries and blackberries in the grocery lately? I’ve been using tons of them in my cooking since they’re plentiful and cheap! Last week I smashed some raspberries up in a sauce pot and added some inexpensive ruby port to it. I reduced the volume by about half and then strained it to remove the raspberry bits. Then I reduced it further until it was almost a syrup and added a pat of butter off the heat. Drizzled over a couple of smoked chicken thighs, it was like heaven on earth. I just wish I had a bottle of the ‘09 Carmine to with that meal because I think the pairing would have been spot on!
You MUST mention this special or print it out to receive the price on the above wine.
This price expires 10/23/2016 at 6pm and is limited to in-store quantities.
No rain checks given. Call (303) 936-0272 to reserve bottles with a credit card.

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