Staff Comments: A beautiful Monastrell from Jumilla, Spain. Essence of Bergamot and coconut. This is full bodied, refreshing yet exciting! Raspberry chutney, gooseberries fresh rhubarb pie with notes of licorice root and cinnamon. Serve this with grilled mahi mahi, ziti pesto, or a flank steak salad with a parmesan Ranch dressing. An Argonaut Select Product.

Bodegas Alceño is steeped in history. Founded in 1870, they’re now celebrating their one hundred and fiftieth anniversary!

Jumilla is a harsh and dry but has had a reputation for full bodied and sinewy wines since the ancient Romans dominated the area. Monastrell is a specialty (France’s Mourvèdre) as it’s able to fully ripen in the hot and hard scrabble soils. Since the phylloxera epidemic hit Jumilla especially late compared to the rest of Europe, experimental plantings of French varieties such as Syrah were experimented with and have found a new home.

A blend of Monastrell, Syrah, and Tempranillo which are sustainably grown and meticulously selected in the vineyard are vinified and aged in a mixture of French and American oak for nine months.

Very concentrated from the get-go with stony black minerals and dark cherry fruit. The combination of oak plays very well with herbal tones from the American and spicy clove and vanilla from the French. Full bodied and ready for powerful dishes.

Food Pairing:

Baba Ghanoush

Lamb Gyros

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs

Cheese Pairing:

Hard Iberian cheese such as Manchego