91+(?) 2007 Jimenez-Landi Sotorrondero (Mentrida) 9/10/10 $1885%Syrah, 15%Garnacha 14.5%alc
Color: Dense purple-black garnet. (3.5) Bouquet: Concentrated beef broth, sweet tar and forestal complexity complement roasted black cherries. Very interesting stuff! (3.5) Body: Fierce acidity and excellent fruit with only a hint of smooth tannins. Solid middleweight plus. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but with sharp youthful acidity. Still very tasty. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor with excellent length. (3.0)
Overall: Another amazing Spanish value, but this one is not Garnacha, Tempranillo, Monastrell or Mencia from northern Spain, it’s Syrah based and from the South. It has roasted black cherry fruit with beef broth, tar and forestal nuances. Impressive Northern Rhone-style complexity that one might find in a $60 version. If it were this expensive, I might ask for a little more structure in the form of tannin, but at this price I have nothing negative to say. One of the best wines out there in the $20 range! Quite drinkable now if decanted for 1-2 hours. Probably at its best in 3-5 years. (15.5)
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