Bodegas Castano 2004 Hecula Yecla Monastrell

Inky-dark purple color. Smell of oak and berries, black cherries and plum, leather. Flavor of plum, black cherry, slightly bitter tannins and bacon.

The next day the smell hasn’t changed greatly but the fruit is more apparent in the flavor.

Not only would I buy this again for $13.29, I intend to do so and let it breathe a bit next time.

Monastrell is probably the same grape as Mourvèdre. Whatever the ampelographers finally decide though, this is very much a Rhone-like wine.