Mad Dogs & Englishmen, Shiraz Cabernet Monastrell, 2003

From the bottle, this shiraz / cabernet / monastrell blend is sourced from grapes grown in the Jumulla region of Southern Spain. This intriguing blend is 13.5% alcohol by volume.

Where did I find it: Costco

What did I pair it with: N/A

Appearance: Flashy garnet red, with a slight cloudiness.

On the nose: Barnyard, white pepper, cherry, and faintly hot spiced prunes.

Palate Entry: It is dry from the very beginning, with a gripping tannins; not much fruit.
Mid Palate: The tannins expand the mouth feel, turning somewhat bitter (tar and earth).
Finish: The finish is moderate, with the tannins lingering on the tongue for 5 seconds or so.

Price: $7.30
Quality rating: 87/100
Value rating: 50.35/60

Takeaway: This is a pretty solid wine, especially considering bargain pricing. If you like wines with a strong mouth feel, you’ll like this, though do be certain to pair it with food – parmesan reggiano and some milk chocolate would have been a fun mix, to offset the bitter and smooth out the tannins.