I can’t believe it, but last month I did not run across a wine that I felt comfortable with as my “Pick of the Month.” I think it’s a first. I thought it was going to be Haystack Needle “The Eye” which is a red blend out of Washington State. However, I was let down by the current vintage. It was good, but it had some lipstick components that were off-putting to me. I’m not saying no one would like it, because a lot of my customers did. It’s just that it did not hit that acceptable level for me to declare it “The Wine” of the month. It was a much different story this month. I knew once I tasted this wine it was a winner for the price.
2009 Borsao Berola (Campo de Borja, Spain) … $13.99
This blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon is a lot of wine for the dough. A hint of stink on the nose with notes of black olives, black currants, blackberries, tar and tobacco leaf. This is one of those wines you can sit with and just savor the smells. On the palate, deep and seductive, intense and structured from start to finish. Dark cherries, blackberries and cassis with a hit of white pepper on the finish. Seamless across the palate with an edge of spice. Minerals and tar linger on the finish. Given the balance and intensity of this wine, I can see it hanging in your cellar for 5-8 years. Hard to believe you can get a wine this good for fourteen bucks. This was #5 on my top 40 wines under $20 in 2012. I could have picked it for January, but it escaped my notice. Not so this month. (A-)
For the Month of February it is offered at a lower price. So, if you have a savvy wine steward in your area, he or she will be all over it. Buy some now, drink it and you will be more then happy if not ecstatic. Put some away for 3-5 years and you may be praying thanks to Bacchus. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
Distributed by Elliott Bay Distributing (Seattle, WA)
