From the Jumilla region on the southern coast of Spain in Murcia, I am tasting the 2007 Luzon produced by Bodegas Luzon at their Castillo de Luzon (Luzon Castle/Chateau) vineyard. This wine is a blend of 70% Monastrell (Mourvedre) and 30% Syrah. It comes with a natural cork (unfortunate) and can be found for under $10.
Aroma
The nose of this wine exhibits some tobacco aromas and smells of the chalky soil of the Jumilla region. Dark berries such as blackberries are very subtle and overall this wine is pretty limited to the smell of the terroir. Not that this earthiness is a problem, just don’t expect a big floral nose.
Flavor
Here is where this wine really shines. On the attack it shows lots of red fruit. There are blackberries, plums, cherries and black currant. It remains loaded with fruit on the mid-palate with a little more sour cherry component and then it finishes with spice. Pepper and licorice last for a while. For a wine with high alcohol it is well balanced by all the fruit and doesn’t come across as too hot. It is medium bodied. I think this will make for a very good pairing with red pasta sauce, strong cheese (blue or smoked gouda), and perhaps even smokey meats.
Rating
This is a very good wine. I was expecting the Mourvedre to be tannic, but the fruit of the Syrah is definitely softening it. I recommend it and rate it 89 points.
Mourvedre is an interesting varietal. Have you tried it?
