TN: `04 Laderas de El Sique Alicante, Espana.

Juan Carlos is owner of Bodegas Artadi. 100% Monastrell, Lot-0525, 14% alc, $22 Cdn, opened one hour, not decanted, some sediment noted, synthetic cork.

Color. Opaque purple red, no sign of age.

Nose. Peppermint, licorice, spice, pepper, black fruits, slight funk blows off. Cherry on day 2.

Palate. Big wine, brambly, nice integrated tannins, think slightly baked but not sure? "Blackberry, raisiny' from across the table. Medium-bodied, went well with lamb meatballs.
Tough wine to describe, something going on here that I am not sure about.

Vintages now have a blend of cab and syrah I believe.

Well, I saved some for a couple of days in a 350 ml bottle. Quite a transformation, some sweet fruit. More cherry and some raspberry, drinking much better.
Who would have thought?

It's called oxygen, Bob.

Monastrell is one of the world's most reductive grapes.