2003 Lelia, Garnacha, Carinena

[Innkeeper]

2003 Bodegas Sucesores De Manuel Piquer S.L., Lelia, Garnacha, Carinena ($6.99 Chambers Street). In this case Carinena is the region and not the second grape. Alcohol level 12.5%; yeah right! Ordered this as a ’01 and it arrived as a ’03. Gives ruby red color to the eye, rather that the medium purple that we are used to in a Garnacha. Traditional raspberry and pepper hit you on the nose and upfront. The first thing you notice on the palate is acid, lots of it. Therefore the finish is abrupt. There is plenty of fruit and tannin still there, so there is a possibility of improvement with a little more time. Will hang onto bottle #2 for a while therefore.

Matched it with leftover meatballs with fresh pasta, and salad in vinaigrette. Not the best match even if the wine was ready. Needed something much bigger and preferably Italian. Shouldn’t complain since it is Lent.

[winoweenie]

Who'd you borrow it frum? WW [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[Innkeeper]

Ok, we had the second one tonight, and it had improved unbelievably in the last three months. It had enough red fruit and pizzaz to carry a meal of lamb burgers, roasted fingerlings, and salad with robust oil & vinegar dressing. Ordered more tonight.

[Innkeeper]

Received another in the last shipment from CS. Popped it tonight with ham slices in rich cream sauce and salad with BC dressing. Fantastic, but true love took at least half again. Sigh. This has to be one of better values around along with many of its amigos from Spain.