2003 Panarroz (Jumilla)

[quijote]

I've been seeing this one around the stores, and the price was right, so I took a chance. A very good move! This barely translucent, plum-colored wine offers lots of plums and red fruits on the nose and palate. There is a hint of spice on the palate, but the finish is rather mild. I don't know the grape profile for this one--perhaps mostly tempranillo with a mere splash of grenache? I'll check on it. But in any case, this makes a good sipping wine, and it went well with a portabello-stuffed pork chop dusted with paprika, beef-shallot basmati rice, and gingered garbanzos. Alc. 14%, $8 (Sendiks in Mequon)

[quijote]

A quick follow-up.... I tried finding a website for Panarroz, but nada. From the information I've read, it seems that Monastrell (Mourvedre) is the main grape in Jumilla. Some of the sites that I read talk about how Monastrell in Jumilla is often turned into medium-heavy Shiraz-like wines, but the Panarroz seems somewhat lighter and less peppery to me. Hmm. I dunno.

Also, FWIW, Parker gave this wine a 90. I find it interesting that the market where I bought this didn't have that fact plastered all over the place.