La Encina Centenaria Monastrell from Alicante Spain

Tasting notes & discussion 14

Typically $24/bottle from Bodega Vinessens
Vintage 2014 (Spain was eliminated shockingly early in the Fifa 2014 World Cup)
90 points from Wine Advocate
Appellation: Alicante, Spain
Alcohol content of 14.5%
Sold by One Vine Wines, fulfilled by Wine Country Connect

About Bodega Vinessens
A small Spanish winery, Bodega Vinessens creates “Vinos de Autor,” or “Author Wines,” that are true reflections of the winemakers’ personalities and artisan techniques. A joint effort of family and a professional team, Vinessens passionately promotes excitement, innovation, and hard work in their winemaking.

All’s Well That Monastrell

TASTING NOTES:
“This wine offers a deep cherry color, with purple tones and red and black fruit aromas like plums and prunes, with hints of balsamic and aromatic herbs. With a silky and pleasant entry in the mouth, it has sweet and ripe tannins and a well-balanced acidity; a delicious Mediterranean blend.”

TANGENTIALLY RELATED FACT to help make conversation over this wine:
Although Shakespeare titled one of his works “All’s Well That Ends Well,” the idiom existed for perhaps three or four centuries prior to the writing of the play in 1601. It seems to have first appeared in an old English collection of prose called The Proverbs of Hendyng.

DRINK IT FROM/WITH (conventional option):
A red blend, so a red glass. Recommended with filet mignon featuring goat cheese and port sauce, pasta with tomatoes and braised beef, or Texas barbecue beef ribs with spiced rum sauce.

OR (really-going-with-the-theme option):
A globe. Ya get it? Like the globe theatre? Shakespeare. Eh? Eh?

Who's buying this?

How are you buying your bottles?

Many varieties go by multiple names, often regionally. Should we stick to the most common names here?

Use whatever name the winery uses.

Use whatever name the winery uses.
Use whatever name, but if it's a less common one, tell us what it's usually called.

Use whatever name, but if it's a less common one, tell us what it's usually called.
Keep it simple, stupid, and use the most common name.

Keep it simple, stupid, and use the most common name.
What does this question have to do with the totally distinct "Monastrell" variety that is in no way related to "Mourvedre."

What does this question have to do with the totally distinct "Monastrell" variety that is in no way related to "Mourvedre."
Other

Other

58 votes