Tasting - Monte Aman

Name: Monte Aman
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Arlanza
Country: Spain
Year: 2009
Price: $5.95

Critic Review:  "Fermentation of selected grapes in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. Aging in American oak casks for 5 months followed by 3 months in the bottle before being released in the market. Inky ruby. Ripe cherry and plum on the nose. Smooth and fleshy, with deep dark fruit flavors complicated by bitter chocolate and anise. A spicy quality adds lift and focus to the weighty fruit. Offers an appealing mix of power and energy and drinks very well right now."

My Review:  I loved this red wine.  This wine smelled strongly of plums and oak.  The first thing that came to my mind when I tasted this wine was chocolate!  I had never tasted a wine where I had immediately thought of chocolate, until this wine.  The reason the taste of this wine is so potent is because it had been aged in American oak for a few months, giving it such a powerful flavor.  I could also taste the cherry, so this wine kind of reminded me of a dessert.  This wine was not too bitter or too dry, but was a perfect balance of both.  I would definitely drink this wine again.

I tasted this wine without food.