Evodia, Grenache, 2009

White or Red: Red

Grape(s): Grenache

Origin: Spain

Vintage: 2009

Price: $11.50

Overall:

Moss brought over this bottle for our Seis de Mayo party last week.  The idea was to give those non-tequila drinkers a way out.  But once the Mariachi band rolled through wine was not on anyone's mind.  While cleaning up after the party I found this guy- Evodia.

The facts...

1.  Alcohol is 15%.  Depending on your goals for the night this can be good and bad- regardless that's high for a quality wine.  Don't be alarmed, there is no "heat" when drinking this wine.

2.  It smells like fresh-pressed Concord grape juice, infused with fresh blueberries, a hint of licorice and spice.

3.  The taste starts with big juicy ripe fruits including strawberry, raspberry and vanilla.  The middle of the palate transfers those flavors into a gentle spice.  The sip finishes with a sort of mineral quality; it lets you know that the wine has been grown in a place near Mr. Miyagi's Bonsai Tree (high altitude).

For some reason this wine feels/tastes/presents really chic, silky- like it should cost a lot or a dweeb like me shouldn't know about it.  I don't know, maybe because its from Spain and I think Europeans pay more attention to detail... Maybe because the middle to end of every sip teases you to reload... Maybe just because it's a great wine at economical price (most likely). 

I can tell you it's not because of the label- that part of the wine sucks.  Totally uninspiring, lame and not at all representative to what's in the bottle.  No doubt the marketers blew it but the winemaker got it right.