Surdyk's Price

If you follow my recommendations, you know that I am coming off a long stretch of selecting white wines. But now that we have had a few days of unseasonably cool weather, I am fondly looking ahead to the fall. So, with thoughts of evening fires and cozy meals, my pick for this Fall Sale is a red wine from Spain. Parajes del Valle’s 100% Monastrell shows the magic that can happen when you take a wine grape that loves its environment and entrust its care to a team dedicated to implementing traditional, organic winemaking practices that will ensure the resulting wine will be the best version of itself. The Jumilla region, located in the southeast, is a very hot and dry region. Fortunately, the Monastrell grape thrives here. The practice of dry farming, where roots are forced to seek out water sources deep in the ground, is accentuated by the bush-trained vines, an ancient method which shades the fruit until perfect ripeness, especially in arid regions. And magical it is – deeply colored with notes of fresh berries, tobacco, and cracked pepper are complex, yet not overblown. Concrete aging for 6 months means the mineral tones and natural acidity of the wine will not be tamped down by oak. This is a no-brainer for chili, grilled pork, or an earthy lentil dish, but my favorite way to enjoy this wine is with paella.  121634