2004 Panarroz Jumilla

Bright ruby-red. Dark berries, leather and bell pepper on the somewhat raw, reduced nose. Then surprisingly lush and fat in the mouth, with a distinctly medicinal greenness but also some emerging candied cherry fruit. Very unrefined wine, worthy of note more for its texture than its rather rustic flavors. Finishes with dusty, slightly dry-edged tannins. .

The 2004 Panarroz may be even better than the 2003, which received the same rating. Even better news is that the USA received 60,000 cases of this 42% Mourvedre, 38% Grenache, and 20% Syrah blend. An amazing bargain, it boasts an inky/ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of scorched earth, chocolate, blackberries, and cherries, and an opulent, medium-bodied, fruit-filled personality with lovely glycerin, a savory texture, and a pure, long finish. One hundred percent tank-fermented and aged, it is a gorgeous Spanish red to drink over the next 1-2 years. Don’t miss it! Importer: Dan Kravitz, Hand Picked Selections, Warrenton, VA; tel. (540) 347-9400.