Bodegas Hijos de Juan Gil – 2005 Monastrell
Posted on 02. Jul, 2007 by Erin in Tasting
Tasting Note: Bodegas Hijos de Juan Gil — 2005 Monastrell
Country: Spain
DOC: Jumilla
Producer: Bodegas Hijos de Juan Gil
Blend: 100% Monastrell
Alcohol: 14.5% (w/v)
Residual Sugar: LCBO Sugar Code 0 (XD)
Price: $15.15(CDN)
Visit the vineyard!
Inky reddish-purple in colour, the nose was dominated by vanilla and bumbleberry notes laced onto a smoky, high alcohol framework. Every percent of the 14.5 was evident and unfortunately it squashed some of the pleasant cranberry and clove aromas that lurked quietly beneath.
Slightly sweet on the attack, the 2005 has an interesting palate profile, maintaining full fruitiness through the mid-palate to end with a lingering, boozy, mildly bitter finish. Good, firm tannins provided structure for flavours of Thanksgiving cranberry sauce, cedar, and fleshy black raspberry.
A little too hot to trot for me perhaps; this one was in the upper reaches of my acceptable alcohol range. I also think it could have benefitted from some extended time in barrel (it was aged only 4 months, albeit in new oak) to improve mouthfeel and further integrate what were very promising features. It did benefit immensely from some decanting time however, and would likely do well with a couple more years of cellaring.
Michelle’s Rating: I Wouldn’t Make Faces
Erin’s Rating: I Wouldn’t Make Faces
7 Responses to “Bodegas Hijos de Juan Gil – 2005 Monastrell”
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Peter Ainley
19. Sep, 2007
Love this wine but can’t find it on the LCBO website. Can’t dispose of bottle until we find this wine. please help!!!
Erin
24. Sep, 2007
Unfortunately Peter, it looks like the Monastrell is no longer available at the LCBO. The new vintage will likely be out in the spring of 2008, so you’ll have to keep your bottle for a while yet, or just keep this page bookmarked to remind you
One thing to do otherwise would be to talk to the wine buyer at your local LCBO. They have a program where, if a wine you’d like isn’t available on the shelves or at any LCBO, they will try to order it for you. You can always request that they bring some in for you, though there may be a minimum purchase requirement and some shipping/handling/import fees.
Nancy
01. Oct, 2007
We just found this wine at Costco in Santa Cruz, CA. Hope you can find it…good luck!
Keith
31. Oct, 2007
The Juan Gil Monastrell can also be found at World Market’s across the country. It’s one of those quality wines that has infiltrated the mass US market and is very readily available. Good luck tracking it down.
catalonia blog
15. Feb, 2008
This is a very classy wine, hope you have luck tracking it down as I have.
Ed
08. Mar, 2008
I have found this wine at Whole Foods Market in Portland, Maine @$19 / bottle. Purchased three bottles to try.It has a good tannins with a taste that lingers. full body with fruit, which surprising for a 2005 wine. Glad to now it should cellar well. Have gone back an purchased another 1/2 case for the cellar
Erin
09. Mar, 2008
Thanks for the tip Ed…it seems to be easier to get ahold of south of the border for some reason. You’ll have to let us know how the cellaring goes. While I thought it was a solid wine, I thought it had great potential to develop into a show-stopper with more time.