Wine Enthusiast
95 Points
Cellar Selection
Boasting an enviable combination of opulence and finesse, this opens with aromas of black plum, vanilla, baking spices and grilled herbs. The rich palate doles out plum cake, black cherry, black pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg alongside smooth, velvety tannins. Gripping intensity holds on through the long finish. Drink through 2025.
-Kerin O’Keefe

Wine Spectator
Score: 93
An elegant red that seamlessly integrates supple tannins and mouthwatering acidity with a core of plump cherry, fig paste, dried thyme and melted licorice flavors. The long, spiced finish shows a streak of smoky mineral. Drink now through 2030. 1,000 cases imported.
–AN

This wine was released at $100 we have it in the shop at 64.99.
Read below what the Wine Spectator said about it in 2006…
(I remember tasting this when we bought it, amazing, can’t believe it’s been marked down this low, but… here it is!)

Score: 95pts

Mencia is the grape, it’s from the Ribera Sacra region of Spain.  One of the many inexpensive spanish wines we have here at the shop.  I just popped it open to find out what’s in the bottle… and yum, a toasty nose, maybe burnt toast, but in a good way, dark fruit flavors up front, bold but not big, very clean, apparently some folks believed it was an ancient clone of Cabernet Franc, until DNA sampling proved the theory wrong. (thanks Wikipedia!)  I can certainly vouch for the resemblance.

Here’s a really nice rosé from California.  It’s a Rhone style blend, Syrah, Grenache, Morvedre, and Couniose, floral and complex, medium bodied, when the distributor rep. brought it by to taste, Dale and I each bought a bottle to take home! (Figured we should get some for the shop as well.)

on the Matthiasson Website