John Mahoney Drinks Wine

Honoro Vera 2012 Monastrell is a big red from Jumilla, Spain. This 14% alcohol wine is made from what the French call Mourvèdre; it’s one of three main grapes in Cote du Rhône wines.

The grapes come from bush vines, not trellised vines. They’re grown on poor limestone in an area that gets very little rain, so they struggle to grow and put all their energy into their offspring: the grapes holding seeds. It scored 16+ on the Dionysian scale of 20 points. It has a deep red cherry color and a spiced, red berry nose. It can age a decade, but has fairly soft tannins right now.

This Monastrell (the grape that was grown in the early Monasteries, hence, the name) pairs well with most red meats and perfectly with lamb or roasted goat. Any pasta or cheese dish will go nicely with it. I had an evening of comfort food, so basic baked macaroni was the companion for the Honoro wine last night. A large salad with nuts, raisins, apple slices and some grated cheese turned a simple dish into a gourmet meal. Even though the French claim the grape, Spanish winemakers told me that its origin is Spain. In vino veritas.