Bodegas Juan Gil 2007

This week’s selection:

Winery: Bodegas Juan Gil
Varietal: Monastrell
Price Paid: $13.00 to $17.00
Vintage: 2007
Area: Jumilla, Spain
Alcohol: 15%
Purchased: By a Friend

Overall: A delicious wine made from a different varietal, dark fruit, spicy, a bit of herb and high alcohol that in spite of the alcohol went down very easily. Very balanced as the winemaker states. It went beautifully with the Pork Saltimbocca recipe below that was incredibly simple to make.

Pork Saltimbocca (courtesy of the latest Williams-Sonoma Catalog)
See under favorite links...

• 4 Boneless Pork Loin Chops 1 inch thick
• Fresh Sage Leaves
• 8 slices of Prosciutto
• Balsalmic Vinegar
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Freshly Ground Pepper


Salt and Pepper chops, then lay 2 sage leaves on top of each chop and wrap with 2 slices of prosciutto. Brush with olive oil and grill approximately 6 minutes on each side but until internal temperature registers 140 degrees. Cover loosely with foil and let sit for 10 minutes. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve, it is simple and delicious.


Reviews
Winemaker's notes:
We selected the Monastrell grapes for this wine from 40-year old parcels in our estate vineyards. Here shallow, chalky soils on a bed of limestone and rock, combined with an arid climate, produce the low yields (1,8 ton per acre) required for wine of this complexity. After harvesting, the deep purple grapes are whole-cluster macerated "sur lie" for 25 days, and then pressed and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

It has a very dark cherry color with purple tones. In the nose it has powerful aromas of red berries, toasted and smoked notes from their aging in the oak barriques.

It has good structure with ripe and sweet tannins. In the mouth it is very long, and with a perfect balance between fruit, alcohol and the oak tones, which make it very pleasant and easy to drink.

Pair with meat, stewed meat, stewed vegetable, mushroom, poultry, sauces fish, smoked seafood, blue and cured cheese, red meat, roast and baked meat (lamb, pig, ox).

Critical Acclaim:
"Opaque purple. Blueberry, boysenberry and smoky Indian spices on the nose, with a sexy floral quality coming on with air. Juicy, sweet dark berry flavors are framed by velvety tannins and enlivened by zesty minerality. Gains depth and fleshiness with air, finishing on a strong boysenberry note, with excellent sappy persistence. This is delicious right now."

90 Points
International Wine Cellar