IRREPETIBLE 2014
BODEGAS ALTOLANDON, DOP MANCHUELA
Available at Lidl, priced at +/- 5€
Ok – I’m bowing to pressure a bit here, from readers, as well as myself!
I still love a red with some body, and I’m not going to forsake such wines just because the thermometer rises several degrees! Neither, it seems, are several readers! So, for the month of August, when the sun has gone down and, following 30 minutes in the fridge, I’m sure you’ll love Irrepetible, 2014 – a red wine that gained an impressive 91 points out of 100 in Spain’s most comprehensive wine guide, Guía Peñín!
As you might have gathered ‘Irrepetible’ means – unique, unrepeatable, a one-off! It’s a good name, although, it is also true of any wine. The growing conditions in any one year are, of course, unique. The soil remains the same, mostly, but the micro-climate, taking into account, sunshine, rainfall, temperature and winds etc, will always be different each year. Sometimes marginally, sometimes vastly – but always unique.
Irrepetible is made with Syrah and Malbec, both of which are considered French in origin. Syrah, in Spain, is almost always a super-juicy variety as the guaranteed sunshine ensures fully ripened grapes and, when grown at altitude, we are also able to enjoy a slightly Rhône-esque spiciness, in the form of a black pepper note on the finish.
Malbec, of the historically famed ‘Black Wines’ of Cahors, and more recently considered the gem of Argentina, can do really well in Spain, as it clearly does here. Irrepetible (with such a great label too!) is a fruit driven wine that has had some oak ageing for a little extra spice and depth and has a medium length finish.
Enjoy!
PS also look out for other wines from this bodega – all really good quality!
Colin Harkness
International Wine Judge,
Writer, Broadcaster & Critic
Twitter @colinonwine
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