This is a top notch red from the southeastern Utiel region of Spain.  I recently rated this winery’s bargain wine Mestizaje and more recently tasted the Finca Terrerazo wine, which is their intermediate wine at about 25€.  The winery also has a top cru called Quincha Corral.    As I mentioned in the previous article, these wines are released under a Vino de la Tierra Category, in theory table wine, and are based upon the local grape Bobal.  Bobal is a mediocre grape when over cropped, but can make some unique, top quality wines with a lot of care.  The Ficna Terrerazo 2005 is a Bobal blend, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo.  Very complex nose, with tobacco, menthol and black fruit.  The mouth has all those elements plus surprisingly fresh acidity and big, smooth tannins.  I tasted the wine a day later and it was even better…smoother and more in balance.  It has a whopping 19 months in new French oak, but the intensity of the wine allows for it.  Shows what Bobal can do…this is a good value wine, considered the complexity it gives you.  Read on for more details on Finca Terrerazo 2005.

Wine:  Finca Terrerazo 2005
Winery:  Bodegas Mustiguillo
Denominación de Origen (DO):Vino de la Tierra El Terrerazo
Alc: 14.5%
Grape varieties: 60% Bobal, 20% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Oak regime:  19 months in new French oak, malo in barrel
Price:  22-25€ retail in Madrid

Tasting notes
Visual:  Opaque purple ruby color
Nose:  Very complex nose, with sweet black fruit, tobacco and touches of menthol.  At first a little closed…needed air to open the fruit.  The next day the nose had a much bigger fruit element.
Mouth:  Big intense mouth, though aromatically it needs air to open up.   Lots of tobacco and menthol, red fruit…quite acidic.  Big, full body, long tannic finish.  Tannins are very smooth. Really complex and impressive.  A day later, the Cabernet was more evident with touches of green pepper, but the fruit was much bigger and sweeter.  Better mouth balance the second day. 

Conclusion: Complex, intense, lots of personality.  Really interesting wine that is also very drinkable.  Though a bit pricy, it is worth every penny.