2011TresP2011 Francois Chidaine, Tres P’s, Tempranillo y Monastrell, Bullas, Spain.
This sexy little red from famed Loire Valley producer Francois Chidaine is a great find, it is all organic from the Chidaine family estate in Spain near Murcia in the Bullas D.O. wine region, and while Chidaine is much more famous for their biodynamic Chenin Blanc wines from Montlouis and Vouvray, this cuvee of Monastrell and Tempranillo is an exciting red that in heavily influenced by the terroir and shows a garrigue character much like a Rhone Valley wine with a lavender and wild fennel streak running throughout, plus a nice bit of earth and spice to go with a rich fruit filled palate. The Tempranillo gives a dark color, ripe raspberry and smooth tannins while the Monastrell (Mourvedre) gives density, power and a baked cherry note making for an interesting meld of personality and flavors. The Tres P’s is a wonderful value priced red that shows pride in place, vibrancy and depth, be sure to check this wine out if you see it, it is imported by Beaune Imports (California) and while not easy to find, certainly is worth a look. The 2011 is the first vintage to reach me (though it was made in 2010 as well), but I’m sure there will be many more to follow and I plan to enjoy a few more bottles myself, it shows fresh herbs, pepper, violets and dried flowers, cassis and wild mushrooms along with raspberry, cherry cola, boysenberry, soy, plum and fig notes finishing with good length and has a lingering, as mentioned, essence of lavender and fennel plus a bit of blueberry skin, drink now through 2018.
($16-18 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive

 

avail at www.sfwtc.com ($15.95)

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