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2010 February Wine Club Vintner Selection
Bellum Providencia is made by Monastrell fanatics Emili Esteve (winemaker) and Araceli Gonzalez (vineyard manager), who tend old vines ranging in age from 60-90 years on the steep limestone and clay slopes of Yecla. Monastrell has faced a few obstacles in becoming a household name. For starters, it goes by three different names, depending on the wine region in which it’s grown. (Monastrell/Mourvedre/Mataro). To further complicate things, it’s a slightly finicky grape to grow.
But the reward for those who tough it out is a phenomenally unique wine: thick purple juice that’s, dark, tannic and savory. The most often used descriptor is the French term “animale”, which conveys a meaty gaminess punctuated by an herbal sage-like note. Other flavors and aromas to be found are blackberries, leather, and spices like clove, nutmeg and anise.
• Best Spanish red in the store under $20!
• Parker called the 03, "one of the steals of the century"!
The 2005 Bellum Providencia is made from 100% Monastrell or Mourvedre. The average age of the vines are 50 years old with some reaching 90 years. This is produced from extremely low yields yielding an amazing wine with great concentration and complexity. Production of this cuvee is only 800 cases. Robert Parker called the 2003 vintage of this wine, "one of the wine steals of the century." And it's just 13.99!
This is a wine that could actually be cellared for a couple of years if you wanted to let it develop even more in the bottle. Wow! This is a great QPR!
Jon Visser, Wine Buyer 4 stars,
"delicious, complex wine for the money, with black licorice and caramel!"
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate 89 points
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