2005 Bodegas y Viñedos de Murcia Jumilla Pico Madama

There was all kind of hype about this wine a few years ago, and it was Wine Library's Wine of the Year, so I picked up a few bottles to give them a whirl.  At under $30 a bottle, I figured it was worth a shot, just to see what all that hype was about.

Tonight, I grabbed one to take to Under the Moon with us in Bordentown, NJ, and it was popped and poured into a Riedel Grapes syrah glass.

Nice light color in the glass, with all kinds of stuff happening on the nose.  Hints of pomegranate, and cherry, with subtle hints of tea and a bit of eucalyptus.  Very subtle spice and a bit of vegetalness to it as well.

On the palate, the wine seemed a bit thin to me, but I find this alot with South American wines.  I think at this point I am so used to the big over the top California wines, that that is what I expect.  OK, maybe not, but we have been drinking a lot of Cali wines the last few years, not that it is a bad thing.

More cherry and hints of chocolate on the palate, with some raspberry and plum.  Nothing complex about the palate here at all really.  The finish was medium in length, with nicely integrated tannins and alcohol.  All in all, a nice sipper, and it paired well with the menu at Under the Moon.  87 points.