Tarima Hill

I took my car in for an oil change on Monday. My mechanic is up the road from Annapolis Wine Cellars and while I was sitting in the waiting room, I received an email blast from them advertising a wine they just got in. It's the Tarima Hill monastrell. 

Monastrell is a Spanish grape and I don't know much about it other than I liked the one other Monastrell I have tried. But the wine was described as being an incredible bargain, costing only $15 a bottle at Wine Cellars, despite reviewers saying it tastes more like a $30-50 bottle. I immediately called and reserved two bottles. 

I opened one last night, and it is lovely. My immediate thought was that it has a nice smoky flavor, with subtle chocolate notes. It's very nice on its own, if you like a medium bodied red wine, which I do, but does not pair well at all with lemon gelato. I would say its more of a steak and potatoes wine than a dessert wine. 

I just enjoyed a glass while cooking a new recipe (chili rellanos), and it is fantastic.

Sadly, I can't say that about the rellanos.