Quinta da Muradella Red Blend Alanda Monterrei 2018

Ask just about anybody in wine, and they’ll tell you the very best value for quality bottles come out of Spain. This organic and biodynamic 94-point Mencia-based red blend  – grown on high-elevation estate vineyards in Spain’s Monterrei appellation – is no different.

Is there a time and a place for inky and robust Napa Cabs and Bordeaux blends? Absolutely, yes. As for this energetic 12.5% Spanish red – the time and place is any day of the week, any occasion, and almost any meal, from white fish to spicy tacos to meaty pasta. I love a wine with this much range – and one made with the crispest attention to detail and finest standards at that. Under $35 seals the deal... this is one of those wines you’ll want at LEAST a six-pack of headed your way.

Behind the bottle is Quinta da Muradella – an ancient vineyard in the tiny Spanish appellation treasure of Monterrei, snuggled in tight against the Portuguese border. José Luis Mateo made the bold choice to drop out of college in Madrid in the ‘80s to return to his family’s long-neglected land in the small Galician town of Verín, vowing to restore the vineyards in order to make soulful, terroir-driven wines.

Quickly, he’s become one of the most prominent winemakers in Spain, with his portfolio flying to cult status in the past 30-plus years of production. With an unbridled devotion to his craft, José Luis roams his vineyards constantly to observe the vines, which sit between 300 to 700 meters elevation with a vast range of grape varieties, soil types, and exposures – all of which contribute to his dazzlingly complex and remarkable wines.

This 2018 Alanda red blend is his mid-range wine – a concoction of 40% Mencia with Bastardo, Mouraton, Garnacha Tintorera, Gran Negro, and a smattering of other local red varieties grown in slate, sand, and clay. Fermented with a third full-cluster, it ages in a mix of stainless, concrete, and French oak to give it even more textural interest and astounding freshness. Packed with ripe, red strawberries, cherries, and raspberries, the red fruity core is wrapped in svelte notes of dark roast coffee, sandalwood, roses, wicked minerality, and lively acidity. Built with focus, purity, and smooth tannins, this is just breathtakingly good juice at a dizzying price. Under $35 is brutally low for what you get... so really, the best move is to snag at least a handful of these. They won’t last long either way! 

PAIRING IDEAS: Chicken tinga tacos will offer the most mouthwateringly savory, smoky backdrop to such a vibrant, borderline crisp red. Try this mega-easy recipe and report back on your level of obsession!