Good Cheap Wine Guide

2006 Panarroz, Jumilla Spanish Red $8

 

 Rating: Good Enough To Share With Brother Dave

Summer afternoons are the best aren’t they?  You can be outside enjoying a bright blue “happy little fluffy cloud” day when all of a sudden, the temperature will drop, the sun will disappear and the sky will open up for 15 minutes of absolute deluge.  Whether you are in the middle of an outdoor project or in the middle of the third fairway (I spend very little time in the fairway when I golf) … you are going to get soaked.   I know being trapped in the rain like this upsets a lot of people but you know what, it can actually be fun.  Maybe I look at things differently but this is a perfect excuse to be a kid again.  When kids are having fun it is never too wet, too cold or too dark!  It’s only when we “grow up” and quit doing childish things like running down a hill for no good reason, giggling in the middle of something serious, breaking into a song because we think of it or play for hours outside in the snow, rain or mud…it’s only when we grow up that we worry about our clothes, our hair and our shoes getting wet in the rain.  So, adults don’t really stress out over the rain sneaking up on us then, we stress out over how it affects our appearance and possessions.   

I remember as a good, white-shirt-uniformed, parochial school boy, we played tackle football on the field behind the grade school at recess.  (Hint: Ties are a great way to bring somebody down so always tuck them in your shirt just above the second button.) I have no idea what we looked like (or smelled like)but maybe that’s why they always took school pictures in the morning.  Being caught in the rain may just give you that kid-like excuse again to say “Oh well, I might as well have fun.  I’m already wet.” 

Of course, as an adult, you can come in after the big rain, get some dry clothes on and warm up with a glass of good cheap red wine.  I would suggest you try the Panorroz by Jumilla-Espania.  Just sit there and giggle if your wife tells you that you have ruined your shoes.

What Others Say:90 points from Robert Parker: “An amazing bargain from Spain, this blend of mourvèdre, grenache, and syrah bursts with plum, blackberry, and licorice-infused fruit. There is a bit of pepper as well, and the wine is silky, soft, and opulent. Serve it at a barbecue… Years ago I wrote in The Wine Advocate that Dan Kravitz was perhaps the top U.S. importer of wines priced under $10 a bottle. Even though the dollar bought a lot more then, Kravitz still has a knack for finding good wines at great prices.” (in Business Week Magazine)” K&L Wine Merchants writes: Mr. Parker is exactly right. To find a wine of this quality at this price is truly a wonderful thing. The vineyards that lend their fruit to this lushly textured wine yield less than two tons per acre. We also found a hint of chocolate on the voluptuously long finish.
http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1035887

What I Thought:I enjoyed the Panarroz.  I don’t know much about Spanish wines, though I am willing to learn, but found the flavor more like I an Italian or Sicilian wine than a French wine.  Now, Spain is closer to France so….Hmmm, I’ll need a second glass to figure that one out. The blend of grapes selected delivered a medium level of intensity, as you would expect, but still had a full lush “all over the tongue” finish that leaves a pleasant taste.  Still though, it would not be my first choice for a gathering of friends but Panarroz still delivers a great late Saturday afternoon, post getting soaked taste experience.  I’d share it at least with my brother Dave.  We used to play football in the rain together.