2003 Finca Sandoval Manchuela- Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Manchuela (8/21/2014)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over a few hours –
– 80% Syrah, 9% Mourvedre, 7% Bobal, 4% Tempranillo –
NOSE: ripe red fruits; hints of mineral and flowers; black cherry and mineral; high-toned aspect suggests this will have decent-to-good acidity on the palate; not oaky or funky; expressive & complex.
BODY: fine particulate matter present; garnet-violet color of great depth; medium-full to full bodied.
TASTE: medium acidity; tannins still quite strong; good concentration of fruit — dark, earthy; medium smoke note; light oak; hint of leather; paired well with steak; not particularly distinctive, but this strikes me as very well-made, and I bet this would continue to improve over another 5 – 10 years; drink or hold; my score may be a touch low.
I drank my last few of these (03-05) in the past year or two and they had aged nicely, much more open and enjoyable than in their youth. I don’t think these wines are made or imported to the US anymore, are they?
I haven’t seen them for awhile, Chris, so I suspect you’re correct. I have singletons of the '04 and '05 remaining — I’ll probably let them sit for a few more years after this experience with the '03, unless others with recent experience can suggest otherwise to me.
I’ve had the '04, '05 and '06, and liked them all a good deal. I put a few of each away but this should be around time to open a few. Owner Victor de la Serna used to participate here but I haven’t seen anything from him in some time; shame, because he had lots of useful thoughts on the Spanish wine scene.