Piqueras Black Label Syrah Monastrell

The Piqueras’ are a fourth generation Spanish winemaking family nestled away in Almansa, south east Spain, crafting seriously good wine for over 100 years.

Their family owned vineyards sit a whopping 2,500 metres above sea level and with high sunshine hours and low rainfall the vines, planted on stony, lime rich soils, work their arses off to produce grapes full of intense flavours. There’s even an organic sheep farm on the property where they let their fluffy little friends roam free to help keep the plant life low and the natural fertiliser high!

Their Black Label Syrah & Monastrell is a delicious 50/50 blend of soft, silky Syrah and the more dark fruited, savoury Monastrell (a grape variety also called Mourvedre in some parts of the world). Aged 6 months in oak this is a medium to full bodied silky, juicy red with a savoury, spicy finish.

This 2020 vintage was selected in Master of Wine Bob Campbell’s “Top 10 Reds for January 2023” (rated number 3 in the list). Scoring it 92/100 Bob said “A 50/50 blend of syrah and monastrell. Medium-bodied red with ripe plum, blackcurrant, blackberry, dark chocolate, vanilla and liquorice flavours. Rich and quite complex wine that is ready to drink, but there is no rush.”

Go Mediterranean on the food match and pair with rice and pasta dishes, cured salted meats (jamón, chorizo) and semi-cured cheeses.