Bodegas Hijos de Juan Gil Juan Gil Red Blend 2022 750ml

An aromatic thread of toast, licorice, vanilla and Mediterranean macchia winds through generous flavors of plum sauce and blackberry paste. Full-bodied but fresh and well-structured, this red is firmed by chalky, integrated tannins that sculpt the long, lasting finish. Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Drink now through 2031. 3,500 cases made, 1,500 cases imported. (Alison Napjus)

An aromatic thread of toast, licorice, vanilla and Mediterranean macchia winds through generous flavors of plum sauce and blackberry paste. Full-bodied but fresh and well-structured, this red is firmed by chalky, integrated tannins that sculpt the long, lasting finish. Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Drink now through 2031. 3,500 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.

The 2022 Red Blend was produced with a blend of 45% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Monastrell with 10% Syrah aged mostly in used barrels for 12 months, in search of a more fruit-driven profile. It has 15% alcohol, a pH of 3.7 and five grams of acidity while retaining some four grams of residual sugar. It's quite spicy and smoky with evident notes from the barrel, some creaminess too and juicy with abundant, slightly dusty tannins. For fans of the style. 52,000 bottles produced and sold exclusively in the US.

The 2022 Red Blend combines 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Monastrell and 10% Syrah. It was aged in American and French oak barrels, as well as alternative oak. The wine opens with ash, spice and subtle pyrazines, framed by black fruit and oak. Dry, with a slightly creamy texture, the palate shows the influence of American oak, which extends the finish with vanilla. A crowd-pleasing wine.

Flavors of dried cranberry and cherry, rooibos tea, and milled white pepper are layered with light, creamy tannins and lightly tangy acidity in this fresh, chewy, medium-bodied red. Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Drink now. 6,000 cases made, 6,000 cases imported.