This is only my second attempt at posting notes, so bear with me.

2002 Finca Sandoval – Manchuela
14.5% alcohol , Syrah blend

-I opened the bottle about 20 minutes before serving. As soon as I poured the wine into the glass, I was hit with the aroma of black berries with a touch of vanilla.
-The color was a bright cherry red
-It had a velvety smooth texture and many sweet tannins.

I really enjoyed this wine and will definitely go out and get a case. I would rate it 94. At 22.00 Eur a bottle I think it is a steal.

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"I have lived temperately ... I double the doctor's recommendation of a glass and a half of wine a day and even treble it with a friend." - Thomas Jefferson

Hi barca man,

Forgive my ignorance but is Manchuela a Spanish DO? If so, where from and did the rest of the DO do well because I though most of southern Europe was flooded in 2002 so I have been busy stocking up on 2001's.

Thanks.

Welcome to Massachusetts - Be Fabulous and Say "I Do"

Manchuela is a relatively small D.O. in Cuenca (roughly halfway between Madrid and Valencia), geographically inside the region of Castilla-La Mancha (but atypically so when it comes to wine, it's such a huge region). This syrah in particular fared much better than Cote Rotie in 2002 (remember RP isolated by the floods in the Rhone?). Parker rated this 92, even better than the 2001 (91). While I particularly do not agree with his preference (on the basis of just one bottle), the 22€ tag deserves two opportunities at least...

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Free Winona!

quote:

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Originally posted by TuaRita99:
Hi barca man,

Forgive my ignorance but is Manchuela a Spanish DO? If so, where from and did the rest of the DO do well because I though most of southern Europe was flooded in 2002 so I have been busy stocking up on 2001's.

Thanks.

Welcome to Massachusetts - Be Fabulous and Say "I Do"

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TuaRita;
I can't add much to Gasto's description except to say that before this wine, I had not heard about any good wines coming from this D.O.

Roughly 75% of all wines produced in Manchuela is for internal consumption. However, Finca Sandoval exports about 75% of its product.
This wine is made by Victor de la Serna, a well known wine critic here in Spain.
He also makes a 2nd wine called Salia. RP gave the 2001 a 89, but I can't say that I enjoyerd the wine. I do not have a TN for it, but clearly recall being unimpressed.
In Spain the QPR for this wine is decent. If you find it in the US for under $30 snap it up.

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"I have lived temperately ... I double the doctor's recommendation of a glass and a half of wine a day and even treble it with a friend." - Thomas Jefferson

Anyone try this recently? I am thinking of cracking one soon. Thanks.

IW

IW, I have not but would not worry about opening this modern style wine.

I was amused at the above post from Toro making note of 14.5% alcohol back in 2004.

Heck, today that is rather low.