Cara Nord Negre 2012

Spain 13.5%

Off to north eastern Spain in the Catalonian region for my next wine the Cara Nord Negre 2012, a Blend of Syrah, Garnacha and Garrut (Monastrell aka Mourvedre).

An impressively dark brooding wine, so inky in colour that you probably dip a fountain pen in a glass and write a short story with it, if anyone can remember what a fountain pen is.

This wine is made in Conca de Barberà to the north of Tarragona in a region that’s more used to producing Cava. The winery only makes two wines at the moment the other being the Cara Nord Blanc a blend of Macabeo, Chardonnay and Albarino.

When I opened the bottle the aroma was quite stinky and pronounced, rich with blackcurrant, dark cherries, herbs and dark bitter Chocolate. I decided to give it a little air for an hour or so and it did mellow slightly.

My first sip told me that this was very much a food wine full of blackberries, dark cherries with a rich, smokey and a robust earthiness. There was a little woodiness from the oak, dark chocolate and fine dusty tannins. The wine did open up a bit after a little while but there was still a rustic harshness about it which I kind of liked.

With food it was a pretty decent drink, I had a glass after the food and again it was pretty decent but I would say slightly better with something to eat.

Bought this from the Wine Society for around £10 and it’s pretty much what it’s worth, although it looks like they now only stock the white which I’ve yet to try and is on my list.

My Rating 7.5/10 Corks