Luzon 2007

Given the proviso that it has an hour to breathe (and this is essential), this Spanish red from Murcia in the extreme South, a blend of Shiraz and Monastrel, is a pleasing companion to red meats. It has a plentiful nose, a mix of dark berry and cherry tastes and a licorice/tannin finish that stops short of bitterness, but only if it has breathed sufficiently. $8.99, two dollars less in more fortunate states.