50% Garnacha 40% Mazuelo 10% Syrah.  The back of the bottle says that this will be, “definitively the best wine you have tasted from Montsant.” While I cannot agree with that, the 92 points rating on the front is some indication of what’s inside the bottle. A nice, tough Montsant with dark fruits like currant and blackberry, with some leather and rose petals on the nose. It’s a good drinking wine with enough tannin to stand up to hearty foods like roasted pork and beef. I picked this bottle up at (I think) the Whole Foods on P Street for about $16. It made an impression and I will drink it again, though it definitely is NOT the best Montsant I’ve had. If you take this one to a party or to a friend’s house for dinner, it will get compliments from anyone who enjoys big tough reds.

• Rating: Impressive
• Name: Zerran Tinto 2011
• Winery: Zerran
• Region: Montsant
• Country: Spain
• Varietals: 50% Garnacha, 40% Mazuelo, 10% Syrah
• Price: $16
• Where to Buy: Whole Foods, 1440 P St NW, Washington, DC 20005