Click image to enlarge.

I first tried the 2008 versions of these two Spanish reds from Verasol about a year ago. I liked those then, but when I tried to find out more about the producer, there was precious little information available on the Interweb. Not much has changed during the ensuing months, as this is still the only brief blurb I can find:

“Verasol searches up-and-coming regions around Spain to find old vines with native grapes. The wines are vinified by the well-known and highly respected winemaker Pedro Sarrion. All the wines are raised and aged in tank so the native varietals and the soil from the region can speak loudly. They represent great values.”

The wines are imported by the excellent José Pastor Selections, whose mission is an admirable one:

“We believe the best wines are made in the vineyard. Since the founding of JPS, we have searched both established and up-and-coming regions throughout Spain to find producers who respect their land by using the most natural means possible, often practicing organic farming. For many of our growers, this is how their ancestors made wine long before it became popular. Our producers emphasize Spain’s indigenous grape varietals and above all else, work with their land to handcraft honest wines with a sense of place. To this end, they use indigenous yeast during fermentation, and oak treatment and filtering is kept to a minimum. These are the guiding principles we use to seek out new producers, and as Spain’s diverse terroir continues to be uncovered, we look forward to discovering and bringing our customers many more new fascinating and unknown wines.”

JPS’ website could use some upgrading, but I’ve had no complaints on any of the wines in their portfolio that I’ve tasted, distributed here in southeastern Michigan by our friends at Signature Selections Wine Company, in Auburn Hills. Here are my impressions of two we’ve tried in the last week.

2009 Verasol Tn Tempranillo Navarra, 13.5% alc., $11.99: Clean, dark garnet color, with bone dry black currant, earth and mineral character; as it opens with air, a solid core of fairly ripe fruit becomes more evident, but this is by no means a fruit bomb. Full bodied, with ample structure for three-to-five years in the cellar, and good length on the finish. This should benefit with those three-to-five years, but this is good now when paired with a delicious grilled organic grass-fed flat iron steak. Excellent value for what’s in the bottle. Find this wine

2009 Verasol MCS Monsatrell Jumilla, 14% alc., $11.99: Deep and dark in color, and big and brawny on the palate, with an earthy black currant and black plum personality shaded with almost coal dust-like minerality. Even fuller bodied and more seriously structured than the Tempranillo, this big wine wants some cellar time, maybe as much as five or even ten years. Grilled meats will tame it some now, but patience is advised; another excellent value here. Find this wine

Both of these were purchased at Holiday Market in Royal Oak, while that deelish  C. Roy flat iron steak came from the Western Market, in Ferndale. I find it quite refreshing to find wines of this quality and price point that also show such potential for aging, making it relatively painless to put down a case or three for future consumption. I plan on investigating more selections from José Pastor in the very near future, so stay tuned.

Reporting from Day-twah,

geo t.