Maquinon 2015

The colour is medium ruby. On the nose the 14% alcohol content is clearly detectable and disturbing, also due to the lack of other aromas and a slight reminder of acetone. In the mouth acidity, dryness and bitterness is all I can perceive. No aftertaste worth mentioning, which, given the overall experience, is probably an advantage.

Maquinon is a red wine of the DO Priorat elaborated by Casa Rojo under its “The Wine Gurus” collection, which comprises nine wines made in nine different wine producing region of Spain: Rías Baixas, Valdeorras, Bierzo, Rueda, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, Cava and Jumilla, where Casa Rojo is headquartered.

These are limited productions that range between the 10’000 bottles made with Mencía grapes under the DO Bierzo with the Ladrón label and the 100’000 bottles made with Monastrell grapes under the DO Jumilla with the MachoMan label. The total production is less than 500’000 bottles.

The first two projects to emerge under the colorfully artistic labels and witty names that characterise “The Wine Gurus” line have been MachoMan Monastrell (DO Jumilla) and El Gordo del Circo (DO Rueda) in early 2014.

Maquinon is made under the DO Priorat with 100% Garnacha grapes and is certified Demeter, a certification program first established in Germany in 1928. Demeter has been the first ecological label for organically produced foods and nowadays it is the largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture.

I bought this bottle two years ago at El Corte Inglés in Palma de Mallorca for 19 EUR. It seems that the focus is more on the marketing than on the wine itself.

Country: Spain
Region: Priorat
Grapes: Garnacha/Grenache
Type: Red
Vintage: 2015
Producer: Casa Rojo
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 1/5