Jean Leon Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva Penedes

This is an exceptional Spanish Cab with plenty of life still ahead. Decanted 30-min prior to dinner of sweet/savory pork loin, grains, and salad. Drank over following 2 hours. Deep, ruby violet color with no significant bricking. The textured nose brings green strawberries and tons of sweet tobacco, along with cherry menthol, hints of leather, mushrooms, musty earth, and leafy greens. Full-bodied with good weight that filled out with air, the palate brings chocolate cherry cake, more tobacco, herbs and spices, rhubarb, red and black licorice, musty leather, and drifts off into a lovely 30-second finish of candied strawberries and raspberries. The acidity drives this wine with a nervy firmness and vibrancy that should bode well for more aging. The tannins are refined, though the tail seemed chalky by the third glass. Overall, very good balance and this should get only better. Drink now-2026.