I was lured to this Monastrell-Syrah blend by an 88 Parker rating, and lined it up next to an '05 Castano Monastrell, which got a big plug from Comrade Vaynerchuck on Wine Library TV. Both of these bottles weighed in at $9 a piece, so it seemed like a fair match to me - no punching on the ropes, no hitting below the belt.

As a footnote: Monastrell is actually just Mourvedre wearing a Spanish dress. But these two ladies were fierce, and totally different: The Castano had no bouquet - I mean you'd have to dip your schnozz in the drink to get a nose off of this - but it was delicious on the palette in only the way that perfectly manufactured mediocracy can make a wine drinker happy. The Castano is that obsequious, conflict-averse librarian-type that can't and won't offend anyone, but ends up not exactly surprising or entertaining you either. This is a great drink for wine drinkers who aren't obsessed with "tasting" or experimenting, and just want something that tastes great.

The Luzon on the other hand, had a nose, but it was a bit stinky and pungent. The taste on the palate was actually pleasant enough - nice body, good cherry and dark berry flavors, with a bit of spiciness that livens things up - but the finish was very bitter and frankly just didn't taste very good, even after some time in the open air. The Luzon was definitely puttin' itself out there - but he's that guy at the party who tries a bit too hard, who's totally oblivious & can't pick up on social cues, the guy who doesn't quite fit in (with your palate). On the other hand, given the real range of ratings this bottle gets - both from establishment critics and bloggers - I suspect there may just be a lot of inconsistency across the bottles.

I rated the Castano an 85 and the Luzon an 84.