Oeno files

Makeup 100 percent monastrell

Hails from Yecla, a small D.O. in eastern Spain

Profile Strong, plum-purple juice with flavors of dark, leathery fruits and a finish that betrays the tongue-coating tannins and hints at fresh, bright raspberries.

Tasting notes Your holiday shopping list keeps growing, the credit-card bills are already rolling in and everywhere you turn there’s another excuse to spend money (only not on yourself). In other words, you need a drink, but you don’t feel like you can afford one. This is why happy hours involving cheap beer and Jell-O shots were created, but the sad truth about wine is that, most of the time, you get what you pay for. But not always. Take this bottle of monastrell (which is what the Spaniards call mourvèdre). With its rich mouth feel and big dose of strong, hearty flavor, it’s a wine that gives you maximum bang for your buck—even if you only have seven of them.

Pairings Forget cabs—this stuff has the fruit and structure to handle beef. Take it to Las Tablas (2965 N Lincoln Ave at Wellington Ave, 773-871-2414) and drink it with the juicy strip steak.

Buy it for $6.99 at Olivia’s Market (2014 W Wabansia Ave between Damen and Hoyne Aves, 773-227-4220).—David Tamarkin