Wines
of the Week: Great Value Sips from Spain
If
you love a somewhat hearty red and a good value, then Spanish
wines are something to explore. They often have a nice balance
of fruity and savory flavors, and more times than not, they
over deliver for their price tags. Here are a handful our tasting
panel sampled recently. Cheers!
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Campo
Viejo 2012 "Rioja Reserva" Blend
Winery:
Campo Viejo
Grape(s): 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano,
& 5% Mazuelo
Region: Rioja,
Spain
Year:
2012
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10- 15
Review:
Lovely cherry and raspberry aromas blend with nuances
of all-spice and toasty oak on the nose. Smooth on the
palate, lots of red fruit, including dark cherries and
raspberries, comes up front and flows into elements of
all-spice and toasty vanilla. Rather approachable and
fruit-driven for a Spanish wine, it could pair quite well
with a veggie chili.
Rating: 89 |
|
Ponce
Depaula 2015 Monastrell
Winery:
Ponce Depaula
Grape(s):
100%
Mourvedre
Region: Jumilla, Spain
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
A lovely combination of blackberries and dark cherries
meld with peppery and dried herbaceous notes on the nose.
Polished tannins frame flavors of blackberry, blueberry,
and cherry along with accents of pepper, herbs, and all-spice.
Open a bottle on taco night.
Rating: 90 |
|
Evodia
2014 Altovinum Garnacha
Winery:
Evodia
Grape(s):
Garnacha
Region: Spain
Year:
2014
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
Slightly jammy red fruit blends with pepper and leather
on the nose. There's lots of strawberries and cherries
with accents of spice and leather on the palate. Offering
supple tannins and nice berry flavors, it's fruitier than
most Spainish wines, but is still tasty.
Rating: 89 |
|
Locations
"E" 4 Red Blend
Winery:
Locations
Grape(s):
Sauvignon
Blanc
Region: Spain
Year:
n/a
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 15-20
Review:
Raspberries, cherries, and blackberries meld with earthy
and spicy expressions on the nose. The palate showcases
flavors of blackberry, cherry, and plum that are accented
by suggestions of pepper, vanilla, and smoky earth. Plush
tannins and good fruit are balanced by some savory notes,
making this a good paring for chicken fajitas.
Rating: 89 |
By
Jason Barlow
Other
Related Links:
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
*Wines
rated with a "+" need
a bit more time to reach peak quality
but will
do so over the coming years
|