Spain

• Alicante
• Andalusia
• Campo de Borja
• Castilla y Leon
  • Bierzo
• Catalonia
• Jerez
• Jumilla
• Madrid
• La Mancha
• Manchuela
• Méntrida
• Montsant
• Navarra
• Pais Vasco (Basque)
• Priorat
• Rias Baixas
• Ribera Del Duero
• Ribera del Guadiana
• Rioja
• Rueda
• Terra Alta
• Toro
• Valdeorras
• Valdepeñas
• Valencia
• Yecla

This is a Rosé from Spain that is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha.  It is Salmon pink/copper in color, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with a slight orange/citrus note along with cherries, strawberries and a very slight vanilla note.  (As an aside, both this and the Blanco had a vanilla note, but it does not appear the wines so oak, so where does it come from?).  Medium bodied with a slightly oily texture.  On the palate, lots of fresh cherries, some cranberries and slight red currants.  A bitter almond note on the finish.  This is refreshing and a lovely wine to serv

This is a blend of 93% Viura, 4% Sauvignon Blanc, and 3% Verdejo grapes from the Rioja region of Spain.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with sea air/salinity, Limes, and slight vanilla note.  Light bodied with a slightly viscous texture.  12% abv.  On the palate, this is very refreshing.  Limes with underlying minerality.  Good acidity.  This will work well with lighter foods.  Tuna or Chicken salad would work well.  drink over the next couple of years.  Great Value!

This is the big, modern style of Spanish wine.  It is a blend of 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is intense with black cherries, black raspberries, blueberries along with char and spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Juicy, velvety texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black cherries and cassis notes with spice and underlying char.  Enough acidity to handle the fruit.  Long finish.  Of course, this is young and will develop and mellow a bit as the tannins and fruit integrate, but this is not a shy wine not will it be in twent

This was the second time tasting this wine this month.  Lucky me!  It is classic old style Rioja impeccably produced.   Truly a great value in traditional Rioja.  The wine is fermented in 144 year old oak vats before being stored for five years in used American oak barrels and five more in bottles.  It is a blend of Tempranillo (80%), Garnacho (15%), Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano (5%) from estate vineyards. Ruby in color with some purple swirls and maybe just a hint of orange.  The nose is great with cherries, spice, cedar, dust and slight herbal note.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.

This is a crisp white wine from northwest Spain.  It is made from 100% Albarino grapes.  It sees 35% Large used oak barrels and the rest stainless steel.  Pale yellow gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemon/lime but also a slight papaya note with lots of minerality.  A touch of salinity on the nose.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, crisp acidity with a lovely texture.  Limes with a slight herbal note (chervil?) and mineral undertones.  Long finish.  This is a seriously great value in whites.  While I do like the California Albarino's, its hard to justify paying for them when Spa

Sherry represents some of the best values in Wine!  This is a $10 bottle that is complex, interesting and tasty.  Iced tea in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nutty (hazelnuts?) with a slight toffee note.  Viscous.  On the palate, this is off dry (just a bit of sweetness).  Hazelnuts.  The alcohol is noticeable but not overwhelming.  Smooth finish.  This was nice to end the evening although it would work nicely as a first course with some cheeses.  

Another classic Rioja albeit a slightly more modern style.  This is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha.  Ruby in color with a purple core, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, cedar, black cherries, forest floor, dust and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black cherries, tobacco and spice with some underlying char.  Some chocolate comes out on the long finish.  This is still young but already great.  A couple more years in the cellar will be rewarded but this is fantastic drinking now.  Drink over th

This comes from the producer of Pingus, one of Spain's most revered wines.  Of course, it doesn't have the price tag of that one, but this is still an outstanding wine.  90% Tempranillo.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice and  minerality.  Lush texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, blueberries and slight cherries with underlying minerality.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is a more modern take on Tempranillo.  This drinks great on its own but will need bigger foods for now.  This would be nice

My first time trying this wine and it was quite enjoyable.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, spice and slight chocolate notes.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this drinks easy but there is also some depth.  Cherries, with a slight char and the chocolate note comes thru as well.  Nice finish.  This drinks nicely on its own but should be very food friendly at the table.  A nice match would be grilled sausages.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  A very nice value.

This is about as classic as old style Rioja gets.  As the Gran Reserva's get more expensive, this is truly a great value in traditional Rioja.  The wineis fermented in 144 year old oak vats before being stored for five years in used American oak barrels.  Ruby in color with some purple swirls and maybe just a hint of orange.  The nose is great with cherries, spice, cedar, dust and slight herbal note.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cherries with slight black cherries and spice.  Complex and deep.  Tight layers that unwind in the glass.  This is drinking well now but should hav