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

Sherries are not for everyone.  That is a shame.  I love them.  The "trick" to the lighter dry ones is to pair them with the right food.  Salty foods seem to tame the oxidation and have a synergistic effect.  This bottle is good on its own but pair with olive, salty cheese or even salty peanuts and it blossoms.  It also benefits from a bit of air and a slight chill.  Pale golden in color.  The nose has a good amount of volatile acidity (nail polish) and slight oxidation.  There is a pine quality along with a bit of stale almonds and a bit of a woody note.  None of those sounds particularly

What an interesting and great wine.  This is a sweet dessert wine made from Pedro Ximinez grapes.  This was made from grapes harvested in 1946.  It was casks and bottled in 2011.  There have been varying batch releases since then (though none on the market as of now).  It is dark brown in color.  A pretty color but not one normally associated with great wines.  The nose has a tootsie roll quality with a touch of chocolate liqueur.  Viscous.  On the palate, the tootsie roll notes follow thru but also a bit of warming alcohol which works nicely.   It is sweet, not cloying with a bit of acidit

This wine, made by a large Co-Op is always a great value in refreshing, crisp white wines.  It is from the northwest corner of Spain.  Light, pale yellow gold in color.  The nose has seashells, salinity and also a nice crisp green apple note.  Light bodied.  On the palate, this has a nice bite.  Lots of energy.  The apple notes come thru as well.  Moderate finish.  This goes well with sea food and salads.  it also drinks well on its own, especially outdoors on a warm evening.  It should be consumed in the next year.  And, then buy the next vintage.

This is a Tempranillo wine.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries,black cherries and baking spice.  Also some dustiness.  On the palate, this has a nice texture.  It is warm and dusty with black cherry fruit.  Some complexity.  Nice finish.  This will still get better but it is drinking well right now.  Another few years and it should be close to peak.  It will go well with roasts and grilled meats.  

This was quite popular at our Intowine.com tasting.  It is a young wine from Spain made from Tempranillo.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, sea air and just a bit of woodiness.  On the palate, this has a nice balance.  Light with silky tannins.  The wine flutters on the palate.  Soft with black cherries and just a bit of anise. It is very tasty with some depth and complexity.  It won't get better than this and should be consumed in the next few years.  

This is 100% Monastrell (also known as Mourvedre) from Jumilla, Spain.  It is another excellent red value from outside the main wine growing regions of Spain.  Purple/ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a dusty attic quality along with plums and a bit of iodine.  Interesting.  On the palate, this has black cherries and plums.  A bit of spice.  Some acidity.  Not a lot of complexity but easy drinking.  it should be drunk in the next year or two, but who knows, perhaps a lost bottle will surprise in five years.  It is a nice wine for a party or cook out.  It should go with most mea

From the Utiel-Requena region of northwest Spain and made from 100% Bobal grapes.  This is an excellent value red.  Ruby in color.  The nose is tight at first but opens with air to show dust and cherries.  On the palate, this has light tannins.  Nice cherry fruit.  Some black cherry fruit and a bit of earthiness.  Slight depth.  OK acidity.  This should certainly last another five years and it may get better.  It works better with food.

This is a Spanish wine made from Tinto Fino which is the local name from Tempranillo.  It was good to try another bottle as the first was badly corked.  This was very nice if a bit young.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, dust and cedar.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Bold cherry flavor with underlying char.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  It should continue to evolve for the next five years or so and be good for at least a decade after that.  It will go well with foods on the grill.  

Brought back from a visit a couple of years ago.  This is 90% Garnacha and 10 percent Morate.  The wines of Gredos posit a unique take on Grenache and this is no exception.  This is a great value and can be found under $20 and closer to $15 at times.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has nice cherries with some salinity and a bit of minerality.  Clean.  On the palate, bright cherries over minerals with some salinity.  Medium bodied.  Some depth.  Nice finish.  A bit of acidity but enough.  This will work with lighter foods and fowl.  Great with stews.  It is drinking well but probably has anot

This is a Garnacha (Grenache) from the region of Navarra in north central Spain.  Although Spain is in Europe, many of its wines are very much new world in style and this one certainly is.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is pretty with black cherries, cedar, with slight figs/raisins.  On the palate, black cherry fruit over a bed of charred wood.  Still pretty thick tannins.  Nice finish.  This wine needs more time to develop but there should be an upside.  It drinks surprisingly young at age ten but all of the pieces parts are there.  It worked well with grilled Tofu (and would with meat or