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

Of course, 2003 was an extremely hot vintage all across Spain.  Some wines were over ripe while in other cases, the vines simply shut down causing under ripe wines.  No worries here.  This wine was excellent.  Deep ruby in color if a bit flat.  The nose is interesting.  Dusty with cherries and black cherries and a hint of mint.  On the palate, this has lush black cherries.  Some initial heat but it smoothed out with a bit of air.  It is a bit riper than most vintages but not too much.  Drinking well now and for the next five to ten years.  

Dull purple in color.  The nose is nice.  Fresh and earthy with some cherries.  On the palate, this has bright cherries.  A bit lighter than other vintages.  It faded quickly in the glass.  Still quite good but this probably needs to be consumed in the next few years if this bottle was representative.  More red cherries than black cherries.  

Easily the star in a vertical of older vintages of Numanthia.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has slight coconut with ripe black cherries and some spice.  On the palate, this is lush, deep and still youthful.  Black cherry fruit.  Firm medium tannins.  Long finish.  Just a delicious wine that will doubtless last another decade and probably two as it matures.  This will need bigger food to stand up to it.  

This wine is showing its age and was a unanimous choice for last place in our vertical.  That said, it is still worth drinking if you own a bottle, just lower expectations.  Purple in color.  The nose is a bit dusty with just a bit of diluted cherry fruit left.  On the palate, this lacks fruit.  There is a bit of a root beer note that is interesting.  Slightly bitter on the finish.  It has some depth.  Of course, at age 19, bottles will vary.  

This is drinking quite well and youthfully at age 20.  Purple in color, no signs of bricking.  On the nose there is spice, cherries and funk/barnyard.  Still has reasonably firm tannins on the palate.  This is deep and complex with slightly jammy black cherry fruit. It is a bit drying on the finish.  Overall, this is delicious and seems more like a five to seven year old wine.  Should have no problem lasting another decade.  It is a big wine and will need bigger food to pair with it.  

This is made from the Albillo grape just a bit east of Madrid in Manchuela.  Light white gold in color.  The nose is interesting.  Waxy with chamomile tea and slight lemony notes.  On the palate, this is a fuller bodied white.  Slightly oily texture but lacking a lot of acidity.  Nice apple notes with some minerality.  Also a cinnamon quality on the finish which is interesting.  Long finish.  A very enjoyable wine and a nice change of pace.  This will work well with a wide variety of foods.  No idea on how well this grape ages.  

Sherries are some of the best value in the wine world but they are a specific tasted.  I love them.  This wine sells for under $20 and is excellent if treated right.  Light golden in color.  The nose has some volatile acidity (think paint thinner) but also a nice nuttiness to it.  It is fortified although this style has less oxidation than many sherries.  On the palate, this is dry as a bone.  drinking on its own is not a fun experience.  But, add some salty foods and the pairing is transformative.  A nuttiness with a dry acidity that is refreshing.  It is best with oilves, nuts and cracker

I bought this on the recommendation of Wes at the local wine store.  Good call.  It was my tasting group's WOTN (#2 for me).  And for $25, a pretty good value.  Closer to $18 for those in other states with less restrictive laws.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is initially tight but opens with air.  Cherries and some dark cherries with a nice dusty quality.  On the palate, this has a juicy and lush texture.  Medium tannins.  Plenty of black cherry fruit.  Good finish.  A bit more modern in style but not full blown.  This works on its own and will work well at the table too.  

Sadly, this was badly corked.  A shame as it was my last bottle.  

This is a very modern take on Rioja.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is tight.  With air it shows black cherries and black raspberries.  Also some spice.  On the palate, this is deep and delicious.  Firm tannins.  Bright black cherry fruit.  Blind, I would have probably guessed California Grenache.  Still, it is delicious and inexpensive (under $20).  It would make a great party wine.  Not sure how well this will age.  It might be fun to lay a bottle or two down.