NV Savory & James Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Deluxe Medium Sherry Amontillado, Spain, Wine Review

Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

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.  

2011 Bodegas Muga Rioja Gran Reserva Prado Enea, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

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

2020 Psi Ribera del Duero, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

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

2016 Bodegas El Coto Rioja Coto de Imaz Reserva, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

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.

2011 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

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

2012 Bodegas Vinsacro Rioja, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

We tasted this about 5 years ago and it has really filled out since then.  This is a blend of 55% Tempranillo, 20% Granacha, 10% Mazuelo, 10% Graciano and 5% Monastrell from Rioja, Spain.  It is a more modern take than a traditional Rioja but still made using American Oak.  Ruby in color with some purple swirls, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight chocolate, toast and spice.  Full bodied.  Plenty of depth.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with spice.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now on its own and would work well with meats or fowl or roasted

2016 Atalayas de Golban Ribera del Duero Torre de Golbán Crianza, Spain, Ribera del Duero, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo).  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, dusty attic notes and some cherries.  Medium bodied with good acidity.  On the palate, tart black cherries and some cherries with underlying char.  Seems to be about at peak right now but should drink well for another three to five years.  This is nice on its own and will work well with meats and fowl.  A nice wine for a sausage pizza.  

2020 Raventós i Blanc de Nit Blanc de Blancs, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This is a certified organic sparkling wine from Spain that is a blend of 45% Xarel.lo, 40% Macabeo, 12% Parellada and 3% Malvasía de Sitges.  It was reviewed in November, 2022, and this was a nice chance to see how it has developed since then.  Golden in color with a fair amount of smaller bubbles.  The nose is rounder but still showing lemons.  Also a bit of seltzer and some crushed shell notes.  Refreshing acidity.  The lemons carry thru to the palate with mineral undertones.  A bit more complexity than I remember.  Much better, longer finish.

2020 Wander + Ivy Utiel-Requena Red Wine Blend, Spain, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
85
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$7.00USD

This comes in attractive packaging.  A 187ml glass bottle with screw top and plastic stopper.  The wine itself is from Spain.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  Medium bodied.  Nice texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cherries although a bit clipped on the finish.  Also some Kirsch notes.  This is a fun idea for a "single serving"  for $7 or $8.  Drink over the next year.  A nice wine with pizza or a picnic.  

2016 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Gran Reserva Especial, Spain, Rioja, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$49.00USD

Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, cedar, dil, and vanilla.  Medium bodied.  Drying tannins.  On the palate, cherries with underlying char.  some depth.  Good balance.  Long finish.  This is a nice, easy drinking Rioja that should drink well for the next ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own, this is food friendly and would work well with roast meats or veggies.  

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