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 100% Tinta del Pais (Tempranillo) from Ribera del Duero in Spain.  Deep garnet in color with some purple hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is more classic with black cherries, cherries, anise, slight coffee and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Good balance.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Loads of red cherries with some black cherries along with a bit of coffee and spice.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  This would work well with roasted duck or chicken.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

This is a beautiful 100% Tinto del Pais (Tempranillo) from Ribera del Duero in Spain.  It is a great example of the style of wine often found in RdD these days.  It's a bit more "modern" and fruit forward than classic Rioja (the region next door).  Purple in color with a think ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight cherries, black raspberries, fresh tobacco, baking spice and slight char.  Great energy and balance.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, this is big but not overdone.  Delicious.  Flavors of black cherries, black raspberries, char

This is mostly Tempranillo but also has 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo (according to the label).  This is everything one wants in a Gran Reserva including a reasonable price!  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight sour cherries, balsamic vinegar, vanilla and forest floor.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity and depth.  Flavors of cherries, black cherries, wild herbs, spice and slight tobacco notes.  Long finish.  Mature but plenty of life left.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  This  is great on its

This is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo from Rioja in Spain.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, vanilla, spice, and tea leaves.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, cherries, slight charred cherries, spice and forest floor notes.  Some complexity and depth.  This shows some maturity but there is room for further development.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  This is nice on its own and has an introspective quality but also will work well with food.  A nice wine with stews or

From the people who brought you Pingus.  This is 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha.  It is a big, fruit forward wine.  Inky purple in color with some ruby hues, opaque and bright.  The nose is meaty with black raspberries, black cherries, white pepper and wild herbs.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, black cherries with some black raspberries, spice and char.  Long finish.  Although young, this has nice depth and complexity.  It is drinking nicely but will improve with some short terms cellaring.  Hold for a couple of years and drink for ten to fifteen after that.

This was a staple around 15 or 20 years ago.  It was the "value" wine in the Palacios portfolio, but I hadn't tried it in years.  It is a blend of 72% Garnacha and 28% Carinena.   Tasted blind, the guess was Chateauneuf du Pape.  For a wine of this quality, it is still nicely priced especially for a wine from Priorat.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black cherries, wild herbs and spices.  Great texture.  Medium to full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries, slight char and spice.  Long finish.  This drinks well now and s

This is a spritzy wine from northern Spain.  Always an excellent value in lighter white wine.  Light golden in color with slight green hues, clear and bright.  There are a fair amount of smaller bubbles (trapped CO2) in the glass that have some persistence.  The nose is nice with limes, salinity and crushed shells.  Light bodied.  Tart acidity.  On the palate, tart lemon lime notes with a hint of peach.  This is nice on its own but at its best with a plate of shellfish.  Drink over the next few years.  

Great producer in the very HOT vintage of 2003.  Again it shows producer over vintage.  At age 21, this wine is showing nicely.

Deep garnet in color with some lighter ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight cedar, dill and dust.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is complex with tight layers.  Flavors of cherries, some black cherries, spice and slight char.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It will work well with roasted duck or chicken.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

This is a white wine from northwest Spain.  Light silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some grapefruit along with slight pineapple notes.  Medium bodied.  Tart acidity.  On the palate, there is refreshing tart lemon/citrus notes.  Good finish.  This is easy drinking and very food friendly for lighter foods.  Seafood would be a great match.  Drink over the next couple of years.  This winery buys up surplus juice from "top" producers around the world and packages the wine without revealing who the original producer is.