2009 Cincuenta Ugarte Rioja, Spain

I’ve been wondering for quite some time what has been happening to my Total Wine & More mailers. I hadn’t received one since the first of the year and wondered what good deals they were offering. I figured my daughter was probably hiding them from me or they had ended up on the bottom of a stack of junk mail. So it was with great surprise that I found the latest mailer when I was cleaning off my kitchen table of a few days worth of mail. Low and behold, such deals on some great wines. 2009 Bordeauxs under 15 dollars, 92 point Rhone blends for 12 and 90 point rated gem for less than 10 dollars. I have grown to love Tempranillo when it’s done right and that means from Spain, usually from Rioja. This wine fits that bill perfectly. It pours dark into the glass with swirling rubies, garnets and purples that at times edge into midnight black making for a mesmerizing glass to look at. The nose wafts strongly of sugared black plums, blackberry jam, vanilla and licorice with subtler elements of dust and charcoal. The palate itself is elegant and layered; stacking dark fruits (blackberry, currant and cherry) on top of caramel and cocoa in the attack. The mid-palate is wonderfully focused; featuring perfect tannins, crisp acidity in all the right places and beautiful astringency that pull the caramel and cocoa flavors through into the finish. And what a wonderful finish it is; long and luxurious where the fruits mix and mingle with sugars and savory flavors. Chocolate covered cherry and caramel tinged plums, with sweetened coffee and vanilla laced milk leave my tongue feeling as if I’ve gone on a pleasure cruise through a box of designer candies. Underneath these flavors are more pungent tastes of cedar and smoke with hints of ash and dirt, but they all build a wonderful flavor profile that is extremely gratifying. This finishes strong and though it feels heavy it is in fact a medium bodied wine that pairs well with just about any grilled meat, some spicy barbecue, sausages and especially hamburgers.

Overall this wine was phenomenal. I was amazed at the flavor and texture that it produced and just how complex this bottle really was. It paired so well I went through the bottle in three consecutive nights and came back on the fourth night disappointed I hadn’t saved a little for a few slices of pizza. At 10 dollars this is an amazing QPR. Sure it got 90 points from The Wine Advocate, but this one was a surprise to me. I frequently sample 90+ point wines (those that ring up at the register under 25 dollars and there are quite a few); this bottle is right at the top of the list of those wines. Complex, daring, with a depth that is hard to find; it is a truly wonderful wine that will slake your thirst and have you coming back for more. Highly recommended and if you find it purchase more than one because you are either going to want to add it to your cellar or you are going to want to sip it for several weeks!

2007 Valserrano Rioja Crianza, Spain

Easy on the eyes…Deep ruby red with a rusty rim

Heaven Scent…Strawberry, raspberry, vanilla

 Oh the flavors…Again and again I am drawn back to Spanish wines, particularly those featuring Tempranillo grapes (which in reds is the most common varietal). The flavors present in these wines are usually very distinct being fruit forward but not necessarily sweet as they are often tempered by hints of vanilla, cedar and spice box notes. This bottle is definitely a winner. The attack comes on with wonderful strawberry and raspberry fruits, followed closely by leather and vanilla and just a hint of smoke. The mid-palate is very smooth featuring mild tannins, perfect levels of acidity and astringency and just a tad bit of sour cherry flavors. This features a medium finish brimming with red fruit jams (strawberry particularly), blueberry, black pepper, burnt sugar and vanilla. This is a medium bodied wine that leaves an aftertaste of cherry, strawberry and oak/vanilla.

Overall, this is an excellent wine that is perfectly priced for the quality that you get. It easily earns a Great QPR. It isn’t immensely complex but it well balanced with layered fruit flavors and enough complexity to keep my palate engaged. More than anything it is very pleasing and easy drinking. I recommend drinking it with meat dishes but it is very food friendly and would do well with salad, macaroni & cheese and pizza. Truly a wonderful wine and highly recommended.

Valserrano

2009 Darien Tempranillo, Spain

Color – Smooth, garnet red

Nose – Raspberry, Strawberry, Cherry

Taste – Yet another interesting and fulfilling glass of this particular varietal, this wine shows what a simple but pleasing drink Tempranillo can make. This is the least complex Tempranillo I’ve sampled, but also one of the most enjoyable. That may sound like a contradiction but it’s not; to put it simply sometimes you really just want a wine that is going to be simple while being drinkable, this is one such wine. On the attack this wine has a nice mix of dark and red fruits; cherry, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry and perhaps a little blueberry as well but there is also enough tannin and alcohol to tame the fruits. The mid-palate is “warm” with alcohol, the tannins firm but not overbearing and the fruits disappear except for some dark, semi-sweet blackberry flavors. The finish is medium, even on the short-to-medium side with flavors again of cherry, blackberry, but also hints of sour cranberry and dust. This Tempranillo is firmly of the medium bodied variety leaving off the “weight” that a few of the Tempranillos I’ve sampled have contained. It went perfect with grilled meat, both chicken and beef, showing off the fruit in contrast to the smoky, charred flavor of the meats.

Overall, I would rate this a good QPR as the bottle only set me back 6 dollars or so. This is another Trader Joe’s wine, but it’s also one of their winners. I’m not saying this is a bulk buy wine, but it’s a GREAT table wine (if only it came in 1.5 liter bottles). It is perfect for summer barbecues, cold cut sandwiches or just by itself. It won’t turn heads or be featured in the Wine Spectator, but it’s a solid red wine that you can sip without feeling guilty over the price. I recommend this one for your summer get together!

Bodegas Darien

2000 Anciano Gran Reserva Tempranillo, Spain

Color – Dark, ruby red

Nose – Cherry, vanilla, raspberry

Taste – I popped the cork on this one, poured a small glass, swirled, sniffed, sipped and thought to myself “Hmm, this really isn’t anything special”. So I set the glass aside to get a little air, recorked the bottle and went off to do some chores. After an hour or so of sitting, I returned to my glass of “10 Year Tempranillo”, took another swirl, sniff, sip, and was amazed at how the wine had both mellowed and gained flavor. The flavors are of cherry, vanilla and licorice and are very pleasant and smooth. The mid-palate has the perfect amount of acidity, astringency and heat and the cherry comes through as well as some cocoa hints. The finish is medium in length with more vanilla and light dusty oak tinges. This is one of the smoothest Tempranillos I’ve been fortunate enough to sample. It’s a completely different wine than the Condado Di Oriza Crianza, whereas that wine exhibits big, bold red wine tendencies; this wine is a wonderful mellow red wine that is easy to sip and tastes absolutely fabulous at warmer temperatures. The mouthfeel, complexity and character that follow every sip brings a contented smile to me lips every time.

Overall, this wine has a great QPR. At $7.99 at Costco you can’t go wrong here. This medium bodied red wine is perfect for any occasion. I would suggest you pick this up in large quantities while you can find it. The flavors here are absolutely immaculate, you won’t be let down.

Anciano Wines

2007 Viriato Tinta de Toro, Spain

Color – Ruby red

Nose – Strawberry, cherry, blueberry?

Taste – This wine surprised me right from the first sip. I was expecting a rather fruit forward, medium bodied red wine. That’s not really what’s displayed here. Sure there’s fruit here, but there’s also a nice heat from the alcohol that doesn’t let the fruit run away with this wine. I would say to let this wine decant for a good 15 minutes before you really start to sip and also that it tastes better to me when it’s just slightly chilled. This is as close to fruit bombs as I like to get without crossing the line. I can taste red and black berries right from the first sip. The berries are followed closely by some baking spices, chocolate, and heat in the mid-palate, and then on the finish again we have lots of juicy berries characteristics coming through. I would say that without the heat from the alcohol and the subtle astringency this would just become a fruity, jammy mess of a wine. This is a medium-to-full bodied wine with a long, pleasant finish. This wine is still relatively close to being too much for my palate, but it doesn’t go overboard. I would say try this with some savory burgers or a nice cheese platter though it does go down just fine by itself.

Overall, this is another good wine with a pretty decent QPR from Trader Joe’s. It’s not incredibly adventurous, but it does bring some nice flavor and texture to the table. It’s relatively plain and simple with easygoing flavors and nothing to detract from it. This is a nice break from the normal red wines you might purchase. You can’t go wrong here, but you can find some other 6 dollar wines that are just as good if not a little better. Try it for yourself.

Wine, the Journey So Far pt. 2

I thought I'd come back to the journey today and leave off the reviews. It's not that I don't have any reviews ready to write. I have several I could post, I just think that it's nice to take a break now and again and write something just a little different. So here is the next part of my journey.

So I've compiled a decent amount of data on wines priced between 5 and 15 dollars, rather I've compiled a lot of date about my TASTES of those wines. I've come to realize that wines under 10 dollars, while they might taste ok and be fine for something to have around, the wines that grab on to my palate and keep me interested are those between 10 and 15 dollars. Sure I've had a few between 15 and 20 and they were all wines I would love to drink, but the quest to find those gems in the 10-15 range is one of those things that makes the journey so much fun.

I would say 1 in 5 bottles of wine I have tried in the below 5 dollar range turn out to be nearly undrinkable. Only once have I dumped a bottle down the drain, but I used half a bottle recently to make beef stew because I couldn't stand to drink the rest of it. This effect is something that on the one hand amuses me, but on the other makes me feel like I'm also just rolling the dice when I purchase wines under 5 dollars. Should I really pay the money and take the chance of getting something that I can't even stomach? At one time, I would have said it was worth it, now I think I'd rather spend a little more money and get a wine that I can drink and savor every drop.

I haven't had any major issues with the bottles of wine I've tasted that have ranged between 5 and 10 dollars. I haven't had a lot of them jump out as above average either. Off the top of my head, I would say the Santa Alicia Carmenere Reserva is the only wine that I have found that fits the bill of being a solid 20 dollar wine in a 7.99 bottle. The Anakena Indo Cabernet Sauvignon is the only other one I have yet to find and it barely makes the grade being as it is right at the 10 dollar cusp. But it's another solid wine and one of my 10 favorites right now. Would I continue to buy between the 5 and 10 dollar range? Sure this range, as of now, provides me with the most "bang for my buck" with the added excitement of finding out just what I've bought.

The 10 dollar and up section is the area of solid performers. Though I have found a few wines that are in the category that I think are overrated, Fabla Calatayud Garnacha being one I can think of off hand. I would say at the higher end of the spectrum there are great options, nearly too many to mention. Surprisingly I have been able to find solid performers at the 10.99 range consistently at my local Costco. And you can count on the staff at Total Wine & More to point you in the direction of several winners between 10 and 15 dollars. I would say this is the area I would love to just consistently sip wine from. If I could afford a bottle of wine in the area every night I would be a happy camper (wouldn't we all?). So for me these wines are my special wines for taking with me to other people's houses or for cracking open after a hard day's work.

All in all, I've discovered quite a bit about myself in the since January 9th when I started writing this blog. I am learning about my palate, what price ranges bring the most complexity, and where I can find the best wines in the three price ranges that I frequently purchase. What does the journey ahead hold for me? Probably a class or two at Total Wine and a few wine tastings at Arizona Vineyards. To finish part 2 off, I will list my top picks in each of my price ranges.

2010 Trader Joe's Vinas Chilenas Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile at 3.99 has superior quality for the price. Nothing fancy, but it's light years ahead of any wine under 5 dollars.

2008 Santa Alicia Carmenere Reserva, Chile at 7.99 at Cost Plus World Market is an amazing deal. This wine was rated 90 points by the Wine Advocate, and it deserves every point. As I've said before this wine should be double that price, thank god it's not.

I can't decide on just one wine in the 10-15 dollar price range. Instead I'm going to list my three favorite varietals in this category: 2007 Munoz de Toro Argie Bonarda, Argentina, 2009 Crios de Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina, 2007 Bodega Flechas de los Andes Gran Malbec, Argentina. Funny they are all from Argentina, if I were to have an honorable mention I would list 2008 Concha y Toro Trio (Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah/Cabernet Franc) Reserve, Chile and 2005 Condado Di Oriza Crianza, Tempranillo, Spain. Any of these choices can be found between 10 and 15 dollars, and three of them were rated above 90 points.

Hopefully this was just as fun to read as one of my reviews. If not I apologize. If it doesn't it should help you take another look at your own development and journey with wine. Drinking a glass of wine should be about education, pleasure and relaxation. If you can get that from a glass or a particular bottle, and you haven't gone broke in the process, then you've come a good way in your journey.

2008 Fabla Calatayud Garnacha, Spain

Color - Garnet

Nose - Strawberry, Tannin, Alcohol, Oak

Taste - Right from the get-go, this wine strikes me as very light, fruit forward and particularly dry. As with the nose, there are definite hints of strawberry and as the wine passes over the palate it has quite along finish, which surprised me. Attacks the mid-palate, but rather softly with light berry flavors . This wine has a very clean finish, one of the cleanest I've experienced, it leaves almost no lingering tastes of anything, which I view as disappointing. The finish itself is medium compared to what I'm used to, and pleasant. It's rather one dimensional, not complex at all. I would say this is a decent substitute to Chianti or a light Merlot. After a second tasting of this, I find it does leave just a slight aftertaste of leaves (strawberry leaves or sweet tea leaves). Finally, I can't find any tannins at all, though they seem present in the nose, I can't taste them to save my life. For me this is a big minus since I love tannins in my wine.

Overall,this is much too light for my tastes. It's extremely un-complex, bordering on boring. I'm sure it would be great to serve to red wine newbies or people that like light/sweet red wines, but for me it just seems bland and a waste of time and money. It's not nearly tannic or full bodied enough which is the main deciding factor. It is drinkable by itself, but you should know that the flavors "dull" rather quickly. Find something even a little more complex and driving, perhaps a Malbec or decent Tempranillo.

Calatayud Wines

2005 Condado Di Oriza Crianza, Tempranillo, Spain

Color - Dark, Ruby Red

Nose - Plum, Blackberry, Molasses/Brown Sugar, Tobacco

Taste - Right away this wine is both sweet and very dry. It's definitely a fruit forward wine, as most Tempranillo's I've had are also fruit forward. This wine has a very long finish with hints of vanilla and oak. It's quickly become one of my favorite wine's which is strange for me because I don't normally like sweet, fruit forward wines. It is quite possible this wine smells better than it tastes, and it tastes great. The aroma of plum and blackberry that melts into brown sugar is so inviting...that yankee candle company should make candles of this scent. This wine is complex enough to keep me guessing but not too complex to confuse me. In one sentence, "An awesome red, sweet but not a fruit explosion, wonderful tannins, long finish that makes me just want to drink more."

Overall, this price and quality of this wine makes it a no-brainer, buy this wine now, in large quantities, and enjoy it daily. It's actually a wine from the Pagos del Rey winery in Spain which produces high quality, much more expensive wines. This one is a bargain at less than 15 dollars. Keep your cellar stocked with this, and you won't be disappointed.

Pagos del Rey