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This Spanish Rioja is inky black in the glass and offers aromas of ripe cherries with herby and a little funky notes. Chocolate-covered cherries and dark berry flavors on this great example of Rioja. It’s a little tannic and peppery on the finish.
Pairings: Grilled meats, spicy food, barbecue
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 85% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano
Region: Rioja, Spain
Price: $25
Red/blueish in the glass, this young Spanish wine offers a noseful of stone fruit and earthy notes. This food-friendly Tempranillo is bright with rich fruit flavors.
Pairings: Grilled lamb, garlicky shellfish, seared salmon
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): Tempranillo
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Price: $8.99
I enjoyed this wine at San Francisco’s Spruce restaurant, which I highly recommend, and absolutely loved it.
On the nose, this Spanish wine is perfumed with sweet green apple and light lemony notes. In the mouth, this affordable Albarino is crisp and dry with lime zest and more green apple flavors. The finish is long with a great level of acidity.
Pairings: Pork belly, blackened chicken, grilled salmon.
Style: White
Grape Type(s): Albarino
Region: Rias Baixas, Spain
Around $20.
Made of three varietals, Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo, this Rioja is dark cherry ruby with a pale ring in the glass that reminds me of some of my favorite California Pinot Noirs. On the nose are aromas of wet wood, stone fruits and vanilla. On the palate, this lighter-bodied Spanish wine offers cherries, some rosy notes and a creamy, velvety mouthfeel with a slightly spicy, smooth, long finish.
Had this wine with a platter of cured meats and it was super. Would be great with grilled meats such as pork or chicken and with heartier fish like swordfish.
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.
Pairings: Grilled meats, lasagna bolognese
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo
Region: Rioja, Spain
Price: $10
The 2009 Santiago Ruiz is a blend of 70% albarino, 20% loureiro and 10% treixadura. This wine is straw yellow in the glass and offers a vibrant floral nose full ripe peach and lemons. It is a well-balanced wine with many layers of intensity that could serve as an aperitif and also pair well with heavier shellfish. This wine has a long and strong mineral finish.
Santiago Ruiz is known to many as the “Father of Albarino” and the 2009 is a great example of Albarino that’s affordable enough to be a go-to every day wine.
Around $20.
’09 Pazo Senorans
Although light in color, this wine from Rias Baixas is anything but that in bouquet and aroma. Party in a glass is what you get from the first sniff. Nose is vibrant and screams of honey, tropical notes with lemony undertones. The 2009 Pazo Senorans Albarino is intense, creamy and well-balanced with an enjoyable crisp finish.
Around $20.
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