Clear, medium ruby to garnet color. Cherry, raspberry, red fruit, soft oak on nose. Dry, medium acid, medium tannin, oak, cherry, strawberry, and a fruity finish. WHO: Dinastía Vivanco WHAT: Tempranillo WHERE: Rioja, Spain WHEN: 2005 HOW MUCH: $15
Clear, medium garnet color with fading rim. Aromas of black cherry, strawberry, raspberry, smoke, spice, and soft vegetal. Full body, dry, medium acid, medium-high tannin, black cherry, raspberry, fleshy black fruit, with a long, soft finish. WHO: Fra Guerau WHAT:-read more-
Brick, garnet red, clear with faded rim. Oxidation on nose, berries, earth, deep fruit, ripe blackberry, dried fruit. Dry, full body, medium tannin, medium acid, cooked fruit, blackberry jam, oak, nutty finish. WHO: Bodegas Valdubón WHAT: Tempranillo WHERE: Ribera del-read more-
Clear, ruby with some blue purple. Huge raspberry on the nose, chocolate, plum jam, cooked berries, violet, licorice, vanilla. Dry, full body, medium tannin, medium acid, full, lush dark fruit, integrated oak, medium finish. WHO: Legaris WHAT: Tempranillo WHERE: Ribera-read more-
Ruby to garnet red, clear. Aromas of raspberry, jammy fruit, dried flowers, smoke. Dry, medium tannin, medium acid, light fruit, cherry, and oak. WHO: Condado de Oriza WHAT: Tempranillo WHERE: Ribera del Duero, Spain WHEN: 2005 HOW MUCH: $13
Clear, medium-plus intensity, brick red. Nose like motor oil, dark fruit, dusty, smoky, meaty, dried fruit. Dry, medium tannin, plum, brandy, black fruit. Medium-light acid, chewy, spice, long finish. WHO: Bodegas Viños de Fábula WHAT: Tempranillo WHERE: Toro, Spain WHEN:-read more-
Clear, deep, brick red color. Vegetal, earth, dark fruit, cassis, spice, pepper, developed aromas. Dry, medium tannin, medium acidity, red fruit, smooth. WHO: Bodegas Viña Magaña WHAT: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo WHERE: Navarra, Spain WHEN: 2004 HOW MUCH: $20
This is a soft, juicy, Rioja with berry and vanilla flavors wrapped gently in leather and a touch of tobacco. The finish falls off quickly, but this is a very reasonably priced Rioja Reserva, and at $12 a bottle why-read more-