Ondarre Rioja Reserva 2002

If you are into Riojas this one is a pretty tasty treat. Tempranillo 75%, Garnacha 10%, Mazuelo (Carignane)15%, full body with a deep cherry hue. No oxidation or browning. The nose is typically malolactic: yogurt and sweet fruit.
Sometimes Riojas are too flat for me... this one, although very fruit forward, has enough structure to be fun. Cherry syrup, fig jam and oak. $16 in retail. And yes, it calls for a pork loin!

Castell del Remei- Gotim Bru 2005 Catalonia Spain

Castell del Remei- Gotim Bru 2005 Catalonia Spain

Tempranillo, Merlot, Granache & Cabernet Sauvignon blend

Price U$ 15

http://www.wine.com/V6/Castell-del-Remei-Gotim-Bru-2005/wine/92262/detail.aspx?s=GoogleBase&cid=GoogleBase

This spanish blend which has a total of 4 different varietals is a great value for the price.

With about 70% Tempranillo one can still taste the other 3 blends which gives this full ruby red wine a rich taste. Its spicey and I tasted hints of coffee and cherry in the mix.

Catalan wines are hard to find outside of Europe but this is a good place to start.

Santa Julia, Organic Tempranillo 2008

Just a quick enthusiastic note about this $8 organic tempranillo from Maipu, Mendoza... I had it at friends gallery afterparty, and was pretty surprised...
This is a big, complex wine; figs, blueberry and other fruit jam flavors, with a nice round nose of blackberry. And its organic! Earlier that evening i had some $14 a glass Rioja at La Boqueria and it didn't even come close. Seriously, I am going to Argentina!

Dom Martinho, Domaines Barons De Rotschild (Lafite), 2005

Tonight's treat was a Portuguese bottle from the southern region of Alentejo, produced by a Rotschild/Boredeaux affiliated Sociedade Agricola Quinta Do Carmo. ($17)

This rather intense wine is a blend of Aragonez (Tempranillo), Cab. Sauvignon and Syrah. Think of it as your nice Bordeaux on steroids. After the first sip I felt like I just smoked a Cuban cigar... while sucking on a salt-lick. Over all a super fun wine, but it completely overwhelmed our dinner of acorn squash soup, prosciutto and sprout salad :(

Full body, deep red shifting toward brick, a nose of sweet plum an cherry.
The mouth begins with an attack of syrupy sour cherry, then cola and salt mid palette, with an over the top finish of tobacco and some other bitter, herbal notes.

You simply have to have a rare buffalo steak with this bottle.

Update: saved a glass for the next day and the salt/cola tuned into a very smooth blueberry... also pretty good. Go figure!

Prado Rey- Roble 2006

Prado Rey- Roble 2006

Spain

Price 20 USD

http://www.shoppersvineyard.com/1/42405/Chateau-Haut-Surget-Lalande-De-Pomerol?utm_source=Vinquire&utm_medium=WineFeed&utm_term=winebottle&utm_campaign=base

Coming out of the Ribera del Duero region this great everyday table wine red has a great blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Merlot. As it name implies the wine is aged in oak barrels which give this blend of grapes a very spicy and rich taste.

There are hints of vanilla and of berries.

Great with creamy cheese, pastas and roasts.

Clos de Torribas 2006

Spanish tempranillo (Penedes), bought the bottle in Bogota. Not an expensive
wine, somwhere around $15. Medium body, vanilla and prune nose, cherry
and blueberry tastes... Amazing stuff, I would give it 8.5! Tried 2003 as well and it wasn't even close...