Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo/Shiraz 2006, Tierra de Castilla, Spain

A medium-bodied Tempranillo blend from the famous Rioja region in Spain.

Technical Data: 60% Tempranillo blended with 40% of Shiraz. No oak.

Description: Garnet color with purple hues. Intense nose of plum, leather and cedar aromas. Lush and fruit forwards Tempranillo blend expressing morello cherries flavors entwined with ripe blackberry and plum, peppery spiciness, coffee roast oak, smooth as a glove tannins, cedar and toast. Long lasting leathery finish.

Food Pairing & Service: Will pair well with all types of meat, game and wild mushrooms, as well as with flavorful cheese. I loved this one with Braised short ribs and BBQ meats in general.

Score: 8/10.

Ageing Potential: Drink now.

Price as seen on DC shelf: $16.69

Campo Viejo Reserva 2005, Rioja, Spain

A full-bodied Tempranillo blend from the famous Rioja region in Spain.

Technical Data: Mostly Tempranillo grape blended with a small pourcentage of Graciano grape and Malbec. On the Spanish wine labels, the term "Reserva" always mean 18 months in Oak followed by 18 months in bottle prior to the wine's release.

Description: Dark ruby red in color. Intense ripe plum aromas mingled with toasty oak and blackcurrant notes. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet round with very velvety tannins and expressing flavors of juicy blackberry and ripe plum entwined with blackcurrant, black pepper, leather and toasty oak.

Food Pairing & Service: Will pair well with all types of meat, game and wild mushrooms, as well as with flavorful cheese.

Score: 9/10.

Ageing Potential: Drink now and up to 3 more years.

Price as seen on DC shelf: $16.99

Martin Codax Ergo 2007, Rioja, Spain

A medium-bodied Tempranillo from the famous Rioja region in Spain.

Technical Data: 100% Tempranillo grape. Most of the wine is aged about 8 months in oak.

Description: Vibrant garnet red in color. Intense ripe dark fruits aromas well mingled with woody aromas and spices. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and dry, displaying dark ripe fruits, cedar, some spices, leather and plum flavors combined with velvety smooth tannins. Long lasting finish with some toasty roasted coffee notes.

Food Pairing & Service: A red meat lover. Will also pair well with cheese.

Score: 9/10.

Ageing Potential: Drink now and up to 2 more years.

Price as seen on DC shelf: $16.99

Martin Codax Albariño 2008, Rias Baixas, Spain

A full-bodied Albariño from the Northwestern part of Spain, not far from the border with Portugal.

Technical Data: 100% Albariño grape. Stainless steel only.

Description: Light greenish yellow in color. Fragrant nose displaying aromas of citrus, pear, apple and apricot. Crisp and refreshing, elegant wine showing off flavors of apricot, green apples, pear, white peach, honeysuckle and grass.

Food Pairing & Service: Sip by itself or pair with fish and shellfish. Serve chilled. Quite a delightful wine.

Score: 9/10.

Ageing Potential: Up to 3 years.

Price as seen on DC shelf: $18.99

Solera System, Spain

Basically a solera is a collection of barrels of the same wine of differing ages, the older ones (called Solera) being nourished by the new wines each year. The wines are aged together in oak for other years to marry the flavors and add complexity, then fortified.

So the first level of barrel, the ones holding the older wine is called Solera, the level on the top of the Solera is called 1rst Criadera (Criadera= harvest), the level on the top of the 1rst Criadera is the second Criadera and so on...This system of production is proper to Spain and is called the Solera System.

Lustau East India Solera Sherry NV, Andalucia, Spain

A "must-have" Fortified Wine, specially for the coming holidays, a great sweet one to share with friend and family, from the very best producer of that type of wine!

Technical Data:From the South of Spain ( Andalucia), produced between Sevilla and Cadix. Like Jerez and Madeira wines it’s a white fortified wine made mainly from Palomino Fino ( 85%) sweetened by Pedro Jimenez( 15%). A blend of Soleras averaging 15 to 50 years of age.

Description:Bright amber color. Rich and concentrated nose focused on toffee and nutty aromas. Sweet, luscious almost weighty wine yet very balanced. The palate is complex, extremely voluptuous and enjoyable showing up flavors such as roasted nuts and toasted almond enticed with caramel and candied apricot peel. Clean lingering finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Perfect accompaniment to light desserts, chocolate cake, can also be served with cheeses like blue cheese or as a sweet digestif. Personally I prefer it at room temperature but most people like it chilled.

Score:9/10

Suggested Retail Price:$24.99 ( considering the time this wine spent in ageing prior bottling it's trully a great value)

Montecillo Gran Reserva'96, Rioja DOC, Spain

Technical Data:100% Tempranillo from the Rioja DOCa (Rioja Alta to be precise) of Spain. French oak casks used. Spanish Gran Reserva must be aged a minimum of two years in oak barrels and three years in the bottle. Most producers from DO's like Rioja or Priorat only make a G.R. in excellent vintages. So, generally speaking, Spanish Gran Reservas are well-made, mature wines at relatively low prices.

Description:Deep ruby color with a wide salmon/copper rim. Earthy scents coupled to dried cherries, black plums, and figs. Medium body in the mouth very well-balanced.This wine is rich, spicy, intense, flavourful and concentrated, very complex, and extraordinarily lively. Warm and powerful, with notes of pepper and cloves. Thanks to its excellent structure and great tannic strength, it has a very long and persistent finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Food with this wine is a must. Try it with strong and/or funky cheeses, roasted meat, or a slow cooked stew.

Score:9/10

Suggested Retail Price:$17.98

Montecillo Reserva'98, Rioja DOC, Spain

Technical Data:100% Tempranillo from the Rioja DOCa (Rioja Alta to be precise) of Spain. French oak casks used. Spanish Reserva must be aged a minimum of one year in oak barrels and two years in the bottle.

Description:Deep garnet color.Full fruity nose for this wine.Powerful and full-bodied wine although soft, round and velvety, it fills the mouth with ripe blackberries, red currant ,plum and tobacco, supported by firm structure, acidity and tannins. Very well structured, with a long, elegant finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Consume preferably at a temperature of 17-18 °C/63-64 °F. Excellent with all kinds of meat, it particularly highlights finer dishes made with big game, such as venison. It also pairs exquisitely with any dish made with strong cheeses or with very aromatic sauces.

Score:8/10

Suggested Retail Price:$16.99

Bodegas Campillo White'02, Rioja, Spain

Light-bodied barrel fermented white, quite refreshing.

Technical Data:50% Viura, 50% Malvasia grapes. Barrel Fermented.

Description:Lemon yellow color with green hues. Clean and bright. Intense, complex aromas that blend floral notes and ripe fruit against a background of well-integrated, noble wood. Smooth, fresh attack with well-integrated acidity. Ample and tasty, with honey and hawthorn added to the fruity flavors, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.

Food Pairing & Service:Seafood and grilled white fish.

Score:6/10

Suggested Retail Price:$12.99

Faustino VII, Rioja, Spain

Soft Rioja's Wine, a little spicy, very nice!

Technical Data:Grapes are harvested exclusively from Faustino estate vineyards in Spain’s Rioja region. 50% Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha ( = Grenache). it is aged 10 months in oak casks and in bottle for 6 months prior to its release.

Description:Lively red, shading to ochre. Hint of vanilla and ripe red berry fruit. Well-balanced, velvety, elegant with a touch of bitterness and spiciness at the end of the palate.

Food Pairing & Service:Good accompaniment to a wide range of dishes, from the Mediterranean cuisine of course and spicy dishes to red meat, roasts and matured cheeses. Ready to enjoy right away.

Score:9/10

Suggested Retail Price:$11.49

Fortius Cabernet Sauvignon'99, Navarra, Spain

Soft medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.

Technical Data:100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes undergo traditional vinification, including fermentation at a controlled temperature of 28ºC and a 21-day maceration. The wine is aged for 12 to 16 months in new American and French oak barrels.

Description:Deep ruby color. Aromas of plums and black cherries highlighted by spicy notes. Well-structured and complex, with notes of ripe raspberry and plum and toast leading to an elegant smooth finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Delicious with red meat entrées, game and hearty stews.

Score:8/10

Suggested Retail Price:$9.99

Fortius Tempranillo'00, Navarra, Spain

Lots of Characters and spicy Blend mainly from Tempranillo grape

Technical Data:75% Tempranillo, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes are gently pressed; the juice undergoes fermentation at a controlled temperature of 28ºC and an 18-day maceration period. The wine is aged for 12 months in new American oak barrels.

Description:Deep garnet red color. Intense aromas of ripe fruit with nuances of vanilla. Concentrated flavors of plum, black pepper and woody notes. Elegant, full-bodied and concentrated, with velvety tannins.

Food Pairing & Service:Delicious with red meat entrées, game and hearty stews.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$9.99