Glorioso Crianza Rioja 2006

i had this spanish red laying down since march, a purchase made at my local wine shop. and i don't remember whether i had tasted it first or if it was a recommended wine. i do know that i paid about $12 for it. the nose had plum, tobacco, and a little vanilla. the palate was lighter than i expected it to be. flavors of cherry and tobacco with some leather and slightly spicy herb. the finish was a little short with light tannins. not bad but left me wanting a little more. it could have needed a little more bottle time based on the nose. good red pasta or pizza wine.

Vivir, vivir Ribera del Duero 2008

i had this tempranillo from spain recently. it sells for about $15 and had a nose of raspberry, vanilla, coffee, and some slightly earthy note. the palate was just a little thin. maybe more time in the bottle was necessary. flavors of cherry and raspberry, along with some vanilla and oak. the tannins were there but the finish was a bit light. i was expecting more than i got from it. as i said, maybe it was just not ready to be opened. not a bad wine, just left me wanting more.

Realeza Tempranillo Cuvee 2006

i tasted this 100% tempranillo from spain back in march as part of an all spanish wine tasting. this one sees just a little oak, making for a big fruit wine. the nose had some nice floral notes of violets, along with lots of fruity strawberry and raspberry. the palate was loaded with juicy fruit flavors of blackberry and black cherry. firm tannins with a nice leather and black licorice finish makes this an excellent wine for those nights when you just want something fun to enjoy with a pizza or burgers. sells for about $10.

El Dorado Tempranillo Lot #3

i decided to fix a nice sirloin with some red potatoes and steamed veggies and needed a red to go with it. i pulled this bottle out of the cellar which was a gift from a friend (thanks big guy!). turned out to be an excellent choice. the nose was dark fruits, mostly blackberry, with some really nice licorice, leather and wet forest floor notes. the palate was very nice with flavors of black cherry, a little blueberry and some cedar and tobacco notes. as it opened, i got a little pepper and some tar mixed with some soft vanilla flavors as well. very interesting palate that was well balanced. the tannins were not the least bit overpowering and the finish was very long and full. the wine sells for about $15 and is a very nice food companion, especially grilled meats. and yes, the label is just that plain. looks like a piece of masking tape with the name in marker.

Toro Spada 2006

another wine in the cheaper category that i had recently, spada is a spanish red that is made from tinto di toro, the local name for tempranillo. from what i have read, this wine spends no time in oak, yet because of the grape, it has some very interesting characteristics that would lead you to believe it was oaked. the nose was blackberry, spice and it had a sweeter cordial note as well. on the palate black currant, leather, licorice with medium tannins and a spicy pepper finish. not a bad wine for the nice price of $10.