Valserrano Reserva ’09 $20

Rioja (Spain)

I had opened a bottle of the ’05 Gran Reserva of this same wine for dinner with my family, which I felt was an outstanding selection.  My father shared his delight with it and proceeded to go out and buy another bottle a few days later.  Little did dad realize he bought the ’09 Reserva and gave it to me.  To keep things “simple”, the difference in these wines is obviously the vintage year and the Gran Reserva is aged longer in oak and in the bottle.

I decided to enjoy the ’09 Reserva with dinner a few weeks later and from the aromas alone, a balance of blackberries, crushed plums, black pepper and hints of toasted wood, gave me the impression there was something special about this wine.  On the first taste a flavor bomb of rich, ripe dark cherries, currants and toasted oak had me craving more.  My NY strip steak was grilling with a smoker box of mesquite chips and was about to be done.  This wine was sure to pair perfectly. Velvet tannins with tight fruit on a lingering finish had me hooked on this amazing new find.  Thanks dad!

The wine is made up of 90% Tempranillo which is a predominate varietal in the Rioja region of Spain.  10% Garnacha makes up the remaining grapes and aged in 50% American and 50% French oak provided for a very nice balance. Full body, robust and just plain awesome!

For the Reserva at this price point and overall taste structure, I’m making a return visit to the wine store to pick up more bottles before it runs out of stock.  For reference, the Gran Reserva is great as well and goes for about $29.

Montecillo Crianza 2005 $10

Spain, Rioja

I admit, I’m not that well versed on wines from Spain however I’m not shy to tell you about a deal that tastes great as well. This purchase was purely on an impulse buy when I saw a “buy-one, get-one free” sign over the display in a local grocery store. I’m not big on doing my wine shopping at the grocery store as the selection can be limited however dinner was being planned for grilled steaks so a red made sense.

I was away from home so I didn’t have access to any of my own bottles. Figuring that a 2005 bottle of just about anything couldn’t be too bad, considering it’s a year when most all wine regions across the world did well. In fact, some areas claim it to be on the top of their list for most successful vintages.

Upon pouring, a clean, ruby red color accented by scents of ripe plums, strawberries and a woody sensation had me going that I might have found something nice for a relatively inexpensive price point. The flavors were full of ripe fruits such as blackberries and dark cherry along with subtle coffee and mocha. On the finish, a tart, dry/flint like flavor led to hints of oak. The wine is 100% Tempranillo and aged in French oak for 1 year and then 1 year in the bottle before release.

For a $10 wine (actually I got 2 bottles for $10), I’m quite pleased. I’ve seen the wine online for up to $12 and I still think it’s a good deal. Try it with grilled meats, barbecue or even beef stew. The wine cuts through nicely yet not overpowering. I’m not saying this is the best Crianza you’re going to find out there but it’s a great deal for an everyday try.