2004 Tua Rita, Rosso dei Notri:
13.5%, $10, sangiovese, merlot and syrah blend; in smell, taste and texture this is prune juice – with no hint of any other scent or taste. Disgusting and we poured it out.
2008 Luigi Bosca, Finca La Linda Malbec:
14%, $14, 3 months in French oak; blackberry and black licorice nose and flavors, some nuance, nice intensity and texture, integrated, balanced and almost classy. Solid wine with a masculine bent and good accompaniment to pasta with broccoli, chicken, feta and olives.
Day two: (capped, not gassed, and left on the counter) less integrated and balanced but not a lot – it shows some effects from air but its still good wine and certainly at a quality level above its price point. I am tempted to go back and buy a case of this for easy suppers.
1999 Torre Oria, Utiel-Requena Reserva:
12.5%, $8; lots of cedary oak on the nose and palate - too much for me - but I could see others liking this element more than I as it is not overwhelming; some bottle bouquet, secondary red fruit smells with a dried earth component; on the palate, slightly tired fruit but complex, dried leaves, earth and some spice, a little thin in texture but still integrated and mellow; medium finish. A wine that shows its age but not without development. The label indicates that this is tempranillo and spent 24 months in American oak.
For those who wish to try an aged tempranillo cheaply, this is available for $8 in the market today. Imported by Southern Wine and Spirits.
Best, Jim