pt

Entirely amber colored, this has taken on many qualities of a fine old tawny, boasting aromas of toffee and citrus peel, flavors that include nuts and maple syrup. The fruit is tired, but the wine still shows beautiful tawny character. Drink up.

pt

This seems lighter in weight than expected, despite an impressively dark, saturated color. Lots of cherries and dried spices on the palate, along with aromas of walnuts and smoked meat. Passing through some middle-age disturbances, as C?rte-Real said, or just very good Port, not great? Hold.

cl

Packed with vanilla and oak this wine boasts a wonderful body and a great feel. It was 35% barrel fermented, and yet it still pops with acidity and fresh fruit. Touches of popcorn and creaminess are detectable, but neither detracts from the main act.

es

Sweet red-fruit and red-licorice aromas are attractive and round. The palate of peppy cranberry and plum is moderately tart, although it opens up and gets much friendlier if given time. While many wines from this section of Catalonia are big and modern, this one is more restrained and will perform well with food.

es

Grapy, bold and pure, with plenty of black fruit and healthy acids and tannins. Size and drive are what this wine is about; it never steps off the gas, all the while delivering tannic power, some bitter coffee and chocolate notes, and all the blackberry extract you could ask for.

es

Chances are you don't know this tasty little Crianza from near Murcia, which is close to Alicante. The wine has plum and earth aromas along with some wood smoke and citrus peel. A palate loaded with cherry, raspberry and other red fruits is smooth, open and lively. Nice and racy throughout, with the right mouthfeel, one that's neither too much nor too little.

es

Rather thin and transparent to the eye, but that lightness doesn't translate into it being a thin, nothing wine. Just the opposite: It's loaded with leather, cranberry and tea aromas and brisk cherry and cranberry flavors. Some chocolate on the finish adds heft to this old-school wine that really seems to have been made to go with food.

US

Easy drinking Zin, with good flavors of wild berries and spices wrapped in a creamy texture. Even though the wine is fully dry, it has a softness, almost a butteriness, that is almost sweet. Turns real long on the finish, with a ripe fruitiness that lasts.

fr

This is a gulpable, satisfying wine that shows plenty of ripeness. Full, soft flavors of ripe black cherries are balanced by notes of coffee and chocolate. Long and harmonious finish.

US

This great wine kind of sneaks up on you. First you think it's just a modest little blush wine, but it's awfully hard not to take another sip. Then you realize how good it is. Raspberries, vanilla and cinnamon, and bone dry. Made from Grenache and Syrah. Another super value from Navarro.

es

Who knew that crisp, varietally correct Sauvignon Blanc was being made on the plains of central es? The nose deals pine and bell pepper, while the palate is zippy and zesty, but filled with apple and banana flavors. A tangy, precise finish with tangerine notes is the final act.

US

So rich in flavor, it's like an orchard meets a candy store. Plums, blackberries, cherries, chocolate, herbs and spices swim in a richly tannic, dry and balanced wine. Will go with lots of fare, but try with lamb and rosemary.

US

Quite bright on the palate, with firm tannins and pretty, zippy cherry, spice, tar, raspberry and herb flavors. The texture is a bit powdery but should calm down nicely with a little more bottle age.

es

The nose seems tight, almost reduced. In the mouth, plum and grapy fruit announce that this is pure Cabernet. It's dark and coffee-like on the finish. What the future holds for it is up for debate. Now it's sort of closed, yet still rather tasty.

cl

Ripe and perfectly sweet, with aromas of black olive, leather and pepper to go with plum and berry. With a full blast of cherry, raspberry and plum in the mouth, the bases are well covered.

US

Tough going with this wine. It's very dry, and shows the high acidity of the variety, and even some rasping tannins. Unfortunately, the fruit isn't there, despite a modest attempt by the cherry squad to come to the rescue.

cl

Warm and chunky, with a fair amount of compost and mushroom to the bouquet. Flavors of lean raspberries and green herbs are less than stunning, while the mouthfeel seems a bit crisp and tight. Adequate but not very generous or ripe.

es

Right from the start you know this wine is challenged. The nose is lean and green, with hints of tea and citrus peel. In the mouth, it's snappy and traditional, meaning there's American oak dill notes brushing up against rhubarb and red cherry. Proponents will cite its classic character while others will call it thin and not very rewarding.

US

Definitely on the ripe, hot side, with blackberry flavors veering all the way into shrivelled raisins. With lots of new oak, the wine is fully dry, but at the cost of very high alcohol, 15.6%, which gives the palate a Port-like burn.

US

Your basic country Cab, with ripe blackberry fruit accented by oak, and firm tannins. It's a bit on the sweet side.