Tizona by Bokisch 2014 Gran Reserva Tempranillo Bokisch Vineyards Lodi, CA Bokisch Vineyards (website) is one of my favorite vineyards in the Lodi region, which is one of California’s best wine-growing American Vinicultural Areas (AVAs). Obligatory disclaimer: This wine was free to me to sample for this review. I first became acquainted with Bokisch Vineyards
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My introduction to the Bodegas LAN winery came over churros and chuleton. I was invited to meet the winery’s CEO, Enrique Abiega, and USA export director, Trinidad Villegas, at Bellota, a Spanish restaurant that’s part of San Francisco’s Absinthe Group. Obligatory disclaimer: This was a new media lunch, so the food and drink I’m about
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Zestos Red 2009 Madrid, Spain This 50%  tempranillo and 50% grenache blend is an attractive garnet. The nose is MIA. It tastes tart, like a raspberry jolly rancher but richer in flavor. Some molasses deepens the flavor and thickens its texture to medium-bodied. It’s quite good on reflection.

Zestos Blancos 2009 Madrid, Spain There is some limestone at first, followed with green apple notes galore. It’s dry but also pretty sweet. It’s a lot like a tart cider, really. I’d call it an okay, solid white that doesn’t have any character beyond quenching thirst. 100% Malvar, if you’re keeping track of the grape.
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Marqués de Cáceres Crianza 2006 Cosecha Rioja, Spain Everything I like about Spanish wine is in this glass—spicy, leathery, fruit that is ripe to bursting, cayenne, maybe even a mild curry. The first notes, though, were of chocolate and raspberry.  The chocolate’s mostly from the nose, but it helps mellow the wine, almost giving it
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Wine:  Cristalino Cava Region:  Spain This is my first sparkling wine review, can you believe that? It’s also, well, strange. The cava is especially yellow in color and smells of celery and chicken broth, which comes across as comforting rather than off-putting.  There’s no berry to speak of when drinking it but it coats my
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Arena Loca Red Ringmaster 2004 Spain Color: Thick, deeply dark, almost brown. Smell: Very subtle fruit & tobacco. Sip: Light flavor, tobacco, leafy. No acidity. A little chocolate aftertaste. Gulp: Very mellow, yet dense. Cherry fruit comes out first, with the chocolate finish. If there was only some spice, I could drink this all night
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