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.

2 Copas Red 2009 Mendoza, Argentina The spice of this tempranillo and malbec blend comes on too strongly at first but quickly mellows as I drink it (isn’t that somehow always the case?) Raspberries and strawberries round out that very spicy profile, which may be extra strong because it tastes young. Cardamom and vanilla come
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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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Darien Tempranillo 2008 Riojo Logrono, Spain This Spanish red rises to the roof of my mouth right away. There’s some pucker for sure, too much for me. I taste orange, currant, and leafy bitter greens. I don’t like drinking it; it’s not full enough or balanced enough for me. No nose to speak of.

La Granja 360 Tempranillo 2008 Carinena, Spain My first impression on drinking: This is not a great wine. Both the nose and first sip were of wet cigarettes. But other flavors worked their way in slowly, some tart raspberry, earth, leaves, and then clove, lots of clove. By the end, a layer of dark chocolate
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There is a strong nose of sweet tobacco.  On the palate, this light- to medium-bodied wine is like drinking red licorice but without the copious sweetness.  Red chili powder is also a dominant flavor but it is restrained and the tobacco is present but more subtly than in the aroma.  This wine is acidic but
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Red Guitar 2005 Navarra Other words on the label: Denominacien de origen Old Vine Tempranillo Garnacha The label has a warm orange background with dancing stick fingers, one of which plays a red guitar. There’s also a floating bull’s head. You read that right-a floating bull’s head. The wine smells of cinnamon and ancho chile
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Rene Barbier Mediterranean Red Other stuff on the label: Red Wine, Catalunya, Denominacion de Origen What year, you ask? Well, I’d let you know if I’d remember to find out before the bottle hit the recycling bin. With that many titles, it’s no wonder how many layers this wine has. I’ve found that I usually
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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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