PalateMatch

Today I am tasting the 2007 Protocolo Tinto from Dominio de Eguren in the Tierra de Castilla region of Spain. This bottle was purchased for under $7. This wine is 100% Tempranillo based and usually is aged in oak for 3 months. I’ve previously tried the 2007 Dominio de Eguren Tempranillo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla. So it will be interesting to see the difference with this offering.

Color

The color in the glass is a thin ruby red.

Aroma

On the nose I detect a dusty, earthy note and black cherry. There is a hint of black currant and after a while a lot of blackberry is showing. It is a good nose.

Flavor

The flavor of this wine is somewhat bland. It tastes thin just like the color hints that it might. There is some black cherry on the attack and mid-palate and blackberry on the finish, but it isn’t vibrant. The oak is present in the mid-palate and finish. There is a nice hint of the dustiness throughout the palate which is interesting.

Rating

For me this wine is not the best match to my palate. It seems a bit average. But the price is very fair. I rate it 83 points.

Have you tried it yet? Was it more to your liking? What flavors and aromas did you like or not like?

Today I am tasting the 2007 Martin Codax Ergo from the Rioja region of Spain. This wine was acquired for under $10 and is primarily made of Tempranillo grapes. Bodegas Martin Codax is known more for the vineyards in Rias Baixas, so it will be interesting to try this wine from the Ebro River valley.

Color

In the glass it is a dark ruby red in color.

Aroma

On the nose this wine is showing a combination of dark and red fruit such as blackberry and strawberry. Typical of a Rioja wine there is also a component of oak and cedar. There is a hint of earthiness which is quite nice.

Flavor

The attack shows some strawberry and an unusual beet flavor. In the mid-palate there is a pleasant black cherry note and it finishes with more of the oak driven components. This is a medium-bodied wine and works well with grilled meats.

Rating

For my palate, this wine is an average match. The oak isn’t too offensive, but the flavors aren’t that noticeable either. I think there are many similar wines from Spain for around the same price point. I rate it 85 points.

Today I am tasting the 2008 Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Tempranillo by Eguren from Spain. This Tempranillo based wine was purchased for under $8.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark purple, but very thin.

Aroma

On the nose there is black currant and oak. There is also a licorice component and damp leaf litter from the forest floor. Not uncommon for this varietal.

Flavor

On the attack it is simple. With nothing much more that a sweet raspberry note. The mid-palate then explodes with sour cherries which hang around through the finish and are combined with smoky flavor that lingers. This is a light-bodied wine and doesn’t have many 2nd or 3rd tier flavors that bigger wines bring, but the sour cherry is very strong. It will pair well with pork and herbed chicken.

Rating

I find this wine very easy to drink and could see it working well as a food pairing during the week. I rate it 84 points.

Today I am tasting the 2005 Nobul Red Tempranillo by Bodegas Castejon from the Vinos de Madrid region of Spain. This 100% Tempranillo wine was purchased for under $9.

Color

This wine looks dark ruby red, but has some interesting shades of brown that make it look much older.

Aroma

This wine has a stunning nose. It is intense. There are good strawberry and plum notes combined with mint and cedar. Very interesting and explosive. This is an exciting start.

Flavor

The attack has cherry and strawberry which transitions to the mid-palate with more sour cherry. The finish has mild tannins and a little heat. To me this wine offers a really basic profile which is being covered up by a lot of oak. I like the fact that it is not too sweet. It will pair with a hamburger or pizza.

Rating

For my palate this was definitely not a match. I rate it 76 points.
Anybody else tried it yet?

Today we are tasting the 2008 Nostrada Tempranillo by Artiga Fustel from the Tarragona region of Spain. This wine made of 100% Tempranillo varietal was purchased for under $7.

Color

In the glass this wine is a nice dark red with a little brown at the edges.

Aroma

It is very aromatic in the glass and is full of dark fruit. We detect blackberry and black currant. There is also some cedar.

Flavor

The blackberry and black currant continue on the attack. There is a lot of ripe fruit in this wine. It is definitely quite new world in style. Black cherry is present on the mid-palate and it finishes with very dry, chalky tannins. There is a little black pepper at the end as well. Although it isn’t full bodied, this wine pairs very nicely with steak seasoned with pepper. The fruits are toned down by the meat. We found this wine better with food than on its own.

Rating

For the price this is a good match for big flavorful meals. We rate it 87 points.

Today I am tasting the non-vintage Castillo D Clavijo Rioja by Criadores De Rioja from Spain. I acquired this 100% Tempranillo varietal for under $9.

Color

The color in the glass is a pretty ruby red. It is thin.

Aroma

This wine has an interesting herbal aspect to the nose. There is some blueberry to go with oregano and thyme. I also get some cedar.

Flavor

The attack has sweet dark fruits such as blackberry and plum. The mid-palate is a little hollow; although, there is some black cherry flavors. The wine finishes up quickly with some smokey aspects. Not a great flavor profile overall. This is a medium to light-bodied wine. It could pair well with cheddar cheese.

Rating

I am not too fond of this wine. Perhaps the Crianzas are better. I rate this wine 83 points.

Today I am tasting the widely available 2005 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Crianza (affiliate link) from Rioja, Spain. This Tempranillo based wine was available for under $10 and comes with a real cork (watch out!). Being a crianza it is aged in oak barrels for more than one year and then kept another year in the bottle before release. Let’s see how it shows.

Color

In the glass it is a medium ruby red.

Aroma

Very old world on the nose which is nice. Black pepper, leather, cherry and a bit of oak. Quite complex.

Flavor

On the attack there is cherry which carries onto the mid-palate. The tannins show up fast and this gets quite dry too. Lots of oak on the finish along with a little vanilla. The finish is quite long. I also think this will age well due to the tannic structure. It will pair well with paella and even blackened fish.

Rating

For my palate this is showing too much oak on the finish. I’d prefer more of the fruit and earthiness of Rioja to show through. I rate it 85 points.