If you love  a somewhat hearty red and a good value, then Spanish wines are something to explore.  They often have a nice balance of fruity and savory flavors, and more times than not, they over deliver for their price tags.  Here are a handful our tasting panel sampled recently. Cheers!

Campo Viejo 2012 “Rioja Reserva” Blend

Grape(s): 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, & 5% Mazuelo

Region: Rioja, Spain

Price: 10-15

Tasting Notes:

Lovely cherry and raspberry aromas blend with nuances of all-spice and toasty oak on the nose. Smooth on the palate, lots of red fruit, including dark cherries and raspberries, comes up front and flows into elements of all-spice and toasty vanilla. Rather approachable and fruit-driven for a Spanish wine, it could pair quite well with a veggie chili.

Rating: 89

Ponce Depaula 2015 Monastrell

Grape(s): 100% Mourvedre

Region: Jumilla,Spain

Price: 10-15

Tasting Notes:

A lovely combination of blackberries and dark cherries meld with peppery and dried herbaceous notes on the nose. Polished tannins frame flavors of blackberry, blueberry, and cherry along with accents of pepper, herbs, and all-spice. Open a bottle on taco night.

Rating: 90

Evodia 2014 Altovinum Garnacha

Grape(s): Garnacha

Region: Spain

Price: 10-15

Tasting Notes:

Slightly jammy red fruit blends with pepper and leather on the nose. There’s lots of strawberries and cherries with accents of spice and leather on the palate. Offering supple tannins and nice berry flavors, it’s fruitier than most Spainish wines, but is still tasty.

Rating: 89

Locations “E” 4 Red Blend

Grape(s): Garnacha, Tempranillo, Monastrell, and Cariñena

Region: Spain

Price: 15-20

Tasting Notes:

Raspberries, cherries, and blackberries meld with earthy and spicy expressions on the nose. The palate showcases flavors of blackberry, cherry, and plum that are accented by suggestions of pepper, vanilla, and smoky earth. Plush tannins and good fruit are balanced by some savory notes, making this a good paring for chicken fajitas.

Rating: 89