Ostatu Rioja Alta 2009

Gala apples and tart citrus with lovely mineral finish. Mostly viura with 15% malvesia. Non-certified organic delicious refreshing and has nice dry lime peel and flinty finish. A great summer white.

No Time Tempranillo 2007

No oak and 100% tempranillo from Navarra. Dark rusty black cherry color with plums and has a little alcohol on the finish. Not that great, but I can consider it for the summer months as a sangria wine.

Naire Tempranillo 2008

Bright black cherry with hints of richer cocoa and spice. This is a medium-bodied wine with an easy-drinking loft. Try it as an aperitif, with stews, lasagna, and braised meats. Delish!

Naire Verdejo 2008

100% Verdejo this wine is straw-yellow with a pear and almond scent. It has a touch of minerality and is medium-bodied and has a pleasing, clean finish. It has nice citrus flavors and a slightly creamy texture. A fantastic steal of a deal at $7.99!

Pena do Lobo Riberia Sacra

100% Mencia. D. Ventura is the producer with 3 vineyard sites along the Sil River. Galicia is in the southeast corner of Spain. Very steep terraces. Plum jam on the nose with a hint of black pepper and is non-certified organic. It's 'quenching' and bright, but still has a full finish with plum, pomegranate syrup. Good.

Anciano Tempranillo Reserva 2003

Old world style label and wine from Valdepenas. Very rustic colored, comes in a little golden cage! The scent is of cassis, earth, a cask aroma. With a toasty, light-cedary flavor with cherry and vanilla on the finish. A classic.

Mojo Mojo Temperanillo 2008

Unoaked tempranillo from La Mancha. South of Madrid. Bright, plums and cherries with a hint of spice. Very smooth and light to medium bodied. Really table-winey! Would do well in a wine bar with food, but, I think is good. Only $8.

Bodegas Montecillo Verdemar Albarino 2008

Rias Baixas. Made by Maria Martinez. Bright, fresh with a hint of lychee, mineral and a hint of lemon. Very nice.

Ramiat Tempranillo 2004

Black in color and blackberry jam colored when swirled. Nose is spiced with thyme, black cherry, tannins are very forward and there is little sugar, which reminds me of (get this:) Spanish wine. What's missing? The earth, the oak, the love. Not very exciting...

Codorniu Cava Brut

The largest producer of cava, in the world (even more than Frexinet!); made from 100% pinot noir. Very dry with a cherry backbone that is reminiscent of a cremant de loire. It is very light bodied like the tickle of a feather - some people will like that, some may not. I was hoping for more complexity, though it's not pricy, the bottle and package styling look the part.

Ramiat Albarino Vina 24 2007

Spanish wine, this is one of the early vintages. From a new area: Costars de Segre, near Penedes (cava region). These wines are 'line-priced' and retail for about $10. Bright and tart with a nice mineral scent. Not complex and I wouldn't carry this because I have much better albarinos (though a little pricier) that are more palatable. A bit flat.

Casa Solar Tempranillo 2007

Aged 3 years in American oak. Smells like toasted vanilla and has a bright cherry and hints at an oaked sherry flavor on the finish. Decent, very inexpensive $6.99. Maybe I should bring this in and herald it as the new BBQ wine? 2 for 12 anyone?