Altozano Tempranillo 2006

If you read Gourmet Traveler Wine, you would have seen this wine receive big wraps and (94 Pts) in a blind line up of Spanish and Aussie Tempranillos. While, I’m not as enthusiastic its great at this price and now comes in screwcap.

Its a media-crianza that sees 4 months in a mix of American, Hungarian and French oak. The grapes are from Toledo, hence the VDlT Castilla label.

The nose is full of blueberry, dark cherry and blackcurrant, with a hit of mulberry in the middle. Plenty of warm climate tempranillo character here, rich and generous mouth feel and soft tannins. Earthy blackcurrant, plum and dark cherry fruit, with some sarsaparilla. Complexity isn’t the name of the game here, its all about the bold fruit. The wood is really well handled too. At this price you can’t go wrong. 87 Pts.

Bodegas Mauro 2004

Like many countries, Spain has plenty of wine made outside the DO system, and there are some advantages for producers in following this path. Less overhead from the regulator and more freedom to make wine from whatever variety you like, however you like. The guys at Bodegas Mauro have taken this path, they sit just outside the Ribera del Duero DO and grow a bit of shiraz as well as tempranillo and garnarcha. They also have a bit of help from winemaking legend Mariano Garcia and his sons.

This is their entry level wine and its made from mostly tempranillo with 10% shiraz. It’s fermented in stainless steel, then into a mix of 75% french oak and 25% american oak for 14 months. Only 20% of that is new oak.

A rustic nose of dark cherry, plum, unfired clay, a touch of wood smoke, thyme and coco. Super smooth in the mouth, some subtle acid and some grainy tannins that build and soften as the wine get some air. On the palate there is plenty of dark cherry, plum, dark chocolate and some spicy oak. A bit of red cherry pops in from time to time to keep things interesting. A long finish with some grippy tannins and sage. A really interesting wine, a bit pricey perhaps, but quality all the way. 92+ Pts.

Source: Boccaccio Cellars RRP: $70 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.bodegasmauro.com

Bodegas Finca Vaqueros I’Corus Quinta 2005

Well this is a surprise package, a really interesting Spanish wine for well under $20. It’s not the usual sunny fruit, simple but good value wine. Its well and truly in the old school camp, but it has plenty of character and rustic charm. I drank this after the 04 Roda I, which is kind of like a Barry White song (smooth and polished with plenty of bottom end), where as this is more like Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (full of angles, lo-fi and not everyone gets it).

If you’re not happy with gamey characters or a bit of VA, stay well clear, on the other hand if you like savoury, rustic wines like Chianti you’ll love this. Bodegas Finca Vaqueros are based just out of the Ribera del Duero DO at Tuelda del Duero. The wine is 100% Tempranillo that gets a dunk in American oak for a couple of months.

A really interesting nose: coffee, a bit of VA and crushed ants, roast lamb with rosemary, leather, violets with some subtle dark cherry, mulberry and cranberry. Its quite meaty and savoury, with a great bit of acid down the middle of the palate. Soft fruit tannins and plenty of good stuff on the palate: blackberry and dark cherry, roast meat, licorice, rosemary and sage. A very enjoyable, rustic gem that is priced so that you can drink it any night of the week. 88 Pts.

Source: Broadway Liquor Distributors Price: $17 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.bodegasfincavaqueros.com

Duris Viura-Sauvignon Blanc 2005

This is an odd little wine, it comes from a non DO area in Castilla y Leon and is a blend of Viura and Savignon Blanc.  Oh and its very cheap, under $10 at retail in Melbourne. I've heard about these great Spanish wines for under $10 in the US, and I was suckered in.  The good ones cost $20+ here.

Not a lot happening on the nose, a bit of passion fruit and white flowers, but a bit dull really.  Well balanced and fresh in the mouth, it has a great oily texture that hides some fennel seed, lemon and melon.  Finish is quite long for what it is.  For a tenner, its interesting, if a bit ho hum.  80 Pts. 

Source: Retail Cost: $9.50 Closure: Conventional Cork