Wine Tasting: Spain

Thanks everyone who came by to enjoy these nine. I liked everything we tried, and was repeatedly surprised at the quality-to-price ratio. And that is, in a nutshell, what I think about Spanish wine -- great values! The heart of the tasting was 5 wines from Rioja, but the other 4 were also great.

I've posted the tasting notes you may have seen on paper here. Many of these wines are still available for purchase at K&L Wines (on 4th St. near the ballpark). Here's the list, in order, my favorites in bold.

1. 2010 Camino de Navaherreros Garnacha Vinos de Madrid ($13): very pleasant, 100% grenache.
2. 2009 Descendientes de Jose Palacios "Petalos del Bierzo" Bierzo ($20): another lighter style, pleasant, but not terribly memorable.
3. 2004 Ardevol "Coma d’en Romeu" Priorat, Spain ($33): ah, Priorat, a much more brawny, powerful wine. I tasted lots of tar and tobacco in this one. A little hot and disorganized on the finish. Totally outclassed by #8 in this price range, I thought.
4. 2001 Vina Santurnia Reserva, Rioja ($14): wow, that's remarkable wine at 3 times the price. I wish I'd purchased a case. Earthy, with good structure for food, struck me as very French. The 2001 Gran Reserva is still available at K&L for $30, but I bought 2 of the last 4 just now!
5. 2005 Viña Santurnia Crianza Rioja, Spain ($13): maybe a little too earthy (some thought the first bottle was corked, but it was not very different from the second bottle), but I liked it. These Santurnia folks are on to something, with old school Rioja.
6. 2001 Bodegas Lan Edición Limitada ($40): this is the monster side of Rioja, intense, tannic, could have waited another 5 years.
7. 2001 La Rioja Alta "Viña Ardanza" Reserva Especial Rioja ($30): another real crowd pleaser, lots of acid, I tasted lots of herbacious eucalyptus, still available at K&L!
8. 2004 Pago de los Capellanes Crianza Ribera Del Duero ($28): another killer value, I've had many $40 California reds that are not as well balanced and tasty as this. Another wonderful wine with dinner, approachable, but still elegant.
9. 2006 Bodegas LAN Crianza Rioja ($10): and yet another great value. At $10, this is a steal, well balanced, lighter style of Rioja, very pleasant, not profound, but would be a great weeknight bottle with roast chicken.