I will say it over and over again: Spain produces some of the best wines under fifteen bucks! So many of my picks have come from this country that I’ve lost count. November features one of the biggest food and wine holidays of the year, only rivaled by Christmas. With Thanksgiving coming soon, I had to keep in mind finding a wine that would pair well with turkey dinner and make an excellent everyday choice. When Max from Dickerson Distributing came by with a crap-ton of wines to try to help me find a pick for November, this one stood out as the close-to-perfect red that fit the abovementioned parameters.
Non-Vintage Vega Barcelona Red (85% Tempranillo, 15% Syrah) Spain … $11.
Raspberries, cherries and bittersweet chocolate on the nose. Polished tannins support notes of chocolate, cherries and black raspberries. The wine intensifies on the mid-palate, balanced by fresh acidity. There is a hit of spice on the finish that lingers. This baby has the stuffing to go with food, but not in the least overpowering. Good balance of fruit, tannins and acidity. This baby is meant to drink now and would be a good choice with Thanksgiving at a great price. It is a “10” in the delicious category, making it a big-time crowd-pleaser. This could easily be a staple at my table for an everyday red, especially at this price. (C+/B-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
