RED SPAIN

Rioja Crianza 2008, Gran Vendema
£9.99
13% Cork
100% Tempranillo. 12 months in American oak
Burnt and nasty nose. Thin and burnt taste.

Rioja Reserva 2006, Viña Eguia
£11.99
13.5% Cork
Lovely fresh American oak nose. Not tremendously rich body, but this is £5.99 and for that it’s a tremendous buy.

Rioja Gran Reserva 2003, Viña Eguía
£12.99 Buy 2 bottles save £8 £8.99
13%
Cork
24 months in American and French oak
Spicy nose. Spicy taste – pretty oaky but the tannin has all smoothed. Nice.
I might prefer the more forward style of the Reserva above.

Camins del Priorat 2010, Alvaro Palacios
£17.49
14.50%
50% Carignena, 40% Garnacha, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Aged in French oak for 8 months.
Little aroma. Sweet and juicy and rather good. There’s a liquorice aftertaste and the alcohol is a little warm, but I like this.


RED PORTUGAL

Ramos Reserva 2011, Alentejo
£8.49
13.5% Cork
Burnt nose. Spicy and OK. Needs food.

Quinta da Bacalhôa 2008, Península de Setúbal
£13.49
14.5% Cork
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. 11 months in new oak barrels.
Interesting nose. There is something Bordelais about it, but it’s spicy and absolutely nothing like claret. Spicy, rich, woody. This is very interesting.

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