Spanish Steps Toro 2011 £6.99
100% Tempranillo. The grapes are grown in clay and sandy soils and were harvested from mid-September to mid-October. The wine is fermented in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 18-28°C. Malolactic fermentation takes place partly in tank and partly in American oak barrels. The wine is then aged for 4 months in French oak barrels. Clarification is carried out with gelatine and bentonite and the wine is filtered. After 3 weeks, the wine is micro-filtered and bottled. Residual sugar: <3g/l. Winemaker: Martin Fernandez Padin.
New vintage, available mid June, 272 stores, exclusive, cork 13.5%

A rather exciting nose.  Juicy, almost tropical, fruit aromas. Sweetly fruity with a balance of savoury oak.  The aftertaste is fruity.  Easy drinking and a reasonable price.

Taste the Difference Priorat 2009 £10.49
40% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 20% Carignan. After a long ripening period the grapes are harvested by hand into small 20kg trays to prevent damage. Each variety is macerated separately on their skins for 12 days, then fermented separately for around 22 days at 22ºC. The malolactic fermentation is started in stainless steel and then finished in French oak barrels. The wine has 11 months in French oak, followed by a minimum of 3 months ageing in bottle. The wine is not fined but is filtered using a membrane cartridge. Residual sugar: 0.21g/l. Winemaker: Manel Rodeo at Cellers Unió.
New vintage, available mid June, 481 stores, exclusive, cork 14.5%

Very warm and vegetal nose. Like a compost heap on a summer's day. I mean that as a compliment. Lovely taste. A lot of oak and farmyard. Lovely. I'll be buying this for home.

Taste the Difference Navarra Red 2010 £6.99
54% Garnacha, 30% Graciano, 16% Tempranillo from Dominio Lasierpe who own one of the largest areas of land in the whole region. The winery, founded in 1920, combines traditional techniques with the latest technology to produce wines of quality and distinction. Grapes are hand-picked and taken to the winery for sorting, after which fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. No oak is used. Residual sugar: 1.6g/l. Winemaker: José Ramón Aznar.
Available now, 442 stores, exclusive, screw cap 13.5%
Lovely, dark-fruity nose. Quite a tannic structure and pretty savoury. Not my thing, but not bad.

Taste the Difference Douro 2010 £8.99
45% Touriga Nacional, 35% Tinta Roriz, 15% Touriga Franca and 5% Tinta Barroca. The grapes are grown in the Quinta do Crasto vineyards near the villages of Gouvinhas and Vila Nova de Foz Coa. Grapes are hand-picked and transported to the winery in small plastic crates. Prior to destemming they are hand-selected to ensure the best fruit is used. Fermentation is carried out in open plunging tanks along with a number of specially designed fermentation vessels under temperature control. Near to completion of primary fermentation, the skins are pressed with a basket press in order to extract soft tannins from the skins. The wine is aged for 9 months in stainless steel tanks and a further 3 months in bottle. Residual sugar: 1.8g/l. Winemaker: Manuel Lobo at Quinta do Crasto, located on the right bank of the river Douro and covering 130ha. The quinta has been in the family of Leonor and Jorge Roquette for over a century. Today, with the help of their sons, Miguel and Tomás, the family have developed and expanded the vineyards ensuring the Quinta now has a worldwide reputation. New vintage, available mid July, 237 stores, exclusive, cork 14.0%

Lightly fruity on the nose. Sweet and fruity taste, which a little savoury oak. The alcohol's nicely in balance.

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