Cosecheros Y Criadores Casa Solar

[Innkeeper]

2002 Cosecheros Y Criadores, Casa Solar, Plata ($5.49 Micucci's Portland, ME). Picked this up at the cold cut counter yesterday while waiting for my order and perusing the wines in cases by my feet. A guy who turned out to be the local distributor picked up a bottle of this and suggested trying it. Well, for five and half bucks, I'll try almost anything.

We quaffed it after getting home, and watching the President's acceptance speech. The Plata bottling (one of a handful of offerings from this producer) is a blend of Tempranillo (85%) and Garnacha (15%). Alcohol is 12.5%. It is barrel aged for 3 months!

Gives a very unusual blast of red fruit with raisiny overtones on the nose and upfront. Mild complexity with hints of vanilla crosses the palate, and finish is pleasant. A nice bottle of wine for the price; an excellent value.

[dananne]

Sounds like a winner, and you can't complain about the price!

Another Spanish option at that price point is Eguren's 2001 Protocolo. It's Tempranillo, with good earthy, rustic strawberry and grapey flavors, and at $5.50, I'm not complaining! FWIW, WS gave it an 87; to '08.

I'll look for the Casa Solar.