90 POINTS FROM WINE SPECTATOR AND WORTH MORE

One of the things I love about Spain is that you can pluck wines like this straight off the supermarket shelves. Six years old and quite possibly drinking at its peak without us having to worry about any cellaring. It's a mere 4 euro and an extreme bargain.
Medium weight with plenty of serious complex flavour from the bottle ageing. 



SENORIO de la ANTIGUA 2012 MENCIA
GRAPE VARIETIES: Mencia
REGION: Leon, Spain
A/V: 13.5% 
PRICE: 3.99 euro 
FROM: Aldi, Spain
        RATING: 5/5 from me 

TWO OUTSTANDING RUEDA WHITES FROM MERCADONA

I love Verdejo and I'm equally enamoured with the achievements of Rueda winemakers. Congratulations Mercadona, who don't have the best wine range, for featuring these beauties. Two crisp dry quality whites that over deliver flavour. Absolute bargains.
ARRIBENO 2017 & ABADIA MANTRUS 2016 .... both .....
GRAPE VARIETIES: Verdejo
REGION: Rueda, Spain
A/V: 13%
PRICE: 2.40 euro
FROM: Mercadona Spain
RATING: 5/5 from me 

I'D BUY THIS JUST FOR THE BOTTLE

One of the most striking wine bottles I've ever seen contains a really impressive single varietal red. In an area obsessed with blending it's great to taste Mourvedre [aka Monastrell] on its proud, confrontational own. 
While this is a really impressive full on red it's not the pinnacle of value in this ridiculously cheap market. But it scores really highly on the quality of the wine, its individuality and distinctive packaging.



LAUDUM 2016 MONASTRELL
GRAPE VARIETIES: Monastrell
REGION: Alicante, Spain
A/V: 14% 
PRICE: 5.49 euro 
FROM: Aldi Spain
RATING: 4.5/5 from me 

A MINI EL CHEAPO MERCADONA TASTING

When you see them aligned on a supermarket shelf it's impossible to resist grabbing two wines from the same maker, five years apart in vintage and a mere 3.2 euro. For both of them. What could possibly go wrong?
As it turned out: nothing. These are two intriguing little wines from La Mancha. I assume the grape is tempranillo but unsure. But I am sure these are two little bargains if what's on offer is to your taste

FIDENCIO 2012 RESERVA A/V: 13% , 1.99 euro from Mercadona. Quite charming in an earthy feral way. A little brown round the edges but still sound and will appeal as a quaffing aged red. Well worth a try but needs to be drunk now. 4/5 rating

FIDENCIO 2017 TINTO A/V 12.5%, 1.20 euro from Mercadona. Absolutely no wood but the fruit and acid is in perfect balance. The tannins also kick in once the wine has had a chance to breathe. We tasted it over 3 days and it started well and finished even better. If I lived in Spain I'd be buying a few dozen. 5/5 rating

MORE CREDIT TO ALDI

If you're buying booze in Portugal or Spain it's daft to go past Aldi. Sure, there are gems everywhere but Aldi just have an outstanding range across all price points. Not just in wine. Their beers and spirits are equally impressive.
This is another stunning red wine to drink now or cellar. It's not a common blend but it works beautifully. It's on the upper end of medium weight with everything in perfect balance. Very highly recommended but not for the faint hearted.

FUERZA 2014 JUMILLA D.O.P.
GRAPE VARIETIES: Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon
REGION: Jumilla, Spain
A/V: 14.5% 
PRICE: 4.99 euro 
FROM: Aldi, Spain
RATING: 5/5 from me 

A REALLY PRETTY LABEL FOR A SURPRISINGLY PRETTY WINE

I don't expect Grenache to taste like this especially with a hefty 14.5% a/v. But this is a supple fruit driven red that's really approachable from the moment you pull the cork. Equally surprisingly is that it drank really well over five days. Drink now or cellar.

JUNTOS 2016 GARNACHA


GRAPE VARIETIES: Grenache
REGION: Spain
A/V: 14.5% 
PRICE: 3.49 euro 
FROM: Ald,  Spain
RATING: 5/5 from me 

HERE'S DON SIMON, THE SANGRIA FROM LA MANCHA

After three months on the Iberian Peninsula it was time to endure a Sangria. Although others tasting it disagreed I thought it was perfectly OK. No pretensions and ticked all the boxes. They suggest serving it "Really Cold". I suggest taking it to near freezing and add a chunk of ice cubes and soda water to give it some sparkle. That will also reduce the sweetness if it's too much for you.

It was what it was and no-one could complain about the price.
   



GRAPE VARIETIES: I'm sure there are some
REGION: It's produced in La Mancha
A/V: 7% 
PRICE: 1.85 euro 
 FROM: Intermarche, Portugal
RATING: 4/5 from me 

PAZO DOS CELTAS 2016 ALBARINO

This is a perfect dry white to branch out and try something new. It's a lovely example of the variety without being earth shattering. 

A/V: 13% 
PRICE: 5.99 euro 
FROM: Aldi, Spain
RATING: 4/5 from me

ANOTHER DAZZLING BUDGET DRY WHITE

ANTINA 2016 SAUVIGNON BLANC 
This is a delicious dry white with restrained varietal fruit. Crisp, dry and lean it's a remarkable wine at the price.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Sauvignon Blanc
A/V: 12% 
PRICE: 1.99 euro 
FROM: Aldi, Spain
RATING: 5/5 from me 

RIVALLANA 2014 CRIANZA RIOJA

Our third wine of Outstanding Wine Tasting Number Three was the youngest and the lowest on the pecking order of Rioja. It held its own on the first day and continued to evolve into a beautifully balanced, medium bodied red. On the third day it was at its best which suggests a far greater cellaring life than was originally intended.

GRAPE VARIETIES: 
REGION: 
A/V: 13% 
PRICE: 4.49 euro 
FROM: Aldi, Spain
RATING: 4.5/5 from me 

RIVALLANA 2013 RESERVA RIOJA

This was the second wine opened each day of Outstanding Wine Tasting Number Three. It was undoubtedly the majority winner on day one and then faded into a distant third place by the end of the tasting. So perfect to open and drink now without too much excitement.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Tempranillo 90% The balance comprising of Carignan [Mazuelo] Grenache and Graciano
REGION: Rioja
A/V: 13.5% 
PRICE: 5.99 euro 
FROM: Aldi, Spain
RATING: 3.5/5 rating from me 

EPULUM GRAN RESERVA 2009 RIOJA

This starred in Outstanding Wine Tasting Number Three. It bullied its way through the first day with huge flavours all over the place. It softened slightly on day two and by day three had us all seduced. At eight years old and a mere eight euro this is a cellaring bargain that I would love to taste in 10 years time. The fact that it's still on retail shelves at this price is extraordinary

GRAPE VARIETIES: Tempranillo 85% Carignan [Mazuelo] 5% Graciano 10%
REGION: Rioja
A/V: 14% 
PRICE: 7.95 euro 
FROM: Aldi, Spain
RATING: 5/5 from me 

HOW LOW CAN I GO?

VEGA DEL CEGA 2016 BLANCO 
This is crazy. A crisp, dry white with a  perfectly balanced palate and lifted melon/pear fruit. For under a euro. That's $1.50 in Australia currency and under a quid for UK travellers.
It's made from two of Spain's most widely planted white varieties and it is a faultless little quaffer.
 

GRAPE VARIETIES: Viura [MACABEO] and Airen
REGION: Valdepenas
A/V: 12% 
PRICE: .99 euro 
FROM: Lidl, Spain 
RATING: 5/5 from me 

AL DES NUDO 2016 VIURA SAUVIGNON BLANC

This is a perfectly pleasant little quaffer and for the price well worth a try. It's a blend of viura, the white variety of Rioja and nearly everyone's favourite, sauvignon blanc. Don't expect any sauvignon blanc flavours though because there aren't any. It has a surprisingly hefty palate weight which may appeal more to you than it does me.

And for what it's worth Viura is also known as Macabeo in other parts of the world. Which one is corrects? Growers of each would undoubtedly believe they are.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Viura [MACABEO] 70% Sauvignon Blanc 30%
REGION: Valencia, Spain
A/V: 11.5% 
PRICE: 1.49 euro 
FROM: Lidl, Spain
RATING: 3/5 from me

Do you want the good news or the bad?

CARTA ROJA 2013 MONASTRELL SYRAH
Well here's both. The bad news is that the superb 2011 vintage of this is just about sold out. The good news is there is still some stock of it along with the 2013 which is sharing the shelves in some stores. The even better news is that the 2013 is a cracker. Still a little quirky but far more depth of colour and fruit with encroaching dustiness in the background. It gets even better with the price down from the regular bargain £4.85

5/5 rating from me at a ridiculous £3.64 from Sainsbury's while the 25% off sale is on  

Torres 2016 Vina Sol

This has to be one of the most quaffable dry whites I've ever encountered. Unwooded, dazzling fruit with a crisp acidity.A welcome alternative for sauvignon blanc drinkers and will also satisfy chardonnay fanciers. This is a long established, well known label in the UK although I didn't encounter it until the very impressive 2015 vintage. This is every bit as good. The variety is most likely parellada so that's another one you can tick off the tasting
list.

5/5 rating from me 
£6 from Sainsbury - although look for it on promotion for under five quid

Carta Roja 2011 Monastrell Syrah

This is a lovely aged Spanish red fading in colour but still packing a charry mouth puckering punch. It's leathery and savoury. Not for everyone but should be 3 times the price. 


4.5/5 rating from me 
£4.85 from Sainsbury's

Most Wanted 2015 Albarino

The first Albarino I ever tasted was a weird and wonderful 2013 effort from Stanrock in New Zealand. It polarised opinion. 90% hated it, 10% thought it was the best white they'd ever tasted. That didn't surprise me and I like wines that get that type of response - although 50/50 would be better.
This is nothing like that which is probably a good thing for the makers and distributors. It's just not so exciting.
Albarino [aka Alvarinho in Portugal] is a white wine variety popular in the north western corner of the Iberian peninsula. This is a pretty mainstream effort that will appeal to most dry white drinkers.


12.5% a/v
3.5/5 rating from me 
£7 from Sainsbury's

REDISCOVERING A FORGOTTEN FAVOURITE

FREIXENET CORDON NEGRO £5.06 [at Sainsbury's with the current 25% discount]

This Spanish success story has been around for a long,long time and has claims to being the biggest selling in the world.

At this price it deserves to be offering quality that is far above what you'd expect. It's clean, crisp and dry with enough complexity to satisfy more demanding tastes - without scaring off anyone looking for a simple quaff