Favorite Tinto?
 

I need guidance please. Living in USA buying spanish reds for normal home use ((A))
as opposed to a special occasion. For years bought rioja now tempranillo

Tempeña tempranillo & granache has been on sale $7.99 bottle & Origen tempranillo for an amazing $5.99 at the local supermarkets Von's & Albertson's.

But I know nothing about the best year etc etc....suggestions?
What do you like?

Hi amsdon,
Best years that you can find in the US market for Riojas-'04,'05.

We've been buying Tempeña as well for daily consumption.

One of those good value '04 Riojas is the Marqués de Cáceres or Campo Viejo, both which I'm sure you've had repeatedly or the '05 Lan.

The '06 Sierra Cantabria is also a good value rioja.

Just checked the "every day bodega" from a recent trip to The Spanish Table and various super markets-keeping our bottles at $10 or below, we've purchased some decent values from other regions for everyday use-

Carineña: D'Aragon (garnacha) or El Jamón (tempranillo)

Jumilla: Wrongo Dongo (monastrell) or Finca Luzón (blend of monastrell & syrah)

Navarra: Marco Real (tempranillo)

Calatayud: Evodía (garnacha)

La Mancha: Paso a Paso (tempranillo)

Yecla: Castaño (monastrell)

Tierra de Castilla: Códice (tempranillo)

Campo de Borja: Borsao (garnacha)

The above all are reds.

Forgot!

Two more cheapies which we buy all the time for having with dinner

Castilla-La Mancha: '06 Protocolo (tempranillo)

Navarra: '06 Vega Sindoa (cab/tempranillo)


O.K. that's all for the reds!

Thanks Maribel,

Yes know the Caceres & Campo Viejo but have a harder time finding CV in local stores. I found it here & there.

I am glad to see the Borsao on the list I thought I was just getting too cheap...oops I mean frugal and justifying the price. I find that & Wongo @ Cost plus.

Is there some store you favor? I live in So Cal.

But the others are now on my list that is exactly what we needed. The whites we save for another thread
Now you know why I titled this tintos...

Hi amsdon,
While I can't say the Borsao is my *favorite* tinto, it suits us just fine, in our frugal stage, for everyday quaffing. We have a tinto every evening with dinner.

Here are some others around $10 or under that have come in (and quickly out!) of our everyday "cave" at some point in these days of la crisis-

Calatayud: '06 Las Rocas (garnacha)

Jumilla: '06 Panarroz (monastrell/garnacha/syrah)

Bierzo: '06 Cuatro Pasos (mencía)

Rioja alavesa: '07 Cortijo (tempranillo)

Rioja: '04 El Coto (tempranillo) only when it's on sale

We buy most of the above at The Spanish Table in Seattle; it's a shame there isn't a branch in the LA area; there are two in the Bay Area. Or sometimes we find them at our local QFC supermarkets.
But in your area of So Cal, I don't know. Are you near a Bevmo?

Yes I need to go to BevMo there is one here in Simi Valley where I live but just have not gone I keep forgetting about them as a wine place.
Thanks!

Is there some rule of thumb re the best years? Or would that be too specific to the type of wine?

amsdon,
You might then check on line at www.bevmo.com to see what they have.

For your bargain basement tintos, one can't really be picky about the year, but...

But the '04 and '05 Rioja vintages have been rated excellent; the '06 and '07 vintages, "muy buena". You can see the classifications here:

http://www.riojawine.com/es/bodegas....2&op2=2&sec=3#

amsdon,
Do you have a Cost Plus World Market nearby? If so, they sell the Sierra de Cantabria, Campo Viejo and Wrongo Dongo (great for barbeques) plus...

Zamora: Venta Mazzarón (tempranillo)

La Mancha: Mano a Mano (tempranillo)

typo-Venta Mazarrón

Maribel - how do you keep track of all of the labels? I buy them willy-nilly and am always trying to remember the label or if I liked this one or that one.

Osborne Solaz 2001 if you can find it.
http://www.osbornesolaz.com/central.htm

The Osborne Solaz of some year should be easy to find; at least I see it everywhere up here, not necessarily the '01.

hi pdx,
I keep track only because I keep a list (well, also because I buy them a lot!!!) We have friends, too, who are wine buyers. And we " hang out" in the wine section of The Spanish Table.

My husband and I will be up to Seattle next month and I'm heading for your Spanish Table store. Sounds wonderful, like a mini-vacation.

Suggesttion: do pair the tinto and cured cheese.
www.cheesefromspain.com/CFS/Default_I.htm

Some of my favourite Spanish reds:
200 Monges, Remirez de Ganuza reserva, Pesquera reserva, Aalto, An (Anima Negra), Torres Mas la Plana...

Hi Maribel - If you see the 2001, buy it! Years ago, before they renamed the lounge (it was Other Topics then) very few people visited that forum and we had a long wine thread.
http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...ne-os-only.cfm

The wine thread got so long and people that had dial-up internet had trouble loading it so another thread was started.
http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...ines-os-ii.cfm

PDX I was wondering the same thing!
I will keep this list thanks guys.

and Revulgo yes cheese we love of course. Right now in moderation since we are trying to diet.

I had a beautiful wine and food moment in Granada last month. I swear, it was the first and only truly aha! moment of food and wine doing that beautiful thing they do together. I had the appetizer plate of hams, sausage, foie gras mousse, and cheese and asked for a glass of vino tinto. The waiter asked me something but I didn't understand and assumed he was asking which type of wine I wanted so I just shrugged and left it up to him. He brought me something that went with the food so well it stopped me in my tracks. Gratitude, sheer gratitude. The downside is I don't know the name of the wine.
I think the restaurant (we were in the bar) was La Catalana, for those of you who know Granada.

Hi kybourbon,
That's for those links! I had missed them completely because I never went into that Other Topics forum. Now the Lounge is hugely popular! The 2001 year in the Rioja is said to have been "one of the very best ever".

amsdon,
Another reason for the list is that when we're in Spain we don't want to buy bottles that we can easily find and afford in the US. (or that the Spanish Table doesn't have on its shelves).

In Spain we splurge for the really "good stuff", since it's more affordable-although some Ribera del Duero, Priorat and even Rioja Alavesa wines have hit the stratosphere in price-but there are still lots of great bargains, particularly from the up-and-coming D.O.s.

There are so many new producers that it's impossible to keep up with them. Castilla y León now has 9 D.O.s alone!

Forgot to mention that our local Whole Foods also serves as a source for the $10 and under mentioned above.

pdx,
The Spanish Table really is a great store with the largest Spanish wine selection in the country! Not to mention everything else....cheeses, oils, spices, rices, peppers, legumes,C.D.s, books, cookware, ceramics, glassware -even Asturian and Basque ciders-and La Casera. Have fun shopping!

And if you get hungry for authentic Basque or Spanish cuisine, there's The Harvest Vine (with an amazing all Spain wine list), its pintxos bar Txori, El Olivar or Taberna del Alabardero (we go for happy hour from 3-6).

OK, I know the title said tinto, but I stumped upon this & I'm hungry too.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72sapXB2aFA

Waahhhh! Again, I'm feeling sorry for myself. Though I suppose I could put together a cheese plate and sit in the back yard it just I'd much rather be hanging out in a courtyard or at a sidewalk cafe in Spain.
They made the wine tasting look so good and tasty. I want a nice bottle of wine. I've had some bummers recently.

Ten years ago when travelling in New England, I found Viña Alberdi, for 12 bucks I think. It was (surprisingly) very good. Because wine in the US depends on your likes, and availability, and how it's been kept.

Yes Josele we have some decent wine (as long as it's not in a box)Hope all is well.

I know you can purchase white wine (Rias Baixas) from Galicia in the USA, but does anybody know where you can purchase Ribeira Sacra over there? The reason I ask is for a friend as they are having difficulty location a source.

Maribel - Do you know of any good brands of serrano that can be purchased in the states? DD really misses it from when she lived in Madrid. We've tried a couple of brands available locally, but they just aren't as good. We especially didn't like Redondo Iglesias.

Kybourbon while we await our beloved Maribel....

1. http://www.laespanolameats.com/Merch...vc?Screen=main

2. http://www.tienda.com/?CMP=KNC-Overt...ID=96775772012

3. http://www.spanishtable.com/

I thought Maribel is here in Spain at the moment.

There are no "great" options when it comes to Serrano, only a few good choices. You best option would be to order some from "The Spanish Table" (www.spanishtable.com) with stores in Seattle, Berkley, Santa Fe and Mill Valley. They sell a 4oz vacuum packed Jamon Iberico de Bellota, as well as the Redondo Iglesias Serrano you don't like. That's about all there is unless you know someone smuggling it in.

"unless you know someone smuggling it in."

Not that I tried doing that or anything, but the little beagle at LAX will go staight to you if you are carying any jamon or chorizo.

Personally, I am appalled that they would spend my tax dollars training a little beagle to sniff for someone's personal stash of jamon. Hmmmph. Stick with the heroin and whatever those doggies are supposed to sniff.

me too!

amsdon-
I've been able to find 2005 Campo Viejo at Vons easily here in Southern California. In fact, they've had a special for the last few months where it's around $7 a bottle if you buy six. It's currently my "house" wine.

Trader Joes has Estola for $5.99 a bottle. It's not as good as the Campo Viejo but is still a good value for the quality.

Hi Kathy thank you.
I will look for it.
I did see te Campo Viejo at Valley Produce too.
You & I are not that far apart I think, I am in Simi.

I sure wish the reserva would be a little cheaper.

Did we ever get a run down of your trip this time?
How was it? Was it for Feria?

My last trip was to Sevilla for the Feria but also for the May crosses in Granada and the patio festival in Cordoba. I'm awful at posting formal trip reports - I just don't think I'm a very colorful writer. Then when I get started I just ramble. But I've organized my restaurant and hotel notes in case somewhat has specific questions. Although I enjoyed the feria I missed Semana Santa so much....next year. The big surprise highlight of this trip was Priego de Cordoba. It's already on my return list for next spring. I loved this place.

Cathy don't every worry about the writing. In fact just sharing notes is sometimes more helpful....

When I read my mom's handwritten notes she kept in a little notepad it is really fun & helpful
stuff like: Hotel such & such, rooms just OK, beds hard. Dinner at XYZ, very good. I treasure those.

So you go every year? Was it Hotel Alminar?
Please share the name of your favorite restaurant in Sevilla with us!

Hotel Alminar is my favorite hotel in Sevilla. It's not a 4* luxury hotel but I love it. It's small and well located. Francisco, the manager and the staff (Maria & Boniface in particular) are great. It's the kind of place where you can sit in the foyer and share a fino with the person working reception that evening. I stayed there the first time within a month of their opening so I've got to know everyone over the years - it feels like home.

As for food, I don't generally splurge here as I love the tapas. Most of my favorites are in Maribels guides or exploreseviille.com

Favorite place for lunch is the La Taberna del Alabadero:
http://www.grupolezama.es/

For tapas I have too many favorites to mention but just to name a few: Bar Estrella (I prefer it over it's sister Bar Giralda), Enrique Becerra (love their avacado and shrimp salad and tosta de foie) and Bar Eslava. I visited Bar Yebra in the Macarena this year for the first time and was very impressed - no tourists or menu - I just let them bring me the recommendations. Their tapas are modern and innovative. On the other hand, I also love Los Golondrinas in Triana, C/ Antillano Campos 26. It's down an alley and doesn't look like anything from the outside. However, the traditional tapas are wonderful and very inexpensive. I love their beets and mushrooms. They just opened up another location close by but I prefer the atmosphere at this location.

I'm trying to take my handwritten notes from each trip and put them in an electronic file to better organize and share. Maybe someday I'll write a real report!

No worries. This is packed with great info. Thank you Cathy.

By the way I called for you on the 2 yr old post re Preigo de Cordoba....but now realized that was not tagged Spain.

CathyM, the Estola is a good Mancha wine, about 3 eur at my usual supermarket, I'll check next time I go. Mancha wine (and other "lower" denominations) have improved greatly in recent years, and prices are generally lower than Riojas or Riberas.

I wonder what happened with those 2007 Priego de Cordoba visitors...Anybody knows? I am very familiar with Priego, but not hotels, usually make it a daytrip. They are tagged in Europe.