Rioja, Spain – $15
3/2007 – Sharp, dark nose. Plum, black fruit, earth, spices, and alcohol on the palette. Well rounded, with a highly tannic structure, but almost too much so. For the cost, I prefer more flavor and less zip in my Tempranillo, even though I know that they are trying to be true to the classic use of the grape. Perhaps a few more years on the shelf for me? 7.9