Mazuelo, Garnacha, and Syrah. A powerful iteration of the Montsant DO. It comes on strong with bursting black fruit, currant, rose petals, and leather flavors and a full mouthfeel. The tannins are slighter than most Catalan wines, but present enough to provide some structure. Strawberry and flint notes on the nose are subtle, with everything stretching out into a nice, warm peppery finish. This is a great Everyday Red at $13-16 at your local Whole Foods.
- Rating: Everyday Red
- Name: Bula 2013
- Winery: Aviva Vino
- Region: Montsant
- Country: Spain
- Varietals: Mazuelo, Garnacha, and Syrah
- Price: $13-$16
- Where to Buy: Whole Foods, Washington D.C.
Big vanilla chocolate raspberry cinnamon punch in the mouth. Sound jammy? Nope. Got the tannins to collect it all up nicely at the end of the palate. The mouth punch gives way later to familiar dark tarry notes of rubber, blackberry jam, and slate that Nero is known for. A nice, stubborn wine that gets a foothold on the palate. Believe I picked this one up at Schneider’s on the Hill for around $25.
35% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tina Roriz, 25% Touriga Franca, 10% Tinta Barroca. Nice red fruit up front, strawberries and cherries. Crushed violets into a peppery finish. Just enough tannin to hold it all together with a smack of leather. One of the more well-balanced and accessible Portuguese offerings. This wine doesn’t knock your socks off, but it’s well-rounded and can go well with a lot of things, from tomato pasta sauces to smoked or grilled meats. Ranges from $12-16 as carried by Whole Foods on P Street.
A quintessential Rioja with typical flavors, nice peppery finish and dark fruit. Very solid pick for taking to a friend’s dinner or any time you need a versatile red. A good wine that won’t cover the food, knock your socks completely off, or break the bank. Pairs well with red meats, grilled foods, and hearty fish or seafood dishes (such as paella). I don’t buy it by the case, but I usually keep a bottle lying around in my arsenal. Easily found for $15.
Posto Novo 