Decanting Digest - Look to Spain for value-packed red wines

Photos by Steph Wallcraft

For rich, full red wines that pack a punch at a reasonable price, swing by the Spain section at the LCBO.
It’s a hotbed of sub-$20 wines that go toe-to-toe in quality with bottles twice their price from other parts of the world.

Spanish wines run the gamut in styles, far more so than could ever be covered in one column, and we’ll dig into them in more detail down the road. As a quick preview, the inspiration for this column was a simple stroll through the LCBO’s Vintages section on a day when your writer was feeling adventurous — or at least enough so to grab a well-priced Garnacha (the Spanish term for this grape, with the French equivalent being Grenache) and a Garnacha/Tempranillo blend, both of which are relatively safe bets from this part of the world.

With both of these bottles being at an ideal age and the right price, they absolutely did not disappoint. 

Gran Fuedo 2016 Reserva
Navarra, Spain
Vintages #479014
$18.95

Under the rules of many of Spain’s denominación de origin protegida (DOP) appellations, a wine labeled Reserva must be aged for three years before being offered for sale with at least 12 months spent in oak. This blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon spends 18 months in oak barrels. It presents with a rich and deep red colour and a nose that bursts out of the glass with cherry, plum, and lightly gingery and peppery notes. The fruits carry through onto the palate along with a hint of smokiness, all built with beautiful structure and a pleasant acidity. This has the chops to cut through very rich meat dishes. Try it with pork belly tacos with avocado and a zesty tomato salsa.
Score: 9/10

Cimal 2016 Garnacha
La Mancha, Spain
Vintages #646836
$14.95

The vintner’s notes on this bottle, from the La Mancha DOP in central Spain, suggests serving it slightly chilled. It introduces itself with aromas of cassis, raspberry, and a hint of sundried tomato, while the raspberry follows through to be joined by slightly smoky, salty, and leathery undertones. This wine would be brilliant with a spicy tomato-based dish like patatas bravas or a chicken cacciatore. Great value here.
Score: 8/10

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Steph is a successful, established freelance writer and has been a wine aficionado for more than two decades. Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.
Decanting Digest appears every other Wednesday.
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