Red, red Spanish wine picks to warm up the cold wet weather of fall - Wine Barbarian recommendations for vino tinto!

Viva Espana when it comes to warming up the cold wet weather of fall!  Excellent and affordable Spanish red wines to take the chill off November. 

It's wet, it's cold and it's definitely not summer anymore!  Baseball's World Series has ended, days are way too short and nights too long - so what to do?

Drink Spanish wine!  Bottled sunshine is the cure for the autumnal awfulness.

And fortunately for us, there are many high value yet relatively low cost wines from Spain to warm up your evening and cheer up your chilliness.

I've long been a big fan of Spanish wines - perhaps my first bottled love.

And here in BC and beyond, Spain rules as the country that produces the wines that provide the best value for money, not to mention pure, unadulterated joy.

So please let me recommend a few personal favourites - and also advise you to try other Spanish specialties - always enjoyable whether in the $10 or $100 plus range.

Bierzo is one of the hottest wine regions in Spain - and not for their weather - it's the high quality bottles that they export. 

The 2011 Losada Vinos de Finca in Bierzo is a fantastic example.  Rated 92 points out of 100 by the Wine Spectator, this is a pure finesse wine with dark chocolate, black cherry, smoke and herb notes.  

Made from the Mencia grape - as opposed to Spain's well known Tempranillo - this medium-bodied wine is simply outstanding - and remarkable for $22.99 a bottle in BC plus tax.  

But don't delay - there are only a few hundred bottles left in BC Liquor Stores.  

 

2011 Losada from Bierzo

Bierzo is in the north west of Spain - and several other great wines from the region are available in BC and Canada.  

Another great wine is the 2011 Eternum Viti from Bodegas Albanico in the Toro region of Spain.  This is a big, bold Tempranillo - called "Tinta de Toro" locally - that will warm your heart and soul.  And not just with its sun-quenched 14.5% alcohol, though that helps!

2011 Eternum Viti from Toro

Dark berry fruit, smoke and coffee among other complex bouquet tastes gives it a wonderful nose.  Stephen Tanzer rates it 90 points and previous vintages have all rated 90 or 91 by Robert Parker.  I concur and especially for $21.99 plus tax in BC Liquor Stores.

There's amazingly still some bottles of a wine I've previously recommended - the fantastic 2008 Besslum from Monsant region in Spain.  
At just $17.99 a bottle plus tax in BC Liquor Stores, this may be the best bargain in the province.  Rated 93 points by Robert Parker, it is a powerhouse wine with years in the bottle - try even finding a 2008 vintage from California, BC or France - let along at this amazing low price.  

There are still hundreds of bottles left - don't miss out on this high value dynamic wine.  Here's how the winemakers describe this one:
"Besllum has a deep dark color with aromas of blackberry, blueberry, exotic spices, lavender, mineral, and pain grille. Concentrated with a full body and flavors reminiscent of sweet fruit. There is just enough acidity to carry the flavor through the long, supple finish."

It is made up of three grapes: Carinena 45%, Garnacha 45%, Syrah 10%" Lastly, sorry for the long layoff on posts by the Wine Barbarian - rest assured I was doing a lot of research but not enough writing on wine!  

I won't promise to do better....but I will do my best to post more and more often - cheers!