Bodegas Conde 'Vivir, Vivir', 2007

Bodegas Conde 'Vivir, Vivir', 2007

The 2007 Vivir, Vivir is 100% Tempranillo sourced from old vines in La Horra in the Ribera del Duero of Spain. This wine has a lovely ruby-red color and displays an elegant nose of blackberry, cherry and stone. This is a medium bodied wine that is a modern style with rich berry flavors that are pleasantly balanced with secondary flavors of mineral and herbs. Very smooth and fleshy in the mouth with moderate tannins and acidity and no harsh edges. This is a straight-forward Tempranillo that will pair well with any summer picnic. We served the "Vivir, Virir" chilled, with some grilled chicken tacos and wood-charred green beans….yummy! We found this “Summer-sipper” at Top Foods, in Bellevue, for about $10.

Bodegas Ateca Atteca, 2007

Bodegas Ateca Atteca, 2007

This old vine garnacha from the Calatayud region of Spain represents another great value and proves you can get interesting and delicious wines for way under $20.00. The garnacha grapes are from 80-120 year-old vines and this Atteca is aged in oak barrels for 10 months before being bottled. This is another fine wine from the Jorge Ordonez Selection. This is a full bodied wine with a deep red/purple color and a nose of fresh raspberry, cherries and wet rock. On the palate there is ripe red raspberry jam, black plum, cranberry, leather and some spicy pepper. This is a big wine with great personality. This Spanish red is quite jammy and zesty and the delicious fruit flavors are blanketed in smooth tannins and finished with a touch of creamy oak. This wine can pair well with any hearty or spicy meal or would be great for a backyard barbeque. Actually, I think this wine would be great anytime! This wine can be found in the Seattle area for about $15. Seek out this lovely old vine garancha from Bodegas Ateca.