I have selected four outstanding red wines for you, sure to please the most discriminating wine taste buds. Three of the wines come from the increasingly popular region of Ribera del Duero in Spain, which for years now has been producing some of the world’s finest wines with 100 percent Tempianillo grapes. The fourth wine comes from dark Sicily and is made with 100 percent Nero d’Avla grapes.
2002 Vina Mayor Crianza, Ribera del Duero
Supple but structured — with flavors of berries, smoke and mineral notes clinging to firm and well-integrated tannins — it has an appealing cherry color. The finish is complex with scented vanilla and faint oak exploding through the rest of the flavors to leave a full and satisfying feeling in your mouth. Only 12,000 cases were made. This flexible wine pairs well with savory dishes like paella or with lighter grilled meats and even topas.
Wine Spectator: 87. Retail Price: $10.
2003 Protos Joven Roble, Ribera del Duero
Juicy and fiesty, maybe a bit rustic, but balanced and fresh. It projects the tangy aroma of wild cherries and dark chocolate, yet it has a solid structure, with controlled tannins laced with hints of smoked meat. 140,000 cases were made. This wine goes well with beef and lamb, strong cheeses and seafood dishes.
Wine Spectator: 85. Retail Price: $13.99.
2004 Pesquera Tinto, Ribera del Duero
Deep ruby in color, this silky wine has a nose of ripe blackberry and plum, which exudes an almost roasted quality. Big, bright and vibrant; it has hints of cassis, mineral and licorice. This remarkable Pesquera is energetic and persistent on the finish, with an endless procession of fresh, dark berry flavors and a hint of dark chocolate. This wine goes well with just about everything but especially with jamon serrano and queso manchego to a sophisticated conejo al salmorejo.
Wine Spectator: 92. Retail Price: $35.
1999 Duca Di Salaparuta, Duca Enrico
This smooth, award-winning wine from Sicily has a deep ruby color with garnet reflections and a complex aroma of ripe fruit and spice tones. Round and well-structured, it has an extraordinary finish with hints of wood, berry, dark chocolate and spice. This wine goes well with creamy risotto, grilled meats, pasta with the strong, spicy sauces favored in Sicily, like a Puttanesca — and cheeses of all kind.
Wine Spectator: — Retail Price: $85 – $100
That’s it for now; in the meantime, we hope you enjoy your travels with Aeropostal … and your wine everywhere.
