2005 Ramon Bilbao Tempranillo Crianza

Quality Rioja, well aged, at a remarkable price. Ripe, rich and thick with cherry plum jam and grown-up edges of tobacco, chocolate, smoke and oak. Fire up the grill and sit back.

‘This plush, modern red frames black cherry jam flavors with tobacco and dark chocolate notes. Thick and juicy, with well-integrated tannins and a clean finish. Drink now through 2010.” 88 points – Wine Spectator, June 30, 2008

“For a large-production Rioja, this sings the proper notes and should please almost anyone with a taste for Spanish red wines. It’s violet in color, indicating good ripeness. The nose is concentrated and likable, with solid berry and plum fruit to back it up. Round, pleasant and with a touch of oaky vanilla on the finish. Drink now.” 88 points – Wine Enthusiast, August 1, 2008

2008 Bodegas Emilio Moro Resalso (Ribera del Duero) 11.99

In February, David Espinar, Winery Director for Bodegas Emilio Moro was here in Tarpon Springs to conduct a dinner with B-21. The #1 selling wine that evening was Emilio Moro’s value-priced 2007 Resalso! Why? It’s a great wine that is affordable and ready to drink. We quickly sold out of the 2007 but just received the already-well-reviewed 2008. Both Steve Rayman and I tasted the 2008 and we agree; it’s rockin’! Made with 100% Tempranillo (or Tinta del Pais), its has great black fruit aromas which lead to a medium to full bodied wine with intense blackberry fruits and hints of dark chocolate espresso beans. ¡Delicioso!

90 Points, Summer Martin
Staff Selection, July 2010

Additional Score:  90 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

You may have hosted one large or small over the years, for a small wine dinner group, a book club or a service group. It’s your turn and the subject is Washington reds, or Burgundy whites, or a zinfest mania. The B-21 search engine makes picking a breeze.

My tasting was for friends at church, informal and with a tight budget. I wanted to show the range of Spanish regions, types and varietals: I needed a cava for welcoming, a couple of whites, a flight of reds and a sherry.

With the search engine I plugged in Spain, my price range and a varietal or region. Then I asked for scores.

N.V. Alvear Solera Cream Sherry (Spain) 13.99

That narrowed my choices easily. Came up with some great high scores for easy money.

It worked. My guests got a distinct taste of Verdejo from Con Class, and were fiercely divided between that and an albarino.

The Cristalino sparkling brut rose was a bright star (in honor of Tampa‘s Asturianos we also had a hard apple sidra which drew applause). So too was Ramon Bilbao Tempranillo, against very drinkable mourvedre and garnacha. The smooth class and breeding of Rioja showed easily even at this low price point.

Biggest hit for me and most of the tasters was… a cream sherry.

Make that a Montilla-Morilles from a few miles away, but the key is the name Alvear on the label. Alvear makes exceptional wines in the sherry tradition and their solera are full of great juice without the expense of being in Jerez.

Yet Alvear makes finos, amontillados and the lush 1927 Pedro Ximenez that always win 90s from the Big Boys. The cream sherry got a 95 from Parker and sells for $13.99. That might be a record.

The cream is all PX grapes, turned to lovely nutty caramel in an unctuous drink. This is not a dessrt wine. It’s all the dessert you need.

2008 Garnacha de Fuego (Calatayud, Spain) $6.99

It’s still just me bach’ing in the kitchen so I treated myself to a thick pork chop, dusted it with cinnamon, clove, curry and ginger, and grilled it on the stove top with garlic onions and baby bok choy on the side. Asian on the manly side, not particularly delicate but surprisingly fiery.

Fight fire with Garnacha de Fuego especially in the Year of Grenache. That’s the Catalan bargain in the flaming bottle. This deep purple Grenache has the weight to go with grilled edge, dark cherries that dance with the the fatty pork and plenty of pepper to match the seasoning.

Wine Advocate says 89 pts.  B-21 says $6.99.

That’s a fire sale.

The reason is chef Felix Piedra, who grew up in the Basque region and then cooked his way across Tampa to his crowning restaurant, Vizcaya.

It’s an intimate spot with a vivid splash of modern Spain in the décor and an authentic taste on the table and in the air. Must be the longest tapas list in town, including braised quail, wild rabbit, Spanish cheeses, tuna and clementines. The true Spaniard continues on with meat and classic seafood entrees, from merluza (hake or corvina) with lobster to zarzuela.

No surprise Piedra’s a magnetic host for Spanish heroes, jai alai stars and visiting wine makers. And local food lovers, the Nibbler included.

So Vizcaya’s a natural showcase for our wine dinner ($79 all-inclusive make your reservations now). We‘ll pair great Rioja wines with croquetas, tortillas, sole, steak, a side of paella and, my favorite word of all in the Spanish kitchen, albondigas. Piedra makes those meatballs with veal and wild mushrooms.

We hope you can join us. If not, put Vizcaya on your must-go-soon list.

- Chris Sherman, The Blogging Nibbler

2006 Bodegas Muga Reserva (Rioja) 21.99

“Muga’s red wines begin with the 2006 Muga Reserva, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, with the balance Mazuelo and Graciano. It was aged for 6 months in wooden vats before spending 2 years in 60% new French and American oak. Purple-colored with an already complex bouquet of pain grille, mineral, violets, black cherry, and blackberry, on the palate it is smooth-textured, layered, and concentrated. It conceals enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years and will offer optimal drinking from 2012 to 2026. It is an excellent value in serious Rioja.” 

91 Points, Jay Miller for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate #188, April 2010.

Did you know  Muga Reserva is the most popular Spanish Wine in America?
The April issue of the American magazine Wine & Spirits publishes a survey carried out among the best restaurants in the USA that places Muga first on the list of the most recognized wines by the American wine drinkers.

It comes in 375ml bottles (11.99) too!

- Summer Martin, B-21′s Spain Advocate

FREE RIOJA TASTING AT B-21 THIS SATURDAY FROM 1PM TO 5PM! COME ONE COME ALL!

While Spain explodes with exciting new wines almost everywhere, quality is nothing new in Rioja.

You can get a fresh taste of Spain’s historic vineyards at B-21’s free tasting next Saturday, June 12.

(You did know that we have free tastings every Saturday in addition to our Very Big Deal affairs like the Grand Italian Tasting on Sunday, June 13).

The June 12 Spanish tasting promises a fun re-education for anyone whose only memories of Rioja were cheap dusty, wooden drinks of 20 years ago. Today’s Rioja is brighter and yet still rich with classic tradition. It’s a beautiful region, along the river through northeast Spain, south of Bilbao and one mountain range away from Bordeaux.

Come explore it Saturday. If you can’t make it, B-21 has a deep cellar of great Rioja labels old and new like Bodegas Muga, Pujanza, Remirez de Ganuza and Finca Allende.

2006 Campo Viejo Crianza Tempranillo (Rioja)

Last week, some friends from Rioja gave me a challenge to drink Rioja on Memorial Day.  I’m always up for a challenge!  Yesterday, as many of you probably did, I had a wonderful cookout with family and friends.  Along with my great grandma’s burger recipie and the all-American hot dogs, I broke open a bottle of the 2006 Campo Viejo Crianza from Rioja ($7.99).  I’d say it was the best $8 bucks I’ve spent in the last month.  It was delicious and held its own next to our giant burgers!

A few weeks ago I had the fortunate opportunity of attending the Vibrant Rioja Trade Tasting in New York City showcasing over 300 wines from 60+ wineries.  As my favorite female comic, Chelsea Lately would say, “What <dramatic pause> a Whirlwind!”

Upon arriving on the 1st day I ate lunch at The Modern, where wine trade and press were introduced to some great new Rioja wines and tasted some favorites like the 2006 Bodegas Bilbainas Viña Zaco ($11.99).

The 2nd day kicked off with a Rioja seminar hosted by Leslie Sbrocco, an award-winning author, writer, speaker, wine consultant and TV host and owner of “BeAThirstyGirl.com”.  Leslie led a very interesting and entertaining discussion with a panel of Rioja Winemakers and export directors, all of which may I add were women!  (I love how much women are now in the frontlines of the wineworld!)  The grand tasting in the afternoon, like the seminar, was also focused on Rioja values like the 2006 Campo Viejo Crianza ($7.99) that I enjoyed on Memorial Day.

I took on the test and drank Rioja on Memorial Day.  Now I challenge you to take the test and drink Rioja this month. Plus I am throwing in free shipping on any Rioja in stock through June to sweeten the deal!!   (That’s free shipping on any Rioja wine, no minimum!)

- Summer Martin, B-21′s Spain Advocate

2009 Bodegas Shaya Shaya (Rueda) $13.99

“My favorite month is here (my name was no coincidence), and to celebrate I plan on eating lots of fresh seafood. After all I live in Florida right? Its time for a white wine and Verdejo has been calling my name. Shaya is a new project from the dynamic duo of Juan Gil and Jorge Ordonez. It is absolutely delicious. Besides the obvious hints of melon and apple, it reminded me of the Jamaican Grapefruit that I ate on vacation this May. If you’ve never tried one, it tastes like a heavenly mix of a orange, kiwi and grapefruit, similar to the flavors I picked up in the Shaya Verdejo. Shaya is refreshing, crisp and dry and a perfect match to ceviche!”

90 Points, Summer Martin
Staff Selection, June 2010

Also:  91 Points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

2008 Bodegas Emilio Moro Resalso $11.99

In February we were fortunate to have David Espinar, Winery Director for Bodegas Emilio Moro here in Tarpon Springs to conduct a dinner. The best selling wine that evening was Emilio Moro’s value-priced 2007 Resalso from Ribera del Duero! Why? It’s a great wine that is affordable and ready to drink. At Emilio Moro they are rebels that age wines until they feel they are ready (not just when a DOC says they are ready). Resalso is a perfect example. We quickly sold out of the 2007 but just received the already-well-reviewed 2008. Both Steve Rayman (our Director of Wine) and I tasted the newly arrived 2008 and we agree; It’s rockin’!

- Summer Martin, B-21′s Spain Advocate