Richard Jennings' Wine Gift Guide

« Prev Next » 8 of 12

Spanish Wine

For my more adventuresome friends, Spanish wine, based on Tempranillo from Rioja, is likely to be my choice this year. I spent a memorable week with fellow U.S. wine bloggers tasting there this past summer, and have also been tasting all the Riojas on the market in the U.S. I can get my hands on.

My top recommendations for delicious Rioja come from two producers I visited this year: a 2005 Reserva from Miguel Merino and a 2005 Gran Reserva from Federico Paternina. Both of these are remarkable values at less than $50, so I don’t even need to recommend anything over $50. The Spanish Table is actually carrying the Paternina for only $25.

Miguel Merino worked in the wine trade in Rioja for decades, serving as export director for several wineries. Instead of retiring, he decided to fulfill a longtime dream of making his own wine, in small quantities, mainly from old vine vineyards. The first vintage for his eponymous winery was 1994. I wouldn’t say his are classic Riojas, but they are very flavorful and elegant wines, inspired by Rioja traditions.

The Federico Paternina is much more of a traditional style Rioja. Federico Paternina is under the same ownership as one of my favorite traditional Rioja houses, Bodegas Franco-Españolas, and they have long shared the same winemaker, the very talented Carlos Estecha.

Under $50

2005 Federico Paternina Rioja Conde de los Andes Gran Reserva - lightly bricking dark ruby color; cinnamon, light brett, dried roses, raspberry, dried cherry nose; very tasty, spicy, ripe raspberry, dried cherry palate; needs 2-3 years; medium-plus finish 93 points

Under $100

2005 Miguel Merino Rioja Reserva - Dark ruby color; very appealing, complex, dried berry, licorice, dried black fruit nose; complex, structured, dried berry, dried herbs, tart licorice, tart blackberry, mineral palate; long finish 94+ points

In this gallery

View As One Page

Comments

jpsullivan

96272 1

Did Richard Jennings ever live in Roswell New Mexico?
Thanks,
John

Dec 06, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Richard-
Jennings

Hand of Snooth

780161 25,229

Hi John. No, I never had the pleasure of living in Roswell.

Dec 06, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Russ Beebe

1100415 1

An outstanding lineup, Richard - most especially in the way you presented it as gifts you would enjoy receiving yourself. A very practical (and delicious) viewpoint!

Dec 06, 2012 at 3:55 PM
PFBG

454785 1

The picture shows a Rosso not a Brunello. Altough you can have very good Rossos, they don't compare to the simplest Brunello. Don't you agree?

Dec 06, 2012 at 5:55 PM
Richard-
Jennings

Hand of Snooth

780161 25,229

Russ, thank you for the kind words. I always try to select gifts for people that I would be happy to receive myself, and that philosophy has served me well.

PFBG,
I totally agree that it would be the very rare Rosso that would hold a candle to most Brunellos, but there are also some lousy Brunellos out there, so we'd have to make rare exceptions. Good catch though.

Dec 06, 2012 at 6:26 PM
zinfandel1

Hand of Snooth

154660 688

I have always gave the RAMOS PINTO 20 yr. tawny for gifts. Is the Taylor Fladgate just as good?
Frank

Dec 09, 2012 at 8:52 AM
winegirlto-
u

1166384 13

How about a muscat?

Dec 09, 2012 at 11:34 PM