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Reds
Campo Viejo 1989 Reserva, D.O.C. Rioja (Campo Viejo)
Garnet red color, bright with brick tones. Vanilla, red fruit and spice
in the nose. Well balanced, smooth and tasty - but not a lot of body. Made
from Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Mazuelo, with 24 months in oak, and another
24 in the bottle. 
[$M]
{25 Dec 1995}
Rioja Bordón, 1991 Crianza D.O.C. Rioja (Franco Españas)
Nice garnet color with brick overtones. The aroma is more typical of
an older wine - slightly leathery, a touch of oak, and notes of fruit.
The taste is smooth and dry with a pleasant, vaguely bitterish finish.
A good value Rioja red. [$M]
{4 Dec 1995}
Viña Albali, 1989 Reserva Valdepeñas (Felix Solis)
This attractively priced red from Valdepeñas has a bright cherry-red
color, a delicate aroma of fruit and only a hint of oak. It's tasty with
good body, but not at all heavy. A very good value. 
[$L]
{28 Nov 1995}
Muga, 1991 Crianza D.O.C. Rioja (Bodegas Muga)
The color is bright garnet red, with a fresh fruity aroma with oak tones.
This "crianza" from Muga is tasty, but relatively light bodied.
The wine passes the ageing requirements for "reserva", and may
be sold as such - particularly in the US. Both aroma and taste seem to
"open up" after a few minutes in the glass. [$M]
{12 Nov 1995}
Viña Cumbrero, 1990 Crianza D.O.C. Rioja (Bodegas Montecillo)
With 12 months in oak and another year "resting" in a bottle,
this Cumbrero crianza has a clean dark-cherry color, and a fruity-grape
aroma. It's very tasty, and an excellent value. A slightly astringent finish
suggests that it will hold up well for several more years.
[$L]
{5 Nov 1995}
Berberana, 1988 Reserva D.O.C. Rioja (Berberana)
Made from 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, with 36 months in American
oak. The color is a ruby-red, bright with no signs of browning. The aroma
is of medium intensity, with notes of vanilla and oak, the taste smooth
and pleasant. [$M]
{23 Oct 1995}
Gran Coronas, 1990 Reserva D.O. Penedés (Miguel Torres)
Gran Coronas is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Tempranillo. The color is
a dark ruby-red and the nose is balsamic with ripe fruit overtones. The
wine is well structured, smooth and quite tasty, with a lasting aftertaste.
[$M]
{16 Oct 1995}
Gran Vos, 1991 Reserva D.O. Somontano (Viñas
del Vero)
The Somontano Region in the province of Huesca has been getting good
press of late - and "Gran Vos" is good place to start. Made from
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a touch Pinot Noir, the dark cherry-red
color and berry-fruit nose are only the beginning of a great wine experience.
Aged 12 months in new French oak, plus 24 months "resting" in
the battle; the wine is smooth, balanced and with a nice, slightly tannic
finish. [$M]
{8 Oct 1995}
Yllera, Tinto 1991 Castilla y Leon (Los Curros)
This wine isn't crianza or reserva, and it doesn't even belong to an
"official" D.O. region, but this light and tasty red from Valladolid
is a real "find". It sports a clear bright red color, a fresh
fruity aroma, good balance and a remarkable finish for such a "modest"
wine. [$L]
{28 Sept 1995}
CUNE, '91 Crianza Rioja (C.V.N.E)
This is a light wine (11.5%), with a bright ruby red color, a nice clean
aroma with a berry-fruit taste and a hint of spice and oak. It's a smooth
wine with a reasonable finish, a good value, especially for those who enjoy
the lighter wines. [$L]
{20 Sept 1995}
Viña Mayor, Crianza 1991 Ribera del Duero (Hijos de A. Barceló)
A dark, almost black-cherry color, intense aroma, good balance and robust
taste mark this excellent Ribera del Duero. The aroma is slightly spicy
with a long finish. It's made from 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and "
crianza" of 18 months in oak - 13%. [$M]
{3 Sept 1995}
Raimat "Abadia", 1990 Costers del Segre (Raimat)
The Raimat winery, in Lerida at the foot of the Pyrenees, has put together
a different and interesting wine. Abadia is made from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
and 50% Tempranillo. The ageing process starts with 6 months in French
oak, followed by 12 more in American oak casks. The color is dark garnet;
the texture is velvety with lots of body; it carries a smooth oaky vanilla
taste with a nice finish. [$M]
{15 Aug 1995}
Whites
Jaume Serra Macabeo, 1994 D.O. Penedés (Jaume Serra)
Made from 100% Macabeo (also known as Viura) - the main grape variety
for the "cavas". Light straw color, clear and bright, the aroma
is light and slightly flowery. This is a fresh, light wine, dry but with
a hint of sweetness in the finish. [$L]
{29 Oct 1995}
Marqués de Riscal, 1994 Rueda (Marqués de Riscal)
This excellent Rueda could be described as "a fun wine", it
starts out with the fruity taste of a young wine (with just a touch of
bananas). As it passes through the mouth, a curious evolution takes place
and the finish is long with a full lingering taste, more like a wine which
has been aged in oak. [$M]
{15 Sept 1995}
Marqués de Griñón, 1992 "Durius" - Rueda, (Marqués de Griñón)
A straw colored, dry white wine, a recent addition to the list of fine
"ruedas". [$M]
Rosés
Julián Chivite, 1993 "Gran Feudo" - Navarra, (Julián Chivite)
Light and tasty, this "rosado" from Navarra is best chilled
and acompanied by shellfish, chicken or vegetables. [$M]
Sherry
La Ina, "fino" sherry (Pedro Domecq)
The color is pale yellow, bright with greenish tints. The aroma is powerful
with wood and clearly defined "flor" - the yeasts that give sherry
it's special taste. The taste is ample and complex - oak, "flor"
, and slightly saline. To be drunk well chilled - great with appetizers,
also try it with fish, seafood, or poultry. Don't let the metal screw-on
cap fool you - this is a first-rate fino. [$M]
{19 Nov 1995}
Gonzáles Byass, "Tio Pepe" - [Fino] Jerez, (González Byass)
Dry, straw colored, and tasty this is a classic "fino" from
the Jerez region. Remember to drink it well chilled. [$M]
Cava
Anna de Codorniu Brut Reserva, (Cordoniu)
This bubbly is made from Chardonnay, Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada
grapes. "Anna" shows a bright yellow-gold color and smallish,
long-lasting bubbles. A slightly flowery aroma and fresh, lasting taste
mark this an excellent cava - one to be enjoyed, especially during the
comming holidays. 
[$H]
{11 Dec 1995}
Freixenet "brut nature" - Cava, (Freixenet)
Fine bubbles and a fresh and dry taste make this a good (and "cost-
effective") champagne substitute. [$M]
- [$L] = Low (less than $5)
[$M] = Medium ($5 to $10)
[$H] = High (more than $10)
Prices: To minimize confusion, and country to country differences, I'll use a Spanish Relative Price (SRP) approach. That is the normal price of the wine here in Spain, expressed in $ USA.