Just as it was a month or so ago with the flood of delicious French Rhones, the trend of tasty new wines arriving at ABCFWS continues with a gush of quality offerings from Spain.  Here’s the lowdown on the latest Spanish selections now available at your local store.

It’s been a while since we’ve added a wine from the Utiel-Requena DO, let alone one made from 100% Bobal.  Bodegas Sierra Norte Bobal Temperamento ($12.99) is a tremendous value.  The winery, located in the heart of Valencia, is fully organic.  But that’s just half the story.  In the wrong hands, the finicky Bobal can produce a very average wine.  However, Sierra Norte gives this underappreciated grape the royal treatment: old vines, low yields, limestone sub-soil, malolatic and elevage in French oak up to 8 months.  The result is a rich, purple colored wine with juicy raspberry, plum and cassis fruit, and a smorgasbord of exotic, smoky Asian spices.  This beautifully balanced red would be right at home with pan-seared baby lamb chops and a zesty romesco!

How about a couple of value-centric Tempranillo reds from the Toro appellation? Not impressed? Well you will be when you taste the Bodegas Campina Sabor Real Toro 2008 ($8.99, 90 RP). That’s right, a delicious Tinto de Toro for less than 10 bucks that garnered a 90 point rating from the Wine Advocate!  Talk about a wine to buy by the case!  Better yet, make that a mixed case with a few bottles of the complex Sabor Real Crianza Viñas Centenarias 2007 ($11.99, 91 RP).  How can you go wrong with fruit produced from 100 year old vines aged in French and American oak for the price of a song?

You’ve been craving something new from Rioja, right?  Well, we aim to please with the Bodegas de Familia Burgos Viejo Betis Rioja Crianza ($14.99).  Produced in Rioja Baja from the terrific 2009 vintage, this silky, medium-bodied red is the perfect foil for earthy slices of Jamón Ibérico or a juicy, rosemary and garlic pork tenderloin.

Jim Greeley, Wine Supervisor SW Florida

Follow me on Twitter @ABCWineJimG