What a fuzzy, hot and disjointed mess this was! Ambiguously scented and caustically textured, this awkward science project of a wine hit the dump bucket faster than you could say 'bitch slap" Visit my website: Unidentified Appellation

2001 Artazu Artazuri Garnacha Narvarra Artazu Navarra, Spain Grenache (a dry red table wine) Source Reviewer Rating Maturity Estimated Cost Wine Advocate #152 (Apr 2004) Robert Parker 92 points Drink 2004-2010 $30.00 A single vineyard 100% Grenache from 80-year old vines planted in pure chalk at an elevation of 750 meters, this estate is the creation of Juan-Carlos Lopez de la Cal, who learned his craft at Artadi. It is a fabulously concentrated, complex, medium-bodied Spanish red that tastes like a grand cru from the Cote de Nuits. The combination of limestone soil and Grenache grown at a high elevation appears to have given the wine a complex, elegant, raspberry, black cherry, and floral-scented nose with medium body, great fruit, tremendously vivid flavors, and amazing precision as well as finesse. This stunningly singular wine must be tasted to be believed. Remarkably airy and light for its intense flavors, it will provide immense pleasure over the next 5-6 years.

Great value. Nice acidity gives it some backbone.

Jennifer liked it more than I did. Seemed a little one-dimensional. Lots of grape, but not much spice or earthy flavors.

Dark ruby, purple color. Pleasant but restrained nose of cassis, lavender and leather. Initially an intense burst of plums and tannins slowly evolve into a blueberry and blackberry medley on the mid-palate, with enticing hints of violet. Tannins live long and overstimulate the receptors, which suggests a few more years in the cellar before reaching its peak, but by no means is it shabby if you have to raid your stash for some good times. Visit my website: St. Henry Brewery - brewing 'til the bitter end!

Nice pizza wine. No decanting needed, the merlot rounds out the tempranillo just a bit to create a pleasant red. Nothing profound, red fruit on the nose and palate.

The 2004 Calchetas is 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Malbec aged 19 months in new French oak. It's the top wine of Viña Magañas from Navarra region. Decanted for 1,5 hour. Intense and very dark violet color.....almost black. Intense nose with layers of fruit, lots of chocolate, tobacco and a bit of alcohol. It's really a full bodied wine. At first, it was very very tannic....unpolished and savage tannins that made the wine very sticky in the mouth. It was also very hot...you could notice the 14.5% alcohol. Fruits (mainly plums, blackberries and cassis) were playing a secondary role in the presence of the alcohol and the power of the tannins. At this stage, the wine was hard and a bit unbalanced. But during the dinner, the wine started to change. The alcohol started to fade out and tannins became less savage. Then chocolate, blackberry and cassis started to show off. This is finally much better and balanced wine, but still a bit hot with medium aftertaste and some astringency. It paired very well with pork ribs with grilled sweet potates seasoned with herbs. This wine is too young now...it definitely needs more cellaring (at least 3 years more). If you want to drink it know (which I don't recommend), decant it for 2 hours. The big flaw is the price...it's too expensive....not a good QPR.

would buy again

Light browning at the rim with a deep red background. Nose shows green herbs, miineral, with some sweet cherry notes. Tart in the mouth with drying tannins and a strong acidity. Cherry, green pepper, black pepper, and chalky oak. A bit raw around the edges and needs a bit of air to really come alive. 3.5/5

Not much nose to speak of, though that could be because of my paprika and garlic-laden chicken that just came out of the oven. Plenty of bold, spicy fruit on the palate, like grilled cherries. A short but delightful strawberry finish. Tannins are light, almost to the point of non-existence. Not a fantastic example of spanish red, but for the price ($8 on sale at Albertson's), it'll do for a Friday night in.

Pale yellow gold in color. The nose is smokey with buttered oak, lime and nuts. In the mouth the acidity is high with a creamy overall mouthfeel. Flavors are of strong pineapple, oak, lime, and slight bitter grapefruit on the finish. Nice wine. 3/5

Great acid and subtle citrus flavors, with a simple refreshing Lemon Perrier finish. Suck it down with pizza.

Very clear and light in color. Light floral notes with peach flesh, light black tea notes, pear and minerals. Unctous texture with medium acidty. In the mouth candied peaches, iced tea, and faint lemon show up. 180gr/l sugar 3.5/5

Clear yellow in color. The nose is lightly herbal with lemon zest, and floral hints. Medium sweet with a medium overall acidity. Lemon confit, peach, and nectarine all show in the mouth. Well balanced wine. 3.5/5

Ruby in color. Raspberry, Medium Toast. Raspberry, Stoniness, Mineral. Light/Medium bodied. Smooth texture. Medium finish.