2002 Termes Toro - Bodega Numenthia Termes - Spain

This lovely wine is starting to near the end of its life (within a couple years I think) but is drinking beautifully now.

Garnet colored and medium bodied with secondary notes of tar and cedar now at the forefront with some nice black currant and other dark notes receding some.

Fine tannins and a soft texture with a long finish. A touch of heat at the end is the only slight against this really nice wine.

Bought 3 or 4 years ago from Union Square Wines for $25.

Tasting Note: 2003 Marqués de Riscal Reserva

The 1999 vintage of Marqués de Riscal Reserva was one of my early introductions to Spanish wines and I’ve liked it enough to follow the vintages.

The 2003 version is high in alcohol at 14%, a result of the scorching summer that year in Europe. This is mainly Tempranillo based with a ruby red color. It has strong cherry, licorice and cedar aromas mixed in with cinnamon and other spices. Very interesting nose. Smooth texture and nicely balanced with a long finish. Very nice and another solid B.

This was also the first bottle of wine I’ve purchased at the Trader Joe’s Wine Shop on East 14th St. They have it for $13 which is a nice price for a wine I’ve seen sell for as much as $20.

2002 Termes Toro – Bodega Numanthia Termes (Spain - Castilla y Leon)

The #3 Wine if the Year in 2005 as cited by Wine Spectator! Bought for $25 at Union Square Wine! Will it live up to this incredible Price per Quality ratio!

Well… Yes. #3 Wine of the Year. Maybe not but awfully darn good.

Tempranillo. Deep red color with notes of Blueberry, blackberry, and tabac nose. Fine tannins. Slightly dry on the palate. But the fruit is the real star here.

The one knock on this wine is that its slightly acidic on the finish but that just makes it an A- wine rather than an A.