The Dallas group got together and we had some pretty nice wines-South American and Spanish at De Tapas in Dallas/Addison.

Used both Spieglau Bordeaux and Zinfandel glass for tasting.

Sumarroca Cava Brut-great start to the evening. I'm haven't been a champagne fan for the last two years but this Brut Cava I enjoyed. It had the right acidity and effervescence for me.

2000 Almaviva (Chilean from Baron Phillipe Rothchild)an incredible blend that nicely evolved over the evening. I'm pretty sure there was no malbec, this was a Cab blend. It reminded me of a Bordeaux but for 2000 obviously more approachable. Bright fruit and firm tannins initially, I got licorce and mint on the nose. Really mellowed out after two hours. Just great.

Finca El Portillo 2002 Tempranillo from Argentina. Very easy to drink food friendly wine, light bodied

Two very different 1994 Rioja's but both very good, you just have to choose the style you like:

1994 Castillo de Ygay Rioja Grand Reserva-very fragrant nose and some tart fruit. Fragrant fruit, not unlike a franc, but lighter.

1994 Marques de Caceres Rioja - immediate smoked meat and leather on the nose. I thought I was in a barbeque pit. A meaty wine. Firm tannins on the end.

1990 Unito Reserve Torre Oria Tempanrillo-nice nose. a little dry .I'm pretty sure I heard others prefer this over the Finca, but I preferred the Finca.

2001 San Bordils Negre-oops I have no tasting notes.

1991 and 1992 Faustino Tinto Gran Reserva- Very elegant. Some cigar on the nose . I didn't know Rioja aged so long. Both drinking very silky and so nice with fragrant fruit. I thought 1992 was slightly the better.

2001 Numanthia Toro-Major enjoyment-Cocoa and dark fruit. Quite a different wine. I went home and researched and found out this was a tempanrillo. I thought tempanrillo was a light style wine. Its a big wine but not as powerful as say a Shirvington shiraz(my closet comparison due to the cocoa ) or big in tannins like a bordeaux. It was smooth like merlot. My other thought was who needs food with this wine around. It stood on its own. My WOTN

Tempranillo can potentially make super-concentrated wines, but has traditionally been made in a lighter style and extended oak age that puts in the bottle something more akin to the density of Pinot. Try some of the newer wave Tempranillo and you will definitely get Cab-like density. I like two of Alejandro Fernandez new ventures: El Vinculo and La Dehesa Granja. These are seriously oaked wines, however, and I would love to try a full-bodied potent tempranillo with light oaking.

wow. glad i stopped in here.

I had the el vinculo at a restaurant recently and really liked it - found it quite smoky/meaty with a nice backbone. my wine guy didn't have it in stock but recco'd the granja which i went with but haven't cracked yet.

Thanks.