Viña del Frade - Spanish Tempranillo (~$8)

This is a Tempranillo from the Ribera del Duero DO. It's seen a tiny bit of oak (three months), which shows up mostly on the nose, along with cherry and damp earth. Cherry and black licorice predominate on the palate.

A good wine, but, frankly, a bit more simple in terms of length and finish than the cheaper, more "generic" La Parra Loco.

To its credit, Viña del Frade beats out La Parra Loco in the label competition.

Score

Drinkability: 7/10
Price: 3.5/5
Total value: 10.5/15

La Parra Loca - Tempranillo-Shiraz Blend (~$8)

Silly name (“The crazy vine!”), somewhat “wacky” label (which reminds me of a children’s book our pediatrician gave to the kids on their last visit), but a good wine and a very good value.

This is a blend of a young and fruity tempranillo (95%) and shiraz (5%). “Shiraz” seems to me a bit of a misnomer here, as the earthiness and white pepper on the nose seem more Northern Rhone than Barossa. The palate is nicely balanced with sour cherry, cassis, and blueberry giving way to well-integrated tannins. There’s surprising length for a wine at this price point.

There’s some good acidity here, too, such that I think that this wine would pair well with the grill.

Score

Drinkability: 8/10
Price: 4/5
Total value: 12/15