Red Wine Hot Value

If you've shopped with Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville or Woodbridge for any amount of time, you know that we often have highly rated products at ridiculously low prices. We understand that independent and reliable outside ratings organizations like Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate help you make an informed choice. You already know, for example, that a 90 point rating from a source like Vinous Media means that you'll likely enjoy that wine.

Flaco Tempranillo did receive that 90 point rating from Vinous Media. And since it's on sale in the Bottle Club® for only $6.96, you may want to pick up a case, before we sell though this vintage.

Flaco, made with Spain’s signature Tempranillo grape, means "dude" in English. In the words of The Savvy Lush, Flaco "is the best goof-proof, budget-friendly wine out there." Spain is the largest producer of Tempranillo. These thick-skinned grapes are grown in regions that have hot days followed by cool evenings. This creates a concentrated, yet balanced flavor.” It is produced by Compañía de Vinos del Atlántico in the Demoninación de Origen (DO) of Vinos de Madrid. Flaco shows the complexity of a serious wine for the price of a song! The luscious fruit and soft texture make it a perfect wine for everyday drinking.

Madrid is not only the capital of Spain but also one of the country's most interesting wine growing regions. The outskirts of this great royal city are full of old Tempranillo vines. Most Spaniards do not know that Madrid makes wine, and therefore don't know the incredible values that Madrid showcases at the present time. Madrid is the great unknown.

Produced from organically grown, dry-farmed vineyards. Flaco shows the complexity of twice its price. These vines are tended in diverse micro-climates, allowing for more consistency of ripeness year after year. Yields are very low,  resulting in wines that showcase extreme quality for its price point.

TASTING NOTES: Silky and sweet on the palate, offering intense but edge-free raspberry and spicecake flavors. A wine of noteworthy elegance, especially for the money. Finishes sappy, floral and long, with lingering red fruit character and just a hint of tannins. This vibrant, emphatically fruity, pure Tempranillo was raised in a combination of large concrete and stainless steel tanks.

The fresh, pure character of this wine makes this an extremely versatile wine to pair with food. This wine pairs well with white meats like pork and chicken and flaky fish like hake, cod or flounder. This has the fruit and acidity to match with red meats, as well.

Now, reading those notes (provided by the importer), you might think the wine is a fruit bomb. Your blogger shared a bottle of Flaco just last night, and we can assure you that this is a sophisticated wine, with flavors that are more subtle that described above. We paired the Flaco with an Italian dish called "pizzoccheri" (buckwheat pasta, potato, cheese, spinach, Valtellina sausage), and it was a perfect complement.

We've been talking about the great values in Spanish red wines for quite a while now. If you've hesitated, of if you've already tried and enjoyed Spanish reds, this is the next great value for you.

Photo credit: Friederike Paetzold.