Don’t miss this deal on a great Spanish Rioja

Occasion: When a bottle of great Spanish Rioja wine becomes cheaper than a gallon of organic milk, that’s the time to strike. This superb value comes by way of Lee’s Discount Liquor, which must have either hypnotized the wholesalers or done some other magic trick to get this Faustino Rioja wine down to $3.99. That’s just a ridiculous deal. But better yet, it is from the stunning 2010 vintage, which means you’re not only getting a beautifully matured drinking bottle of wine but also something that can last you all year and next paired with just about anything in the meat department. It would appear Spain is on a streak at the moment, at least as far as my palate is concerned.

Wine: Faustino Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo (Tinto Rojo)

Region: Rioja, Northern Spain

Vintage: 2010

In the glass: This Faustino Rioja wine is a deep garnet red with a semi-opaque core going out into a fine slightly tinged rim definition with high viscosity.

On the nose: There is attractive bright red cherry fruit, jarred Morrello cherries, stewed red currants, phenolic compounds, herbs de Provence, dusty minerals, cranberry liqueur and hints of American oak, materializing in sweet vanilla bean stalk, with just a touch of pepper and underlying spice box.

On the palate: There is good classic ripe red fruit with typical Rioja character, meaning wild cherry, cranberry, red currant, with just hints of herbs, beef jerky, earthy minerals and slightly dryish tannins through the midpalate. The finish is quite lively with yet more red fruits, and the wine altogether seems very clean on the palate, giving off a very fruit-laden characteristic, which is very pleasing when pairing this with food.

Price: $3.99 per bottle.

Availability: Lee’s Discount Liquors