Burgo Viejo Crianza Rioja - 2010

Burgo Viejo Crianza Rioja - 2010
Rioja, Spain

Nose: Juicy red cherry, Red raspberry, Vanilla.

Palate: Red raspberry, red cherry, currant, plum, moss, bark, and a touch of clove.

Color: Medium garnet, with a touch of brick color nearing the edge.

Grapes: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano

Aged: American oak for 12 months, then bottle aged 6 months before release.

This wine is a touch of "New-World" fruit with "Old-World" finesse and acidity. You can be sure this wine is an all around crowd pleaser with nice clean fruit on the front of the palate and slightly rustic savory notes, which finish with nice lingering tannins. The acidity is bright and still very fresh tasting for this 2010 crianza. Don't be afraid to bring this crianza to a party, because everyone who likes red wine will enjoy this.

Bodegas Burgo Viejo is a fairly large producer in the Rioja Baja, a hot and dry region know for producing very ripe grapes. The estate boasts nearly 500 acres of vineyards, most of which is dedicated to the Tempranillo grape, but also include lesser amounts of Graciano, Garnacha, Carignan and Viura. But back to the wine itself...

The ripe red cherry and raspberry notes are quite pleasant, not overly rich or stewed, rather pronounced and integrated with the notes of currant, plum, and bark. The acidity is bright from beginning to end and at times a little bracing, but this characteristic would match well with some sharp cheese or braised meat. The tannins are present and distinct, but not aggressive or overly astringent, which allows this wine to be approachable for most people.

Although I personally prefer a more "Old-World" style of wine, I find Burgo Viejo Crianza to be a nice, approachable wine with something for everyone. I could see this being a go-to wine for most, there's enough layers of fruit and savory notes to enjoy, especially when considering the cost. Price to quality wise, I would give this wine an A-, because the fruit, acidity and tannins are all in balance with each other, there are no prominent faults in the wine, and it wouldn't over power most foods.

This wine is ready to drink now; it will become more savory with a little age, but the tannins will definitely drop out within 3-5 years and you might be left with an undesirable, acidic wine. At this price, you should just enjoy it from now until 2016.

Galen's Score: 89 points

Retail Cost: $13

Distributed by: Mariner Beverages

Barrel 27 - Right Hand Man Syrah - 2012

Barrel 27 - Right Hand Man Syrah - 2012
Central Coast, California

Nose: Dark cherry, red raspberry, cocoa.

Palate: Ripe raspberry, dark cherry, black tea, orange zest, soft tannins

Color: Dark purple throughout, nearly opaque.

Normally this isn't my style of wine: big, rich, robust, a quintessential "New-World juicy flavors" kind of wine with high alcohol. In fact this beast is listed at 15.2% abv, which means this wine could even be well over 16% abv; typically a huge turn off for me. But Im very surprised by the 2012 Right Hand Man Syrah, because it is well balanced with perfectly integrated fruit, a nice backbone of glycerin, and bursting with flavor. The acidity is bright and balanced, and the tannins are smooth and supple.

The fruit is clean and shows tons of layers. I gotta say this wine really delivers great flavors and wonderful balance all around. Im glad the winemaker chose to make this bombastic syrah in this style, and not to create a sort of mimic blend based on European regions, such as Cote-Rotie. It's nice to see this wine's individuality which allowed the extremely ripe grapes to really burst with flavor on the palate. I wish this wine showed a little more expression on the nose, as its slightly subdued at room temperature. With this much flavor on the palate I expected more pronounce aromas. Yet

I also wish I had some chocolate right now, because this wine is screaming for a sweet paring. Im just one glass deep and Im already starting to feel the buzz, but I'm still surprised that it still doesn't taste boozy or hot. Bring this juice bomb to your next holiday gathering and get granny lit-up on a glass or two, she needs to get her crunk on!

Price to quality wise I would give the Right Hand Man a B+, it definitely brings a lot to the table and demonstrates quality wine-making at a reasonable price. It's not an everyday wine for my bank account, but it won't make you go broke either. Ultimately, if you like really big, juicy wines, then you will love this. For those looking for a more subtle and delicate wine, you should be ready to get kicking in the teeth with this one.

This wine is ready to drink now or within the next couple of years. The soft, smooth tannins and the rich, ripe fruit will not improve with age. This is a buy-now, drink-now kind of wine.

Retail Cost: $21 

Distributed by: Mariner Beverages

Galen's Score: 91 points