Wine of the Week

The reds of Rioja, Priorat and Ribera del Duero now rival any in the world in terms of price and quality, but it’s in the less well-known regions of Spain, such as up-and-coming Jumilla, that you can find some tremendous bargains. Even better than Casa de la Ermita’s terrific 1999 vintage, this blend of Tempranillo with some Cabernet and Merlot is an intense mouthful of berries, smoke and cassis with a long sweet finish. It’s a wine for all occasions, drinking beautifully now but also worth aging for a handful of years. It’s often available for less than $10 a bottle, so this is one to buy by the case.

About $10. The 2000 arrived on the market recently and should be widely available at fine wine shops and retailers. If you can’t find it, have your local wine shop contact the distributor, Associated Wine Distributors, (707) 963-8055.