2003 Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero
Tinto Pesquera from Alejandro Fernandez is one of the great wines from the Ribera del Duero in north central Spain. But Fernandez has another estate called Condado de Haza where he’s making a terrific Ribera del Duero that sells for less than $25. Made from Tinto Fino (a variant of Tempranillo) grown on south-facing slopes, the 2003 Condado de Haza is juicy, dark in tone and redolent of wild herbs and smoke. A wonderful bottle for the money.
Drink it with beans cooked with sausages, rack of lamb, a pork roast with herbs tucked inside or a pan-roasted chicken with sweet peppers.
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Quick swirl
Region: Ribera del Duero, Spain
Price: About $22
Style: Structured and lush
Food it goes with: Beans and sausage, braised lamb shank, pork roast
Where you find it: Amazing Grapes Wine Store in Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 888-9007 and (888) 299-9463; Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa (949) 650-8463; Liquid Wine & Spirits in Chatsworth, (818) 709-5019; Mission Wines in South Pasadena, (626) 403-9463; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454 and (800) 769-4639; and Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818) 222-1111.
--S. Irene Virbila