Paso a Paso Verdejo 2010

Paso a Paso Verdejo 2010

Origin: La Mancha, Spain
Blend: Verdejo (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A light lemon yellow in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (peaches, apples) with light, almost sweet tropical fruit notes. The flavors on the palate are similar, tree fruit accompanied by a bit of earthiness, herbs and nuts. The finish is persistent though a little astringent.

Our rating: We served our bottle with a mildly spicy chicken and rice dish — not quite Spanish but close — with which it paired nicely. We think poultry is probably the best choice here, but pork dishes would also work well. It doesn't seem like much of a seafood wine to us. The earthiness of the wine troubled us a bit, but not so much that we didn't enjoy our bottle. Still, we score it on the high side of Average. We rated last year's vintage, Paso a Paso Verdejo 2009, which was produced from grapes grown in a different region of Spain, much higher … but we can't say whether or not this change is responsible for our lower score this year.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Telmo Rodríguez Basa Blanco Rueda 2009

Telmo Rodríguez Basa Blanco Rueda 2009

Origin: Rueda, Spain
Blend: Verdejo (85%), Viura (10%), Sauvignon Blanc (5%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A light lemon yellow in color with gold highlights, this wine has aromas of green apple accompanied by slight grassy notes. A crisp apple character is also present on the palate, but quickly and somewhat surprisingly softens. There is a good acid balance into the finish, which adds a touch of minerality and is relatively short but very clean.

Our rating: We served our bottle with a mildly spicy chicken and rice dish, with which it paired quite nicely. We think most simply prepared meals with poultry or pork would be enhanced with this wine; we don't see seafood as a good match. We're guessing the small amounts of Viura and Sauvignon Blanc added some depth and interest to this wine that wouldn't otherwise be there. We really enjoyed it, and rate it Above Average, Nearly Excellent … and at just $8, a very good value.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez.

Zagarrón Verdgjo 2009

Zagarrón Verdgjo 2009
Origin: La Mancha, Spain
Blend: Verdejo (100%)
Alcohol Content: 11.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Pale gold in color, this wine has bright aromas of tree fruit (apple, peach) and apple blossom. A ripe apple flavor come throughs on the palate, initially rather mild though growing quickly in intensity towards the finish. The finish is slightly tart, almost like apple peel in character.

Our rating: This is a very pleasant but not overly complex wine, one that can readily be paired with a wide variety of foods. With its fruit-forward flavor profile and relatively low alcohol content, we think a light lunch or freshly tossed salad would be perfect. We, for example, enjoyed our bottle with cold chicken sandwiches. We rate it on the very high side of Above Average, and at just $7, consider it a terrific value for an ABC wine.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Yellow with green tonality, bright and clear. Intense aroma with balsamic note. Soft and complex in mouth."

Winery website: Wines Zagarrón.

Paso a Paso Verdejo 2009

Paso a Paso Verdejo 2009
Origin: Rueda, Spain
Blend: Verdejo (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Golden straw in color, this wine is powerfully fragrant, with aromas of tree fruit (apple, apricot) and orange blossom; there's also a hint of honey. Very smooth with a medium body on the palate, the fruit flavors are well balanced. The finish is ever so slightly tart, but otherwise rather unremarkable.

Our rating: We enjoyed this wine, and found it to be very food friendly. The round, soft feel suggests at least partial oak cellaring -- but we don't know for sure. We served our bottle with roasted chicken and vegetables, with which it paired quite nicely, though it could easily be served with seafood or even pork dishes. We rate it to be Above Average, nearly Excellent.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Monte Palma Verdejo-Viura 2008

Monte Palma Verdejo-Viura 2008
Origin: Rueda, Spain
Blend: Verdejo, Viura (unknown blend percentages)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Straw in color with silver highlights, this wine has aromas of fresh herbs (fennel) with notes of citrus and citrus blossoms. Smooth and rich on the palate, the flavors initially tend towards tropical fruit before evolving into a spicy sweetness that extends into the finish.

Our rating: This blend of Spanish grapes is quite delightful. Nice as an aperitif, it is also food friendly. We served our bottle with roasted chicken (and confess it was half gone by the time the meal reached the table), but next time we'll choose a spicy pasta or rice dish. We rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Marques de Riscal Rueda Verdejo 2005

Wine: Marques de Riscal Rueda Verdejo 2005
Origin: Rueda, Spain
Blend: 100% Verdejo
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Bottle closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: August 2008
Purchase Price: $8.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Pale straw-yellow colour. The nose reveals pleasant aromas of blossom and herbs, such as fennel, typical of the Verdejo variety. On the palate it has a fresh, supple sensation with a slight final bitterness which gives it complexity and the very characteristic personality of wines of this variety."

ABC Wines review: Aromas of citrus and herbs with a touch of oak and spice carry forward to the palate of this wine which is of medium body. A brisk acidity develops into the lingering finish which itself is pleasantly complex. Serve this wine with roasted chicken or a richly flavored rice dish. Our score: Well Above Average.

Winery website: Marques de Riscal.

Palma Real Rueda Verdejo 2007

Palma Real Rueda Verdejo 2007
Origin: Rueda, Castilla y Leon, Spain
Blend: 100% Verdejo (?)
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Bottle closure: Synthetic cork
Purchase date: June 2008
Purchase price: $10.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Bright yellow color. Aromatic with nose of white flowers and a faint grassiness. Medium-bodied with instant grip and a sensation of grassiness (less strong than in Sauvignon); aromas of lechèe; a good texture and quite a long finish. Drinks well now but, if kept 4 or 5 years, will develop more complex nutty aromas."

ABC Wines review: Nicely fragrant, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit with some peach and faint herbal notes. Clean and crisp on the palate, the tropical fruit flavors are present in a medium body accompanied by a mild acidity. The nuanced finish is pleasantly long and satisfying. A good choice for cold chicken dishes or summer salads. Our score: A complex and delicious wine. Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Winery website: None found. No image of the bottle or label could be located.

Tienen Duende Verdejo 2005

Tienen Duende Verdejo 2005
Origin: Castille and Leon, Spain
Blend: 100% Verdejo
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Bottle closure: Natural cork
Purchase date: June 2008
Purchase price: $8.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: No description provided. From the bottle: "Citrus sorbet character and undertones of sweet spice and tropical fruits."

ABC Wines review: A golden yellow in color, this wine has aromas of apple, melon, and apricot with notes of honey which are nicely carried forward to the palate. A mild acidity develops, but the finish, though long, has an odd taste, somewhat spicy but more like overripe fruit. An unusual wine that may be served with chicken dishes. Our score: Average.

Winery website: Tienen Duende Wines. Note: this wine is only available at SuperValu grocery stores (Albertsons, Jewel, Shaws, and others).