Bodegas Borsao wines from Spain called a great value

Bodegas Borsao wines from Spain called a great value

GAIL APPLESON Special to the Post-Dispatch stlwinefinds@gmail.com Posted: Wednesday, October 6, 2010 12:00 am


..I wasn't surprised when I read recently that a Spanish wine, the 2008 Borsao, would be named the No. 1 wine value of the year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. That's because Bodegas Borsao's wines have been getting positive press for several years, thanks to their quality and low price.

In fact, the 2008 Borsao, a blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo, received high marks from several wine magazines, including 89 points from Wine Spectator.

The ranking was publicized in a Facebook posting from Wines from Spain. Its source was a column in the Fort Myers, Fla., News-Press, which said the ranking would appear in the January issue of the wine magazine.

The Facebook posting made me think about how much I enjoyed the 2009 Borsao Rosé, which I had found early in the summer for $7.99 at the Wine Merchant, 20 South Hanley Road in Clayton. I apparently was not alone. The Merch ran out of the wine for quite awhile. But coincidentally, I just received a call from the store telling me it finally had received a new shipment.

Obviously, this was a sign that a trip to the Wine Merchant was in order.

In addition to picking up a few bottles of the rosé, I picked up a bottle of the red, also selling for $7.99. Although none of the 2008 vintage was left on the racks, there was plenty from 2009. I decided it was worth a try.

Both of these wines are from the Campo de Borja Denominación de Origen, located in northern Spain's Aragón region. Wines from this DO tend to be full, robust and somewhat high in alcohol. Both bottles have an alcohol level of 14 percent.

I'm not sure how much of the Borsao Rosé will be left by the time this column runs, but if you're a fan of dry, fruity rosés and don't want to spend a lot, it's worth giving the Wine Merchant a call. This is one of the best I've found for the price.

The rosé, which received 88 points from the International Wine Cellar, is made from 100 percent Garnacha grapes. This wine, which is closer to a pale red than pink, is bursting with strawberry flavor and sweet baking spices. While it's rich, round and fruity, it is a dry wine and ends with a citrus finish.

It has a bit more heft than some rosés. This is a flavorful wine that would go well with flavorful foods and would be refreshing with spicy Asian cuisine. Or if you want to liven up your chicken salad sandwich, give this a try.

The red, which is a blend of 75 percent Garnacha and 25 percent Tempranillo, is also a flavorful wine with black cherry and blackberry flavors. It is a medium-bodied red with some complexity, a touch of smoke and earth and nice tannins.

It has surprising depth and finish for such an inexpensive wine and makes for a good introduction to more serious red wines. So if you're tired of simple Merlots and Cabernets in the under-$8 price range, the Borsao makes for an interesting change of pace and will supercharge your Tuesday night hamburger dinner

Origin information: Sant Louis Today