The 2006 Crianza is 100% Tempranillo that spent 12 months in French and American oak. Dark ruby in color, it sports a perfume of cedar, incense, violets, and blackberry. Smooth-textured, ripe, and intensely flavored, this balanced offering will provide pleasure through 2016. Vina Mayor makes reliable value-priced wines in several DOs.Importer: HAB North America; www.habarcelo.es

Excellent Ribera crianza here. It has a smooth, appealing bouquet of candied berry fruit, which is followed by a rich palate of cassis, black cherry, prune, chocolate and coffee. For the price point this is right on the money; it’s ripe but also really good and ready to drink. ——M.S.(6/1/2010)—— 90