Finca Sandoval’s every day wine is the 2007 Salia, a blend of 50% Syrah, 38% Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet), and 12% Garnacha Tinto. After gentle preparations, the wine was aged for 11 months in seasoned, mostly French oak before bottling without fining or filtration. Purple-colored with a slightly reticent nose of cedar, spice box, violets, blueberry, and blackberry, on the palate it exhibits considerable weight for a $17 wine. Dense and rich with layered black fruits, all it needs is a bit more complexity which might well emerge with 1-2 years of bottle age. Finca Sandoval is the Manchuela estate of distinguished journalist Victor de la Serna. Some readers may know of Senor de la Serna through his contributions to the Parker Bulletin Board where he often sets the record straight on Spanish wines.Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates from Spain, Dedham, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767

A subtle, balanced red, with firm tannins that are fleshed out by dark berry, plum and lots of spice. A touch of dark chocolate shows midpalate through the lingering finish. Give this some air in the glass. Best from 2011 through 2017. 500 cases imported.??–AN??Region: Spain / Manchuela Select to Add

Bulky, dark, saturated and leathery on the nose, and then a little salty and edgy in the mouth, with a streak of zingy acidity along with roasted, tangy, thick blackberry flavors. Really good for the price but not as expressive, ripe and flavorful as the 2007 Salia or the higher-end Finca Sandoval; drink now through 2014.——M.S.(7/1/2011)—— 89