Tag Archives: Flaco

An enjoyable cheap Spanish red wine – a holiday gift for all of us

One of the first rules in this business – any kind of journalism, in fact – is not to get too friendly with the people you write about. What happens when you have to say something they won’t like?

But that’s really hard to keep in mind with Patrick Mata of importer Ole & Obrigador. Patrick is just not a nice guy, but polite and professional and I’ve quoted him in my wine writing, here and elsewhere, and he has made several podcast appearances.

Fortunately, his wines are usually so well made that there is rarely any need for harsh words. One of my favorites is the Flaco ($11, purchased, 14.5%). It has been featured here three previous times, and this vintage shows again that it offers quality and value.

In fact, the 2020 Flaco is terrific even though the listed alcohol is higher than usual. I suspect that’s a tariff maneuver; the wine doesn’t taste too hot or alcoholic. A friend of mine, who is even more alter to alcohol for the sake of marketing than I am, was shocked when I told her how high it was.

Otherwise, the Flaco is as it always is — simple, enjoyable and varietal. That means some spice, some black cherry fruit, and minimal tannins. It doesn’t taste like a fine, aged Rioja, but – all together now – “it’s not supposed to.”

You can even chill this a little; serve it with winter beef dishes.

Imported by Ole & Obrigado

Once again, Spain’s Flaco tempranillo delivers terrific value and quality for less than $10

Ironically, after waxing poetic about the Flaco tempranillo last week, I discovered I had a bottle in the wine closet. So what better way to celebrate the joys of cheap wine than by drinking it?

The Flaco tempranillo ($9, sample, 14.5%) has long been in the $10 Hall of Fame. This vintage, despite the travails of the tariff and the woes of the Spanish wine industry, is as worthwhile as ever. And not to worry about the high alcohol number — the wine doesn’t taste hot, and the number may be a ploy to get around the tariff, which applied to wines 14 percent or less.

This vintage of the Flaco has a little more structure and more oomph in the back; it’s not as soft or as  fruity as some of other others. That means a touch more spice, juicier cherry fruit, and more noticeable tannins.

Highly recommended, and certain to return to the 2022 $10 Hall of Fame. Drink this with almost anything beef or pork, and it would complement roast chicken as well.

Imported by Ole & Obrigado

$10 delivers a terrific Spanish red in the Flaco tempranillo

The Wine Curmudgeon has been derelict in his cheap wine duty. I have not reviewed the Flaco tempranillo for a couple of vintages, and it has only been featured twice in the blog’s history. Please forgive me, cheap wine gods.

The Flaco tempranillo ($10, purchased, 13%) should be reviewed – and praised – with each vintage. That’s because it offers Spanish and varietal character every time, and for a fraction of what more expensive Spanish reds cost.

The 2018 is a little fresher and not as heavy as previous vintages. Look for the typical tempranillo aromas, like orange-ish flowers. The berry fruit is not quite sweet, and there is a little spice mixed in there somewhere to round it out, as well as just enough in the way of tannins to support all that fruit.

Highly recommended, and a candidate for the 2021 $10 Hall of Fame. Drink this with almost anything beef or pork, and it would complement roast chicken as well.

Imported by Ole & Obragado