Wine of the week: Flaco Tempranillo 2019

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