Josa Galdos with Heredad Ugarte

This supplier of Rioja and La Mancha wines is based in Lawrence Kansas.

Rienares Viura 2007 Viura is a grape indigenous to spain..sometimes called Macabeo and used in their Cava's. this wine was tart and bone dry...a bite in back and mineral finish...needs food

Reinares Tempranillo 2007 bright purple in glass..an old world style with an earthiness and light on the fruit...

Mercedes Eguren Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 dark purple, supple and suprisingly good...not the overly berry flavors of cali but nice.

Mercedes Eguren Shiraz/Tempranillo 2006 a touch of chlorine or Iodine on the nose, lush palate but lacking in a fruit wave to overcome the earthiness..

Heredad Ugarte Cosecha 2006 rioja wine with 80% Tempranillo and 20% Grenache.. 6 months on oak...young vines and that shows in the mouth more than nose... a little tinny but not overpoweringly so.

Heredad Ugarte Crianza 2005 dark purple in the glass..92% Tempranillo old world nose...pretty red fruits on the palate with a nice long finish...

Domino de Ugarte Reserva 2004 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graziano...unfortunately corked.

Martin Cendoya Reserva 2004 named after one of the founders of the winery.. dark purple in the glass again...made from some of the oldest vines in Rioja..100 to 115 years.. dense and tight..one of the wines that needs aeration and time to open up to show all it has...my most compelling taste was the end with a coffee note...

Interestingly I always thought Rioja had to have Tempranillo in the bottle but they can be any or all of Tempranillo, Graziano, Grenache and one more...whites are Viura, grenache blanc...