A $4.99 wonder from Aldi, the La Cornada Crianza Tempranillo. Highly Recommended!
Tempranillo from Valdepenas, Castella La Mancha, Spain. The wine is aged 6 months in American oak and another 18 months in the bottle before release.
The La Cornada Crianza Tempranillo is available exclusively at Aldi and sells for the ridiculously low price of $4.99 (which is actually up 50 cents from the 2015 vintage). The wine is bottled by Felix Solis and imported by Mack & Schuhle Inc.
This Tempranillo Crianza has matured for a minimum of two years, including 6 months in American oak barrels. A full-bodied dry wine with succulent flavors of black cherry and plum, complemented by nuances of clove and spice. It pairs well with roasted chicken, grilled lamb, ham, pasta and mild cheeses. Best served at room temperature.
Bottled by Felix Solis
13% Alcohol
These are the type of finds we absolutely love. With a price so low, it almost boggles the mind. How can a wine that spends 6 months in American oak retail for only $5?? Heck, it must cost almost that much to get it here from Spain!
One reason could be the lack of name recognition of the Valdepenas region, right in the middle of Spain and overshadowed by places like Rioja, Ribera del Duero and others. Regardless of where it came from this is incredibly solid stuff for such an unbelievably low price.
The 2016 La Cornada Crianza Tempranillo begins with a rather muted aroma of black cherry, a little spice and cedar. This is the least impressive part of this wine.
The first thing that happens when you take a sip, is the thought, "How can this only cost $4.99??" This is a really well-made wine. It's smooth. It's spicy. It's balanced. It's delicious. To be fair, it's not very complex at all but it is head and shoulders above anything else at this low price point.
It ends dry and very long. (Yes, really -- this is a $5 wine with a very long finish.) Spice, dark fruit and other light oaky touches linger nicely. Highly Recommended!
You can also find more of our recommended Tempranillo here!
