Ultra-Low Priced Reds From Spain Worth Trying

First up is the Viña Alarba 2005 Old Vines Grenache (pictured at left; about $7), a sturdy little red wine with dark fruit flavors followed by hints of smoke and pepper. This Grenache is a nice, food-friendly wine and it should pair well with tomato-based pastas and mildly seasoned beef entrees. I picked up a bottle at Gateway Wines in downtown Bellingham.

My new favorite budget wine is the Almira Los Dos 2005 Old Vines Grenache/Syrah (about $8). This medium-bodied Spanish red starts with a fragrant, complex nose of dark fruits, coffee and freesia followed by strawberry and red cherry flavors with traces of black pepper on the finish. It’s available locally at the Community Food Co-op and the Fairhaven Food Pavilion and you can also try it by the glass at Fools Onion restaurant, located at 1007 Harris Avenue in Bellingham.