Bodegas Franco Españolas, Rioja Crianza (Spain) 2013

The wines from Franco Españolas are just another example of the excellent bargains available from Spain.  Take this Crianza for example.  A blend of Tempranillo (80%) and Garnacha, it is a lively mixture of red fruit flavors, spice and herbs.  It’s rare to find this kind of interplay of flavors at the price.  Tannins are smooth, which means it’s perfect for current consumption.  It’s bright enough to cut through the spectrum of flavors — even shrimp and garlic — served on “small plates” (a.k.a. tapas).