Rolland & Galarreta, Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León, Spain) 2011

This masterful blend of Merlot and Tempranillo should walk off the shelves. It’s a big muscular and meaty combination but with glossy tannins usually associated with far more expensive wines. Powerful and simultaneously elegant, it marries dark fruit and savory elements. Nicely balanced, it’s a “big” wine without the tannic trappings that often accompany that style. It would be a great choice for current drinking with hearty wintery fare.