5 | Wine | Grenache, 86 to 90

"No oak is used in this totally naked red. It emphasizes minerality and fruit, as evidenced by its crushed chalk-like notes intermixed with sweet kirsch, lavender and licorice. This fresh, medium to full-bodied, supple-textured, hedonistic as well as intellectually challenging wine should drink well for 2-3 years." -Robert Parker

"Possibly the single greatest dry red wine value in the world, this is an unbelievable wine. And don’t complain that you can’t find any, as there are 15,000 cases available, and any wine retailer worth his weight should be stockpiling this wine next to the cash register. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by classic aromas of kirsch liqueur intermixed with raspberries, loamy soil and flowers. This medium to full-bodied wine possesses remarkable depth, an expansive texture and wonderful freshness as well as purity. On taste alone, this beauty could easily sell for $30-50 a bottle."

"Glass-staining ruby. Aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, smoky minerals and white pepper, with a suggestion of candied rose. Supple on entry, then firmer in the mid-palate, with vibrant flavors of black and blue fruits and floral pastilles. Finishes with powerful blue fruit and spice notes and very good length."

"Explosively perfumed nose displays raspberry, fresh rose and sexy oak spices. Lush but energetic, with vivid red berry flavors and a silky, seamless texture. Turns more tangy on the finish, which clings with very good tenacity."

"It is a forward, savory, ripe, succulent offering that should prove to be a crowd-pleaser. It is an outstanding value that will deliver enjoyment over the next 5 years."

"High-pitched aromas of red berries, Asian spices and white pepper. Displays a lot of aromatic complexity for the money. Sweet, slightly jammy black raspberry and spice flavors become more peppery with air and show no rough edges. The sweet, focused finish repeats the spicy notes. This has to be one of the top red wine values in the market, and there are 10,000 cases of it for the U.S."

"Black raspberry and spices on the nose. Juicy and expansive, offering jammy red and dark berry flavors that show a touch of back-end bitterness and a hint of cracked pepper. Finishes sweet, spicy and persistent."

"Candied dark berries, cherry and spices on the nose. Vaguely jammy, showing sweet dark berry and candied violet qualities with no rough edges. The spicy finish lingers with good energy and freshness. This is a ridiculously good value."

The 2009 Garnacha displays more obvious oak and is a bit rounder and longer on the palate. It is meant for drinking over the next 5 years."

"Purple in color, it offers up aromas of spice box, lavender, and black cherry. Savory and forward in the glass, it is a grapy, succulent effort for drinking over the next 5 years as well as an excellent value."