Tasting : Finca de los Arandinos, Malacapa, Rioja (Tempranillo) 2012

A quality Rioja without the crazy price tag. Rioja in Spain is best known for its red wines particularly Tempranillo. This temp shows us quite a bit of spice of the sweet brown variety on the nose....red currant red cherry,some  faint nutmeg and some stalk too (but not in a "green" unpleasant way). 

Very fresh medium body style palate with red fruit again, dried leaves and spice characters too and definite fennel seed on nose as it further develops in the glass. Very approachable with a good deal of depth to boot. I've seen this knocking around a few discernible Melbourne wine dealers and its imported by Working Wine.

(RRP $19/$20)