Made from 100% Grenache, the 2011 Rose is a winner. Classic strawberry and framboise scents along with floral notes jump from the glass of this lovely effort. It has more body and power than is usually found in a dry rose, as well as super amounts of fruit. I would not be surprised to see some tasters rate this wine even higher, especially when you consider the retail price is under $8. It’s mindboggling! This is a marvelous consumer resource for high quality wines selling at absurdly low prices. I often ask myself, if I had known wines like this existed when I began my career 33 years ago, would I have even considered trying to find great wines at low prices? This has been one of my “go-to” wineries for many years, given their relationship between quality and price. Once you taste these wines, you will probably ask the same question many people have – why do I need to spend more? Bodegas Borsao, which was founded in 1958, owns 3,700 acres in what is one of the emerging, super quality, realistically priced wine regions of not only Spain, but all of Western Europe, Campo de Borja. The soils tend to be dominated by a white chalkiness with considerable alluvial gravel and pebbles. The climate is continental, meaning extremely hot summers and cold winters with some influence from the nearby Ebro River. The vineyards are not old by Spanish standards, with most of the Grenache planted in the early 1980s, and the Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah in the late 1990s. Most of the wines see no oak, and are fermented and aged in stainless steel under strict temperature and quality conditions. Importer: Value Wines from Fine Estates from Spain, Dedham, MA, tel. (781) 461-5767; Fax (781) 461-2570; www.jorgeordonez.com

Cherry and crisp red currant aromas are racy and tutti-frutti in character. The palate delivers kick and acidity in addition to dry, pithy flavors of citrus fruits and nectarine. Dryness persists onto the finish, which is friendly but modest. — (5/1/2013) —85