2006 Dingač Pelješac [Plavac Mali] (Pelješac Peninsula, Dalmatian Coast, southwestern Croatia) cork closure, 11.5% - imported to USA by Blue Danube Wine Company, Los Altos Hills, California – appears pale cranberry clear, smell interesting from the get-go, some cranberry, but rustier, feels ancient, taste bright chipper cranberry tea, cherry, clean at first but then quickly rusty, earthy, dirty, notes from both the importer and retailer note the associations with gamay and zinfandel, and I must agree, juicy and refreshing and clean, but then packed into skins with a more powerful concentration with a bit of pucker, lightness yet intensity, interesting wine that is very different, I liked it, it did well with leftover chick pea and fingerling potato stew with romesco sauce as well as alone over the three days I had it, $13 was a good price
2006 JC Conde Delgado y Otros Ribera del Duero Vivir, Vivir [Tempranillo] (Ribera del Duero DO, Castilla y León, northern central Spain) cork closure, 13% - imported to USA by Aurelio Cabestrero Selection/Grapes of Spain, Lorton, Virginia – appears dark maroon, bit unctuous, smell heavy full nose, held back a bit, bit of dustiness, taste soil, juicy at first, delicious dry raspberry and soil, nicely reserved with little sugar if still forward, chalky soil finish, very pleasing, had a very interesting long-lasting finish which vaguely reminded me of something—after some time I realized it was a far less intense version of the aftertaste I had from eating tempranillo grapes last fall!, this wine was pretty simple, but I liked the way the fruit played in contrast to the dryness and soil, fun wine, would've been better with a meaty and simple dish, perhaps smoked kielbasa? I guess for $15 I wouldn't buy it again, but this bottle really was enjoyable and did the trick for me.