The Red Virgin

As a first time poster for Wine Blogging Wednesday hosted this month by Joe Roberts from 1WineDude, the topic is "what wine would you pick to introduce a white wine drinker to red wines?"  This was a tough one.  I would not want to blow them away with a big Cabernet Sauvignon or Petite Sirah or go too light such as a Rose.  It is tough to pass up an Italian Brunello or Barolo but I will save them for their second tasting.  So, I will go in the middle with a Spanish Tempranillo.  The nose on these wines are full of fresh red fruits and the flavors are just as ripe with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries along with some slight spiciness.  You could also add a little Garnacha or Mazeulo.  The tannins are soft and approachable and the acidity is generally well balanced.  Several of my favorites that were previously posted that I would recommend are the 2003 Cigales Museum Real Reserva, the 2004 Ondarre Rioja Reserva, the 2004 Allende, or the 2004 Tinto Figuero 15.  Welcome to the the other side.