Ergo Temperanillo Rioja, 2010

This wine is nothing like the traditional Riojas of the early 1980s, but it has much to recommend it. The traditional Riojas were well aged before bottling with prominent aromas of American oak. And they cost $2 to $5 a bottle--a perfect combination for me when I was just getting interested  in wine. I still have a few in the cellar, and they never fail to please me, even though they are now pushing 30 to 35 years of age. This is a modern take on Temperanillo--plums, flowers, herbs and white pepper. Smooth and easy to drink, but it is not without tannins. In fact, these tannins become more apparent on the second night when the fresh fruit aromas and flavors have toned down a bit. Very pleasant balance of ripe fruit and savory spices.