One thing I heard from winemakers, importers and distributors besides the words Tempranillo, Verdejo, Rioja and a few others at Great Match 2010 was simple: customers mostly want to buy wines that sell for less than $20 a bottle.
Making a quick estimate of the 130 wines offered at this tasting on October 7 in New York, I would say that 50% of them were in the $9 to $15 range.
Let's call them honest wines, not spectacular ones.
Maybe the wine field had fallen the past few years in same trap as the movie industry where every week brings a best film of the year movie (according to reviewers at least).
Why as Mark Oldson states so eloquently in our interview Wine Beyond Usual Suspects should wine quality be defined by its price?
Having a solid wine with a decent meal is nothing to feel ashamed of.
Someone who likes a fruit forward, well balanced white will be pleased with Tochuelo 'Malvar' 2009 (around 8 bucks) from DO Madrid.
Another simple pleasure is the Cantarranas Rueda 2009 (75% Verdejo, 25% Viura), good fruit, refreshing, decent finish and not too high in alcohol (12.5%) at 9 Bucks great with salads or light pastas, even frogs like it.
As for the Reds, a favorite was the Carchelo 'C' 2009 from Jumilla, a blend of Monastrell, 40% Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, deep robe and soft tannins, in the high range of good buys at $16 and worth it. The 700 m altitude, dry weather and rocky soils all have something to do with this wine character.
Jamie Goode agrees in Carchelo: two modern Spanish reds from Jumilla (August 2009)
I will get back to this Great Match over the coming week with more recommendations.
Salud!