Wine Along The 101
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    • 2023 Articles >
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour 2022, A Brief Look at the Complex World of Italian Wine
      • A Night of Sicilian Wine, Spotlighting Cambria and Madaudo Wineries
      • Yealands Wines, “Think Boldly, Tread Lightly”, Leading the World Toward Sustainable Winemaking
    • 2022 Articles >
      • Further Defining the Single Vineyard Cru Wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, the Rise of the MGA
      • The Barolo Cru Wines of Beni di Batasiolo
      • Pyros Wines Sparks World-Class Malbec
      • AlloraVino Imports, a Love Affair with Italian Wine
      • Maisons Marques & Domaines Wine Portfolio: Prestige, Glamour and Good Taste for the Holidays
      • The Original Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI, a Condiment and a Culture
      • Rocca delle Macìe, Taking Chianti Classico to New Heights
      • Alluring and Iconic, The World of Chianti Wines
      • Paso Robles Weaves a Thrilling Tapestry of World-Class Wine
      • LXV Wines, The Spice of Paso Robles
      • The Mouthwatering Sauvignon Blancs of Chile
      • The Wines of Portugal, Discover a World of Difference
      • Domaines Albert Bichot, An Exceptional Approach to Burgundian Wine
      • The Wines of Abruzzo Undergo a Renaissance of Quality
      • Ketcham Estate, Exceptional Wines From The Heart of the Russian River Valley
      • La Rioja Alta, S.A., Innovation and Tradition That Stands the Test of Time
      • Vega Sicilia Celebrates 40 Years of Winemaking Excellence
      • Planeta of Sicily Embraces the Past While Reaching For the Future
      • The Spirit of Renaissance is Alive and Well in “South of Somewhere”
      • Gambero Rosso Returns to LA, With the Best of Italian Wines
      • Falanghina and Aglianico del Taburno, Sannio's Ancient Wine Stars
      • Tablas Creek Vineyard Embraces Regenerative Organic Farming
    • 2021 Articles >
      • Make Merry With Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Wines
      • Discover These Enchanting Italian Wines, From the Fog of Piedmont to the Island Breezes of Sardinia
      • Rodney Strong Vineyards and Winery, Revitalizing an Iconic Brand
      • Thanksgiving Tips for the Best Wine and Food Pairing
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wine Country Oasis
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wonderland of Wine
      • Smith-Madrone Wines, a Napa Valley Pioneer Celebrates Fifty Years of Excellence
      • Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the Land of Pinot Noir
      • Irvine & Roberts Vineyards, Exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Southern Oregon
      • BARRA of Mendocino Wines, an Original Organic Wine Play
      • The Opulent and Thrilling Wines of Denner Vineyards
      • L’Ecole No. 41, Expressive Wines That Pass the Test of Time With Flying Colors
      • France's Loire Valley, a Fairytale Land of Storybook Castles and Magical Wines
      • Craft Wine, Shining the Spotlight on America’s Small Wine Producers
    • 2020 Articles >
      • Margerum Wine Company, the Nexus of Sublime Santa Barbara County Wines
      • Catena Zapata, Malbec on High
      • Long Meadow Ranch, the Circle of Life in a Glass of Wine
      • Fontanafredda Barolo Forges a New Future
      • Bordeaux Wine 2017, Surprises in a Challenging Vintage
    • 2019 Articles >
      • The Rising Wine Country of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley
      • Discover Ashland and the Rogue Valley, Southern Oregon's Serenade to the Good Life
      • Napa Valley Grille, New Fall Menu Paired with European Wines
      • Embrace Your Wine Geek with PRIE Winery & Vineyards
      • Castello di Albola, Chianti Classico on High
      • Nicolas-Jay Wines, the Journey of a Lifetime
      • The Expanding Complexity of New Zealand Wine
      • Prosecco DOC, Splendor in the Glass
      • On the Oregon Wine Trail
      • Albariño and Rioja Star in Spain’s Great Match
      • Exciting and Eclectic, the Wines of Alentejo
      • Blaufränkisch Propels the Red Wines of Austria Into the Spotlight
      • Fascinating Greek Wines of the Cava Spiliadis Collection
      • Revolution In Rioja Wine
    • 2018 Articles >
      • Temecula Valley Celebrates 50 Years of Winemaking
      • The Stellar Wines of Sardinia
      • Italian Wines Prescribed by Doctor Wine
      • The Alluring Wines of Tunisia
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2018
      • Velenosi Wines, From Le Marche to the World
      • Sauvignon Blanc, a Rising Star in Napa Valley
      • Frank Family Vineyards Celebrates 25 Years
      • Markus Wine Co., Sleek New Red Wines Up the Ante for Lodi Reds
      • Lodi Wine, Over 100 Varieties Strong
      • Ramona Valley Wine Country, an Up and Coming Wine Region
      • Hertelendy Vineyards, the Pursuit of Excellence
      • Napa Valley Wine, Nirvana in a Bottle
      • Wine Stroll: Explore Downtown Paso Robles Wineries
      • The Beautiful Shades of Lodi Rosé Wines
      • Doubling Down on Gold Medal Wines: The San Francisco International Wine Competition
      • The Exotic Wines of Lebanon
      • Australian Wines, Rediscover the New Frontier
      • New Zealand Wines, Expanding beyond Sauvignon Blanc
      • Visit France in 2018, a Feast of Food, Wine, Culture and History
      • Bordeaux Wine 2015, A Very Good Year
      • Portugal's Treasure Chest of Wines
      • Livermore Valley, California’s Original Wine Country Reborn
      • Concannon and Wente Vineyards, California’s Pioneers of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
      • Livermore Valley Wine Country, the Future Looks Bright
    • 2017 Articles >
      • Viña Ardanza Rioja Turns 75, an Enchanting Wine Gets Even Better
      • The VIP Sparkle of Prosecco Superiore
      • Lodi Wine Country, Seriously Good Wine From A to Z
      • Lodi Wine Country, Old Vines and Great Wines
      • Lodi Wine Country, Winegrowers and Winemakers Focused on the Future
      • Lugana White Wine, Better With Age
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip to LA
      • Sweetzer Cellars, a Life Changing Journey of Wine
      • Lugana and Valpolicella, the Yin and Yang of the Veneto
      • Three R’s of Summer Wine, Rosé, Riesling, and Ramato
      • Familia Martínez Bujanda, Wines Without Borders
      • Codorníu Cava, the Ars and Anna Collection
      • New and Exciting Wines from the 2017 Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration
      • Sensual Delights on Display at Savor Italy Los Angeles
      • Pizza and Franco Pepe, Italy’s Best Comes to LA
      • Montes Wines, Wisdom in Wine From Father to Son
      • Passionate Pinot Noir Lovers Unite at the 2017 World of Pinot
      • Vignalta, Wines of the Highest Order
      • Santa Lucia Highlands Sensational Wines
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2017
      • Law Estate Wines: Quality by Design
      • Taittinger and Calvisius: Champagne and Caviar Dreams
      • Riding High on American Rhone Wines, The Rhone Rangers LA Tasting
      • Discover Monterey Wine Country, wine and so much more
      • Wines of Portugal, the Perfect Dinner Companion
      • Gruet's Enchanting Sparkling Wines
    • 2016 Articles >
      • The Art of Italian Living, SoCal Style
      • Wines of Alsace: Perfect for the Holidays
      • Oso Libre Winery; Vines, Wines, and Angus Beef
      • Best Wines for Thanksgiving
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour Sweeps Through Los Angeles
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Chardonnay
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Pinot Noir
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Rhône Varietals
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Bordeaux Varietals
      • Achaval-Ferrer, Exceptional Wines from Argentina
      • Celebration of Harvest Grand Tasting 2016 Highlights
      • The Celebrity Sparkle of Ferrari Trento Wines
      • Santa Barbara Wine Country’s Celebration of Harvest 2016
      • The Garagiste Festival, Off the Beaten Path Wines
      • Explore SLO Wine Country, Central California’s Hidden Gem
      • Byron Winery, The Grand Pinot Noir Experiment
      • Crocker & Starr Wines, Organically Elegant
      • Escape to Santa Maria Wine Country
      • The Elegant White Wines of Domäne Wachau
      • Champagne Palmer: The New Champagne on the Block
      • Holman Ranch & Vineyards: Making Memories & Wine at Romantic California Hideaway
      • Luminous Wines of France's Loire Valley
    • Examiner.com Articles >
      • Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards: Wines Without Compromise
      • All Stars of Pinot Noir Rock the 2016 World of Pinot
      • Ampelos Wines' Biodynamic Brilliance
      • Artisan Uprising: Blood Into Wine
      • Bodegas Beronia Rioja: The Magic of Oak
      • Crawford Family Wines: Unlocking Varietal Flavor
      • Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards' Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs Shine Bright
      • Hahn Family Wines: Santa Lucia Highlands' Sweet Spot
      • Kimmel Vineyards: Good Wine Flows from Challenging Times
      • Larner Vineyard: Sweet Spot for Syrah and Grenache
      • LOCA for Lodi Wine
      • Lompoc Wine Ghetto
      • Sanford Winery & Vineyards, Delicious Wines That Tell a Tale
      • The Diverse and Divine Wines of Santa Barbara County
      • Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail
      • The Stellar Wines of California's Sta. Rita Hills
      • Skinner Vineyards, Destiny and Determination
      • Wines of Portugal, The Art of the Blend
  • Wine Reviews
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, in Can and Bottle
    • Coen Malbec Reserve 2019, a New World Wine with Old World Sensibilities
    • Sangre de Toro Rosé, A Light and Bright Summer Thirst Quencher
    • Summer and Sauvignon Blanc, Lucky Rock Wine Co. Style
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019
    • Monte Velho, Fascinating Wines and Value-Priced
    • Grassl Glasses Add Depth to Wine Enjoyment
    • Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé Brut Makes Everyday a Holiday
    • Festive Ferrari Trento Sparkling Wines For All Occasions
    • Bodegas CARO, the Best of Both Worlds
    • Kosher Wines For the Jewish High Holidays Are Highly Recommended Anytime of Year
    • Oak Farm Vineyards, a Rainbow of Delicious Lodi Wines
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2019
    • Ron Rubin Wines, The Dream Series
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2018
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2018
    • Crus Bourgeois Bordeaux, Expressive Wines at Everyday Prices
    • Légende Collection of Bordeaux Wines
    • Five Contemporary California Wines To Try
    • Alternative Sparkling Wines For a Celebration
    • A Toast to Prosecco Superiore
    • Celebrate with this Pair of Spanish Red Wines
    • A Quartet of Summer Red Wines
    • Spanish Albariño, a Wine For All Seasons
    • Ciù Ciù Wines, Quality That Shines Through
    • A Trio of Red Wines for Holiday Merrymaking
    • Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso 2012
    • The Sultry Arnaldo Caprai Collepiano Montefalco Sagrantino
    • Pop the Cork on Charles Heidsieck Champagne and Bisol Prosecco
    • Garnacha Wines from DOP Cariñena, Beautiful Bang for the Buck
    • A Pair of Greek Wines for a Spring Feast
    • A Dynamic Duo of Sassy Spanish White Wines
    • Anderra Carménere
    • Artesa Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
    • Avignonesi Grandi Annate
    • Château Saint-Maur Rosé
    • La Miranda de Secastilla, Old Vine Garnacha Gems
    • Intriguing Israeli Wines
    • Leviathan
    • Domaines Paul Mas Wines Trio
    • Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, intensely refreshing and delicious
    • Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino
    • Stay Cool With These Two Charming White Wines
  • Events
    • Garagiste Wine Festival: Urban Exposure 2022 Highlights Hidden California Wine Gems
    • Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival 2019
    • World of Pinot Noir 2019, A Magical Mystery Tour
    • Journey to Planet Pinot at the 2018 World of Pinot Noir
    • Great Wines of Italy Comes to LA
    • Wine Along the Beach at Garagiste Wine Festival 2017
    • Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration 2017
    • Orbit the World of Pinot Noir at the 2017 World of Pinot
    • Rhone Rangers Los Angeles 2016
  • Wine Travel
  • Videos
    • Celebration of Harvest
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    • Que Syrah, Shiraz!
    • Paso Robles Wine Festival
    • L'Aventure Syrah Harvest
    • Clos Pepe's Prince of Pinot
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    • About Patricia Decker
    • About Fabian Rodriguez
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Marta Santander Martínez Bujanda of Familia Martínez Bujanda
Marta Santander Martínez Bujanda loves her family’s wines.  As the fifth generation of an ambitious winemaking family, she has the privilege of traveling the world, promoting the variety, quality, and sheer affordability of the wines.  Her mother and uncle, Pilar and Carlos Martínez Bujanda, own the business, Familia Martinez Bujanda, one of the first families of Rioja.  They have an impressive collection of wines in their portfolio, from four different terroirs in three separate regions, La Rioja, Castilla y León, and Castilla La Mancha.  Incredible bang for the buck, freshness and balance, distinct varietal aromas and flavors, and tons of personality are at the core of the brand.
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Over a century ago, in 1889, the original Bujanda winery was established in the Rioja region of northern Spain, by Joaquín, Marta’s great grandfather, who was a wine grower that aspired to make wine.  In the 1950’s, Marta’s grandparents launched their grand plan, to become an export-oriented company.  They combined their vineyards, and purchased new ones in Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, determined to make not only wine from their own grapes, but bottle single vineyard wines, a notion certainly ahead of their time.  Beyond that, to become a player on the world stage, Viña Bujanda needed room to expand and make more wine.  Marta explained, “It was difficult to buy large enough vineyards in Rioja at that time, so that was one reason we decided to move to other regions of Spain.”  Today they produce over 2 million bottles from the four properties, and export 70% to 65 countries, as the world embraces the quality and value that Spanish wines represent.  Winemaker Lauren Rosillo is in charge of all the properties, Finca Antigua, Finca Montepedroso, Viña Bujanda, and Finca Valpiedra.  He makes all the wines, guided by the wishes of the family, to honor their unique terroirs, and craft elegant wines whose quality outshines their retail price.
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Finca Antigua, whose name refers to the estate’s many old vines, is an experiment in extremes.  La Mancha is not only Spain’s largest wine region, but also the largest in the world, where long hot summers, cold winters, a very dry climate, and intense sunshine define the wines.  The vineyards of Finca Antigua make up less than half of the total 2,500 acre estate, and flourish at the 2,700 feet high elevation, where cool temperatures moderate the continental climate and keep the wines tasting fresh.  Familia Martínez Bujanda bought the property in 1999, and renovated it, discovering what worked best and replanting the blocks where necessary.  Divided into forty plots or single vineyards, each one is individually farmed and vinified into separate wines.  Finca Antigua grows both indigenous and international grape varietals, from Viura, Garnacha, Tempranillo, and Moscatel to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot, quite an astonishing range of wine is created here.  Over one million bottles are produced in a large modern facility, and aged in a cave that keeps the humidity optimal and temperatures  cool.  Most of the Finca Antigua wines display an old key on the label, a reference to the old cave cellars, but make no mistake, this is modern winemaking at its best.
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Marta brought two single varietal wines, a Viura and a Cabernet Sauvignon.  The Finca Antigua Viura 2016 comes from the El Palomar plot, and is an aromatic, full-bodied white with very good acidity, lower alcohol, and a long finish.  Aromas of apricot, peach and pear, fennel and white flowers unfold on a textured palate, a result of five months of aging on the lees in stainless steel tanks, with additional time in bottle.  This is a delicious, food-friendly wine, perfect for fish and seafood dishes, paella, and light pastas, and retails for $10, a lot of bang for the buck.
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The Finca Antigua Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 is beautiful, a balanced wine of structure, acidity, and depth of flavor, with a wild herbal flair.  After four days of skin contact, along with a slow month-long fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine is then aged in a mixture of new and used American oak barrels for 10 months, earning it “Crianza” on the label.  This is a fresh, intriguing version of Cabernet Sauvignon, and incredibly, also retails for $10, delicious to drink by the glass and a good pair with lamb, beef, and slightly aged goat and sheep’s milk cheeses.  Finca Antigua only exports Viura, Garnacha, Tempranillo, and Cabernet Sauvignon wines to the US, the red wines are aged in American oak, while keeping the other varietals and blends for their domestic market, differentiated by their time in French oak.
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Finca Montepedroso, located in the town of Rueda in Castilla y León, is dedicated to one varietal, Verdejo.  Another high elevation wine, the family bought over 60 acres in 2008, determined to make an excellent example of DO Rueda.  The name Montepedroso translates to “mountain of stones”, here the gravelly soil provides the cradle for crisp and layered wines.  Just like all their other properties, the family carefully farms and vinifies each plot separately at a new modern winery, located within the vineyards, which contributes to the complexity of the wine.  Hand-harvested at night, fermented in stainless steel at low temperatures to preserve the freshness, and aged for five months on its lees, this Verdejo is fresh and intense, yet has a smooth mouthfeel.  Tasting the Finca Montepedroso Verdejo 2014, an aromatic profile of apricot, peach and fennel is unleashed, with touches of fresh-cut hay and smoke.  This is a leesy, mineral wine, with vibrant acidity and good structure, that finishes long and savory, with fennel and anise resonating on the palate, it sells for $16.
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Viña Bujanda encompasses almost 300 acres in the Rioja Alta and Alavesa regions, where 18 plots of 20-60 year old Tempranillo and Viura vines are sustainably farmed.  These vineyards are located near Oyón, the village that is ground zero for the Familia Martínez Bujanda’s wine empire, where Joaquín founded the original winery over 125 years ago.  Viña Bujanda produces DOCa Rioja 100% Tempranillo red wines of all classifications, from Joven to Gran Reserva, in addition to a 100% Tempranillo Rosé, Graciano, and Viura.  Marta explained, “We consider ourselves to be in the middle, between traditional and modern style, Viña Bujanda is not a modern style wine, but we don’t consider ourselves strictly traditional, either.”  With a total production of over 800,000 bottles, the best-selling wine is the Crianza, which accounts for almost half of their bottlings, aged for 12 months in both French and American oak.  Sampling the Viña Bujanda Crianza 2014, it is fresh and balanced, a medium-bodied wine with delicious bright fruit.  Aromas of blackberry and spice, along with a touch of tobacco and balsamic, make this graceful wine food-friendly, a real bargain at $15.  The Viña Bujanda Gran Reserva 2010 is elegant and more complex, aged for 24 months in French and American oak, with a savory nose of dark fruit, cigar box, spice, vanilla, and oak.  This is a round and rich wine, with a long, deeply satisfying finish, from Rioja’s excellent 2010 vintage.  Not only delicious on its own, it is good with food, hearty dishes as well as lighter fare, and retails for $30, an amazing price for a wine of this quality.  The Gran Reserva is only made in years when the fruit is at its best, and so there will be no 2013, since it was the coldest and rainiest harvest of the past hundred years.
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Marta Santander Martínez Bujanda opens a bottle of Valpiedra
Finca Valpiedra is the jewel of the family, where over 200 acres of prime vineyard land is tucked into a bend of the Ebro River in Rioja.  This special single vineyard is distinct, with its stony soils and microclimate, it’s the only Rioja winery that made it into the Grand Crus Association of Spain (Asociación Grandes Pagos de España).  Fourteen plots, divided among three terraces that gently slope down to the river, are covered in large stones; this give the two wines produced, Cantos de Valpiedra and Finca Valpiedra, minerality and structure, in addition to the winery’s name, which means “Valley of the Stones”.  Tempranillo, Maturana, Graciano, and Garnacha are grown, and this unique river climate has some advantages.  Marta explained, “This is what we like about making single vineyard wines, the soil, the terroir, is really making a difference.  This estate, for instance, we harvest two weeks earlier than in the rest of the region, or even the next plot can be two weeks later.  Rioja can be unstable in September, in some vintages we have avoided that rain because of the earlier harvest.”   Marta attributed this, in part, to the stones that cover the vineyard, during the day, they absorb the heat and slowly radiate it back to the clusters at night, ripening the fruit earlier, just like in the Rhône region of France.  The winery, built on the top terrace twenty years ago, was meant to process the wines for Viña Bujanda, but when Pilar and Carlos recognized how special the wines were from this site, they split off this vineyard, and established the Finca Valpiedra brand.  Hand-harvested, only perfect grapes make it to the fermentation tanks, and the wines are aged for 12-24 months in only new French and American oak barrels.  Total production is 300,000 bottles, of which two-thirds is the Cantos.
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The Cantos de Valpiedra 2013, 100% Tempranillo, is smooth and seductive, well balanced in its acidity and alcohol, rich and round while retaining a fresh and mineral character.  Very aromatic with dark fruit, spice, tobacco, and vanilla notes, it glides across the palate.  Marta explained that since 2013 was a bad year in Rioja, all the other vineyards’ fruit that normally goes into the Gran Reserva wines were declassified and used for Cantos, making 2013 “the best Cantos we’ve ever had”.  A hint of sweetness, alongside that fresh component, makes it perfect for poultry, rabbit, and pork dishes, and sells for $20.
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The Finca Valpiedra Reserva 2009, a blend of 92% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, and 2% Maturana Tinta, is a riper, more intense wine, savory, smooth and powerful, with aromas and flavors of red and black fruit, leather and spice.  Complex and elegant, it lingers for a long time on the palate, where hints of spice and earth emerge.  This is the Familia Martínez Bujanda’s flagship wine, a pretty wine with so much going on, it retails for only $40.
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Marta Santander Martínez Bujanda
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With so many distinct and different wines, which is Marta’s personal favorite?  Valpiedra, of course, but also surprisingly the Finca Antigua wines as well.  As she was growing up, there was never any pressure as a career choice, Marta reflected, “My mother never told me what to do, never pressed me to join the family business, but I always knew I was going to be in the wine business.”  As the fifth generation of the Familia Martínez Bujanda, passion and dedication to quality still drives the business model.  And as far as the wines, the balance is spot on, with great acidity, aromas and flavor, and a long finish.  There’s a lot going on with these wines, all for a small price.