Spanish wines offer some of the best current value out there. The wines of Spain offer incredible diversity as they grow literally everything from obscure varietals like Verdejo to mainstays like Cabernet. The wines of Finca Sandoval are some of the best for the money in Spain. The winery is located in an emerging region, Manchuela, in the province of Cuenca, a few hours south of Madrid. Winery owner, Victor de la Serna, decided to plant a vineyard and using primarily Syrah and some other varietals like Bobal and Grenache. Grapes are sourced from two vineyards with a total of 26 acres planted de la Serna. Soils have a dominant clay-limestone component and offer great terroir to the wines. The end product is rich and inky wines that have a strong minerality. The price is right, as well.
Recently the winery introduced a second wine, Salia, that sells for roughly 20 bucks. It is a tremendous value in Spain. Their most prestigious wine, called Finca Sandoval, has consistently received 90 plus ratings from Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast and Steven Tanzer. This wine is one of my favorite values in Spain each year and is an incredibly complex Syrah. Here are the great wines of Finca Sandoval to check out.
2010 Finca Sandoval ‘Salia’- This is the second wine of Sandoval, one of Spain’s best wineries. 49% Syrah and the rest two crosses of Grenache. Nose has black cherry, cassis and tar. Palate has nice minerality and is approachable now. Raspberry, red cherry, cherry cough syrup and light tanins. Almost like tasting a cross between Bordeaux and Southern Rhone. – 90
2007 Finca Sandoval- Primarily Syrah that creates a rich nose that nicely complements the inky color. Dark fruits both on the nose and palate. Flavors of anise, cassis, blackberry with light tannins. Needs 30 plus minutes of decanting to come into its own. Strong and powerful mineral driven wine with great terroir. -93