1999 Rioja Vinas de Gain

If this wine were inserted in a blind tasting of 1999 grand cru red Burgundies, many tasters would think it was a Musigny, a wine that sells for $200-$500 a bottle. But this Musigny look-alike is priced at a mere $18. It is made from 100% Tempranillo harvested at yields of 35 hectoliters per hectare (much less than many grand cru red Burgundy vineyards), with a 14-month upbringing in French oak (similar to most grand cru red Burgundies). It boasts a deep, opaque ruby color in addition to gorgeously well-delineated aromas of spring flowers, sweet black cherries, raspberries, and minerals. The wine is elegant, medium-bodied, lush, sweet, and well-balanced with purity, graciousness, and vibrancy. This impeccably made Rioja will drink well for a decade. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565