Mmmm, wine....

Before I write another line, let me state that I am NOT a wine expert. I am merely someone who enjoys the fruit of the vine...on occasion. So anything I write is just based on my opinion of each wine I sample.
Where to begin. OK, how about the beginning?
My wonderful sister-in-law and brother-in-law gave Mr. X and I a wonderful Christmas present: a membership to a wine-of-the month club. Talk about an awesome gift! There is nothing better than wine arriving at my door during the month -- well the UPS man asking if I'm older than 21 is pretty nice too. ;)
So we are getting two bottles of wine at a time. One red, one white.  And since I can't actually share a glass with everyone, I will tell you about the joy that happens in my mouth.
For January, we got a unique red Spanish wine. The club calls it an unfiltered Tempranillo/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. It is the 2007 Loxarel Vineyars OPS from Penedes, Spain. It is a dry red wine that is described to have leather and tobacco aromas. When I read that, I wasn't excited. I've lived with smokers for a good chunk of my life and I am not a fan of tobacco. But I was surprised with this wine. It is dry at the start and at the end. There is a hint of tobacco but the leather smell overpowers it. The tobacco essence in the wine is very much that sweetness that can be associated with tobacco. I know that sounds weird, but sometimes tobacco has kind of sweet smell -- pipe tobacco is like that.
The description did talk about having a deep berry taste that was balanced with a vanilla oak flavor. I don't remember tasting the vanilla but the fruit and the oak are both subtle in the wine. They are pleasant and don't overpower.It is a wine that a glass or two is enough. It isn't one that I can just sit and drink all in one afternoon/evening. It does pair up well with a spicy porketta and would probably be good with a steak.
All in all, I like this wine.
But I have to admit I liked the chardonnay that came withe Spanish red better. This wine was a 2009 Scotto Family Cellars Chardonnay from Lodi, California.
It is dry, but you didn't get that bite of dryness until the end. It isn't one that takes you completely by surprise, but you do notice how dry it is at the finish compared to the start.
I do think this has a fruity element to it. My palette isn't sophisticated enough to say exactly what fruits, but it is like a pear and maybe a nectarine. It is definitely a clean taste not sweet or overpowering like berry flavors are. It is very smooth and it is one that I sit and drink glass after glass.
I could certainly see it pairing up  nicely with a fish dish, maybe a chicken dish. It does well with mild cheeses. I have to admit, I drank it with beef tenderloin and still thought it was great.
I really liked this one and would probably buy it at the store.
We did get February's wines: A 2003 Vina Alamosa Premium Cabernet Savignon from Cachapoal Valley, Chile, and a 2009 Steeple Street Chardonnay from North Coast, California.
When I open those, I will share my thoughts.

Until then, cheers!