An affront to the Canadian wine making establishment: A “posh” Spanish red, upper-echelon Spanish red, 100% Tempranillo, in a big hefty jammy wallop of smooth and ridiculously approachable vintage for under $20 a bottle.  Sick.

We particularly liked how this wine had a double-edged character: earthy, dirty, of the vine, coupled by an ethereal, herbaceous, light and airy smoothness, like wafts of blossoms in a spring rain.  Some oak, but not killer.  Alas, we had only one bottle from a recent trip south.  Our bad luck.

Price: $13.99 US in Seattle.

Market Liquidity: A wine which could create peace in the Middle East.