Today's Wall St. Journal has an excellent article in which they give very favorable reviews to nine different Spanish red wines. I was especially interested in the two least expensive-----Torres de Anguix 'Barrica' 2003 (Rated Very Good/Delicious) $9.99 US. Also Bodegas y Viñedos Valderiz "Señorio de Valdehermoso; Joven 2005 (Rated Good/Very Good) $10.99 US.

Here is a summary of the article:

The Dow Jones Ribera del Duero Index

In a tasting of wines from Spain's Ribera del Duero region that cost less than $75 and were from recent vintages, these were our favorites. These are substantial wines and require substantial meals, from veal and peppers to steak. They will generally age beautifully for at least a few years.

VINEYARD/VINTAGE PRICE RATING TASTERS' COMMENTS

Emilio Moro 2004 $29.99 Very Good/Delicious Best of tasting. Very classy, with terrific balance of acidity, oak, fruit and a gorgeous, long, dry finish. Nice hint of herbs. Everything works together to provide a wholly satisfying sip of wine.

Torres de Anguix 'Barrica' 2003 $9.99 Very Good/Delicious Best value. Earthy and soulful, with fine structure and medium weight. Highly drinkable and interesting and just about bursting with blueberry-like fruit.

Legaris (Crianza) 2003 $18.00* Very Good Plums, earth, lemon -- and more earth. Lusty tastes, Bordeaux-like structure. Still young.

Pago de los Capellanes (Crianza) 2004 $26.99 Very Good Blue-black tastes of very ripe fruit and earth, with fine acidity and some sage. Young and still slightly challenging. Gets better and better, richer and richer, as the night wears on. Quite a mouthful.

Bodegas Aalto 2004 $57.00* Good/Very Good Black color and a nose of chocolate and cinnamon. Chewy, dark and dry, without a great deal of structure but plenty of big fruit.

Bodegas Felix Callejo 'Crianza' 2003 $24.99 Good/Very Good Like bittersweet chocolate with herbs and plenty of earth. Mouth-filling and hearty. Perfect with veal stew. Needs some air, or a few years.

Bodegas Los Astrales 2002 $51.32 Good/Very Good Lots of juicy blackberry fruit, but it's so dry it's almost austere. Great intensity and not even a hint of age.

Bodegas y Viñedos Valderiz 'Señorío de Valdehermoso; Joven' 2005 $10.99 Good/Very Good Joven means it's young, fruity and received little aging, and this was simply delightful, with upfront, broad, dark, earthy fruit and little complexity. We kept comparing it to a chocolate-covered cherry. Dottie called it 'a guilty pleasure.'

Bodegas Vizcarra Ramos 'Senda del Oro; Roble' 2005 $13.99 Good/Very Good Deep, dark color and a rich, earthy nose. Ripe, blackberry tastes, with some sage and lovely tannins. Steak wine.

NOTE: Wines are rated on a scale that ranges: Yech, OK, Good, Very Good, Delicious, and Delicious! These are the prices we paid at wine stores in California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas.
*We paid $20 for Legaris and $64.99 for Aalto, but these prices appear to be more representative. Prices vary widely.