2001 Emilio Moro Ribera de Duero

Tempranillo is to Spain what Sangiovese is to Italy. It makes serious reds in a number of regions. But Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero has a special character. The 2001 from Bodegas Emilio Moro, an estate with more than a century of winemaking tradition, expresses the terroir in its deep red color, voluptuous texture and firm structure. Ripe and earthy, this is a red that loves roasted and braised meats: leg of lamb, standing rib roast, and chops grilled over a wood fire.

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Quick swirl

Region: Ribera del Duero, Spain

Price: About $25

Style: Ripe and full-bodied

Food it goes with: Roasted and braised meats

Where you find it: Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818) 222-1111; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454.

-- S. Irene Virbila