The first thing we noticed when we took the bottle out of its brown paper bag (keep it on if you wish to drink wine in the alley behind 7/11), was the year the grapes were harvested. We were initially surprised that a wine under $10 had a clearly marked vintage, much less one that wasn’t from the past year. It was truly a shock when we saw that our wine’s harvest year was 2012.
We pictured ourselves in the deepest vaults of the Vatican’s wine cellars where in the flickering candlelight we brushed off the dust of a thousand ages that had settled on our coveted Flaco Tempranillo.
It was only when our roommate noted that 2012 was really only two years ago and that her laptop was in fact, older than our wine that the bubble was burst. Clearly we have been drinking too much Franzia if a bottom-shelf wine from 2012 impressed us.
There was a pleasant moment of surprise when we realized that our wine had a cork.
Much to our dismay, though, this cork was made not of wood, but some sort of plastic composite. We wrestled with this “cork,” we were eventually able to pull it out. You’d think with a Rabbit wine opener, the struggle would have been less real.
Honestly, if you’re not going to use a wood cork just put on a screw top and make everyone’s life easier.
The wine we chose this week was a Tempranillo. As you may have guessed from the name, Tempranillo grapes come from Spain and Portugal. The arguably poorly named Flaco (meaning thin or skinny in Spanish) comes from the province of Madrid in central Spain. Tempranillos are noted for their rich color and moderate tannins and acidity.
What initially drew my eye to this bottle was not the label itself, but the fact that it is part of a “limited reserve.” It is unknown whether this means the supermarket distributor simply forgot to order enough bottles or if our Flaco is truly a jewel in what we imagine to be the vast and well-stocked wine cellars beneath the store.
Either way, in addition to the low price, the description was a strong selling point. Along with the usually dubious comments about what to expect in regards to nose palate, and body, the line that instantly sold us stated that “this wine is way too easy to drink.” Also, it apparently pairs well with barbeque—can you say Greenstock?
When we poured our glasses, we immediately noticed the dark purple color and noted that this would be great if you were looking for a wine that looks like wine. The nose of the wine was perhaps its strongest attribute. It was pleasant and had strong fruity notes, with pleasing aromas of raspberry and blackberry.
Then we started to drink. At a comfortable 13.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), there was a very real possibility that we could get drunk off this wine.
Fifteen minutes in we had finished three-quarters of the bottle which was already living up to the “way too easy to drink” part of its description.
This is not to say this wine was at all good. Hard-hitting and swallowable best categorize the main notes on the palate. Flaco definitely has a nice acidity (some may say too much acidity) and finishes with a strong note of alcohol. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyways?
This wine would be excellent if you wanted boxed-wine quality at a bottle-wine price.
Additional Notes:
Brandon: Best paired with dry, salty crackers that force you to keep drinking the nearest beverage.
Bryce: Quite liquid. Very wine.
Nose: 4 out of 5 stars
Body: 1 out of 5 stars
Taste: 2 out of 5 stars
Overall: 2 out of 5 stars
Pick up some “limited reserve” Flaco while it lasts. Hannaford: $8.