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07/15/2001 Archived Entry: "Wine Buy: Crianza from La Mancha"

Condesa de Leganza, Crianza, 1997 is a red (very red) wine from Spain, a rare gem from the very overlooked region of La Mancha, best known for Cervantes and Don Quixote. (I hate to bring it down to this level, but La Mancha as in the musical Man of La Mancha.)

This crianza, which is a technical term referring to aging times and methods, gives a pretty picture of what the Tempranillo grape can do, in comparison to the more well-known wines from the Rioja region, where the grape is also widely planted. Condesa de Leganza is a very earthy wine, loaded with rich, dark fruit and notes of cedar and spice on the nose. As it ages, it will become softer and more silky. Right now, it’s a tough wine when you first open the bottle, so soften it up by decanting it – air is sort of an instant ager – or pour it into big glasses, swirl it around, enjoy the color and bouquet, and taste how the wine changes, how its edginess becomes rounder and its aromas more accessible.

It’s a great wine to serve with lamb, beef or strong cheeses.

The average retail price is about $11.99. It is imported by Palm Bay Imports, Boca Raton, Florida.