EAST COAST PALATE

This bottle came into my life thanks to my friend and neighbor - Carolyn - who shares some of my enthusiasm for Spanish vino tinto.  This Crianza was aged 14 months in American oak and consists of a blend of Tempranillo (85%), Garnacha (5%), Graciano (5%), and Mazuelo (5%).
The nose is hearty and full of oak, with a whiff of black cherries lurking just below the woodsy aromas.  The flavor profile follows suit; this wine is tannic and spicy.  The oak is smelled and then felt, but on the palate it isn't so dominant.  After it was opened for a half an hour the cherry emerged a bit and melded well with that leathery, saddle/baseball mitt smell that I love so much in many Riojan wines.
This wine would go better with food, but it worked well with a movie, too.  It came from the Wine Source up in north Baltimore, where it costs $13.59.  For me it's a solid B to B+, however some people won't like it due to the oaky component.