2020 El Hombre Bala

In the heart of Spain’s diverse viticultural landscape, there emerges a wine that encapsulates both the raw spirit of Madrid’s vinous offerings and the soulful artistry of its makers: El Hombre Bala. The 2020 vintage stands as a testament to the storied terroir of the Sierra de Gredos, where ancient Grenache vines dig deep into the granitic sands to draw out a mineral complexity that is as enchanting as the region’s rugged hills.

El Hombre Bala,” translating to “The Human Bullet,” hurtles into the senses with an explosive profile. It is sourced from vines aged between 40 to 90 years, perched at lofty altitudes where the air is as pure as the intentions behind the craft. These mature vines yield fruit that expresses the full gamut of Garnacha’s capabilities, from bright, vivacious red fruit notes to deeper, more introspective hints of earth and herb.

On the label, one finds an illustration that is as whimsical and intriguing as the wine itself—a playful, almost mischievous character that serves as the perfect prelude to the wine’s character. It’s a bottle that stands out on the shelf, not just for its label, but for the promise of an authentic Madrid D.O. experience contained within.

Turn the bottle, and the back label reveals essential details with a straightforward elegance. Here we learn of the limited production—only 7383 bottles and 684 magnums—underscoring the exclusivity of this cuvée. This is a wine that invites not just tasting, but collecting, promising evolution and depth with each passing year in the cellar.

At 14.5% ABV, El Hombre Bala is robust yet balanced, a wine that carries its strength with grace. It’s a reminder that the Spanish wine scene is as dynamic and diverse as its landscape, with each region, each village, and indeed each vineyard offering a unique narrative. This wine speaks of the Sierra de Gredos with an authentic voice—one that resonates with the rugged beauty of its origins and the passionate commitment of its makers.

El Hombre Bala 2020 is not just a beverage; it’s a journey through Spain’s viticultural heritage, a celebration of Garnacha, and an artwork that proudly wears its origins on its sleeve—or in this case, on its label. And that’s why the 2020 El Hombre Bala is todays WineSiders Wine of The Day!!!

2023 La Maldición Malvar

This wine is a toast to Madrid’s Agrarian roots.

Marc Isart’s 2022 La Maldición Malvar is an incarnation of his vision at Bodegas Cinco Leguas, is a homage to Madrid’s agrarian past, and is today’s WineSiders Wine of the Day.

Crafted from vines within a stone’s throw of the city, once the providence of royal decree, this wine is a celebration of history and thirst-quenching pleasure.

La Maldición Malvar de Valdilecha, a white wine born from the Malvar grape—a regional sibling to Palomino Fino—is a testament to the winemaking heritage of Arganda del Rey.

With a winemaking process that embraces both tradition and innovation, it offers a sensory narrative that encapsulates the spirit of Vinos de Madrid.

That’s why the 2022 La Maldición Malvar is today’s WineSiders Wine of the Day.

2020 Bodegas y Viñedos Ponce Bobal

2020 Bodegas y Viñedos Ponce Bobal

At Bodegas y Viñedos Ponce, nestled in the heart of Manchuela, a dedication to the craft of winemaking and an embrace of biodynamic principles give rise to extraordinary Bobal wines. The Ponce family, deeply rooted in the semi-arid landscapes of Castilla-La Mancha, meticulously tends to venerable vines, some with a storied age of eighty years, and notably, ungrafted strains that carry the legacy of a pre-phylloxera era. As the 15th-anniversary label from 2020 adorns their bottles, it’s a toast to the confluence of tradition and terroir.

Their wines, born from the hands of artisans and the wisdom of nature’s cycles, reflect the soul of Manchuela—its sandy-calcareous and volcanic soils offering refuge from phylloxera and nurturing grapes that express the profound identity of their origin. It’s a story of resilience and purity, where every sip is a journey through time and terrain.

That’s why the 2020 Bodegas y Viñedos Ponce Bobal from the Manchuela region of Spain is today’s WineSiders wine of the Day.

2018 Saint Amant Le Borry

The 2018 Saint Amant Le Borry is one of those jewel like wines that comes from a mountaintop vineyard overlooking Beaume-de-Venise in the Rhone Valley. 

Liquified gold in color, the blend of 95 percent Viognier and five percent Roussanne is not your typical Viognier, as it’s anything but in the style of a Condrieu from the Northern Rhone. Here the influence of the mountains in the south, and the warm breezes from the Med give the Saint Amant flagship white a flavor profile all of its own. Limestone drives the tropical flavors while the delicate flavors of peach and pear come through elegantly.

That’s why the 2018 Saint Amant Le Borry   is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day.

2016 Domaine Jaume Vinosobres Reference

The 2016 Domain Jaume Vinosobres Reference red wine is from a lesser known region in the Rhone that proves all great wines don’t have to only come from the more established AOCs. Wines from Vinosobres, Rasteau, Cairanne, Seguret and Sablet like those from the Ventoux are hidden gems, and offer great finds at great prices.

The Jaume Vinosobres Reference red is half Syrah, with the balance being Grenache and Mourvedre. It’s the Mourvedre that gives the wine the kind of standout character that offers a striking difference from so many southern Rhone wines that tend to taste the same. Here the Jaume winemakers artfully blend the three grapes and the result is a dizzying medley of tarry cherries, leather, jammy blueberries and rich engulfing black raspberry.

That’s why the 2016 Domain Jaume Vinosobres Reference is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day.

2018 Domaine Jaume Cotes du Rhone Blanc

The 2018 Domaine Jaume Cotes du Rhone Blanc is just sheer delight in a bottle. It’s a wine that is loaded with lemon and lime citrus that carries through just like fruit cocktail.

Offering up a gorgeous bouquet the white southern Rhone blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, delivers ripe melons-honeydew and cantaloupe as well as sweet pears, all with crisp acidity that blends in with the fruit for a very long, lingering finish. 

That’s why the 2018 Domaine Jaume Cotes du Rhone Blanc is today’s WineSiders Wine of the Day.

2017 Jean Royer Le Petit Roy

The 2017 Le Petit Roy from Domaine Jean Royer is a great example of a “baby” Chateauneuf du Pape. At age five the blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre is both charming and enjoyable all by itself or with food. 

The Le Petit Roy is often overlooked by wine snobs due to it being Vin de France and not an AOC wine, but that’s a huge mistake. This sub 20 dollar red is a big over-performer. The wine has a nice spicy and herbal bouquet, with gobs of blueberry, strawberry, black raspberry and black cherry  flavors.

That’s why the 2017 Domaine Jean Royer Le Petit Roy is today’s WineSiders Wine of the Day.

2015 Blachon Saint Joseph

As a long time lover of the Northern Rhone, the region of Saint Joseph is often overlooked for the more famous AOCs like Hermitage, Cornas and Cote-Rotie.

The Blachon Saint Joseph is one of the best examples of the Saint Joseph AOC. It got everything you like about Syrah, with that brambly style of fruit, black pepper and gobs of pie filling blueberry flavors.

That’s why the 2015 Blachon Saint Joseph is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day

Loimer Brut Rose

Bubbles. Sparkling wine. Cremant. All are wines that when done right can be as enjoyable as the most well known wines from Champagne. And one of the best examples of bubbly rose hails from Austria’s Kamptal region and the charming wine village of Langelois.

The Loimer Brut Rose Reserve is a delightful concoction of Pinot Noir, St. Laurent, Zweigelt that is made in the “méthode traditionelle” of sparkling winemaking.  

With some toasty notes, aromas of cherry pie crust and wild cherries, plums and hazelnuts, the Loimer Brut Reserve is a delight all by itself or with yummy sushi.

That’s why the Loimer Brut Reserve is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day. a

2018 Hilmy The Temp

Texas wine have long been maligned, misunderstood and missed by many wine fans, but times are changing, and one that really turns heads is the latest Tempranillo wine from Hilmy, the 2018 “The Temp.”

Here’s a blend of Tempranillo, Barbera and Sangiovese that offers a nose of coco and black cherry fruit, that has been exquisitely made to be ready to go from the start, but has the backbone to age. 

Ripe red fruit, black spice, some taste of Texas dust, much like Rutherfod Dust, “The Temp” is a leading example of how great Texas wines are and is a perfect pairing with a charred rare Tomahawk steak, as it just starts out big and gets more elegant as the bottle gets drained.

That’s why, the 2018 Hilmy “The Temp” is today’s WineSiders Wine of The Day.