Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha 2005

We found reviews of Las Rocas Garnacha in Gary Vaynerchuk's Wine Library video series, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Dr.Vino.com and Wine.com. We appreciate Vaynerchuk's shoot-from-the-hip approach, and Parker, the world's most influential wine critic, offers particularly evocative descriptions. Parker is, however, known to prefer "big" wines with plenty of fruit and alcohol. Although we appreciate the candid ratings posted to Wine.com, we wish the site calculated each wine's average rating in consumer reviews.

All the reviews we read concur: Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha is among the best values in red wine less than $15. Two credible reviewers say it's smooth, balanced and very well made. This Spanish Garnacha (better known as Grenache) is said to be unusually complex for an $11 wine, with a bouquet of strawberries that gives way to black cherry, licorice, black pepper and even a hint of white truffle. We read enthusiastic reviews of the 2003, 2004 and 2005 vintages, so we're confident that this wine is reliable from year to year. Consumers posting to Wine.com agree that, no matter the vintage, this wine is an excellent value.