I was shopping at the local wine store best known for great prices on Budweiser, searching for some new contestants in the VinoDuo Cheapo Challenge. Didn't find any of those but came across an unknown Spanish wine sitting next to one of my favorites—Alba Liza.This dusty 2000 Old Vines Grenache, produced by Navarra, is labeled El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa. I had just read about Old Grenache and was eager to try it.  At $11.99 I figured it was worth the risk.

It was. The wine had us at hello—a beautiful ruby red flowed out of the still-dusty bottle. It had a plum cream on the nose, with some leather notes. The taste was equally rewarding, with flavors of plum and cooked cherries. Well balanced tannins; smooth, and  full bodied. We drank it as-is, but it would be a wonderful accompaniment to Jarlsberg or similar cheese. I felt like I was drinking a wine that was built for nobility, on a pauper's budget.