While searching for a wine to celebrate New Year’s Eve with, I was thinking about bubbles, but was more in the mood for something red, so I decided on Tapena’s 2010 Tempranillo from Spain.  Tempranillo just happens to be one of my favorite grapes, and in my opinion produces some of the best red wines.  At $9, this particular tempranillo was definitely a bargain.  Hailing from the Tierra de Castilla region, this tempranillo is clear with a reddish-purple color to it.  On the nose I get a fragrance of ripe red fruit and a little earthiness.  The first sip on the palate yields an earthy complexion of spicy red fruit with balanced tannins, and ends with a nice smooth finish.  The alcohol comes in at 13.5%, which is perfect for a wine like this. I paired this with grilled skirt steak, which worked out nicely.  Or if you’re just looking to enjoy a glass of wine, you won’t be disappointed.