Spicy Red Wine

[Tlandcruiser]

I’m not a big wine drinker, however I was in Spain a few years back (2009)on business when someone in the restaurant ordered a red wine which was spicy, at the time the bottle was about 40 euros.

I can’t remember the wine, but I would like to try a spicy red wine again. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[anonymous-user]

Look out for a half decent rioja/tempranillo, you can't actually go wrong by buying one of the better Aldi ones (there gran reserve is very nice). They often have a nice spicy finish, make sure it isn't to warm as modern room temperature is too warm, 16-18 degrees is about right and serve in a nice big glass.

[sherman]

Sounds like a shiraz any half decent £8-10 bottle from the supermarket should suffice.

[trickywoo]

sherman said:

Sounds like a shiraz any half decent £8-10 bottle from the supermarket should suffice.

Grenache based wines too.

I’m no wine buff but I’d put Rioja firmly in the fruity camp.

[Tlandcruiser]

CheesecakeRunner said:

Do you mean actually spicy, as in hot and spicy?

Or spicy in a wine tasting notes way “it tastes like cranberries with a snifter of baby’s arse”?

I remember it tasting actually spicy and made my mouth tingle

[trickywoo]

Tlandcruiser said:

I remember it tasting actually spicy and made my mouth tingle

Mouth tingle is usually due to high phosphate levels. The cheap Waitrose red £4.99 bottom shelf used to do that for me. Haven’t drunk wine for ages though so it may have changed:

[21TonyK]

Tlandcruiser said:

I remember it tasting actually spicy and made my mouth tingle

Could be a secondary fermentation in the bottle (which isn't a good thing). Running Duck had this problem with their wines being shipped from SA to the UK. A sherbert after taste.

[Tlandcruiser]

Maybe I explained it wrong, it definitely had a spicy almost chilli aftertaste.

[trickywoo]

Tlandcruiser said:

Maybe I explained it wrong, it definitely had a spicy almost chilli aftertaste.

Did anyone else drinking it comment the same?

I think it’s your body’s reaction to it more than the wine itself. Likely to have been a dry ref with high ABV.

[andyA700]

You could try looking for Barossa Shiraz, probably get one around a tenner.

[tomw2000]

Priorat wines from Catalonia sometimes have a hint of spice.

As above, Barossa Valley Aussie Shiraz is a good shout if you want spice also.

[oddman]

When spice gets mentioned in wine descriptions it's usually black white and green peppercorns.

Green fresh pepper tastes are usually undesirable

I don't think I've ever read about or tasted chilli in wine. As others have indicated, I wonder if it was a fault.

Other spices mentioned might be nutmeg, 'asian spices' 'Christmas cake/pudding' ie. cinnamon, cloves and liquorice.

These descriptors are typically attached to Rhône reds which are grenache and syrah/shiraz dominant they usually apply to smell not taste. They are often described as herby as well - hence classic pairing with lamb.

Similar Rhône type wines from Spain and elsewhere (Priorat and Barossa Shiraz being good examples) can be even 'spicier'

Very obvious oak hits a similar sensation in my palate to pepper so I wonder if this is what you were tasting. A 40 euro spanish red will likely have spent a long time in oak so those suggesting Rioja might be right.

[thebraketester]

Are you someone wasn't having a laugh with a bottle of Tabasco sauce? It's been done before.....

[andyA700]

The last time I had this was around 2002 and the price hasn't gone up. If it still tastes as good as it did then, well this is a bargain.

https://thevinorium.co.uk/elderton-barossa-shiraz-...

[zetec]

I had a Chateaux Neuf du Pape that had a spicy aftertaste. Not being a wine expert, I asked my brother (who provided the wine) and he said it’s a sign of a good one???

[DE1975]

A South African Pinotage could be described as "spicy" I suppose. One to consider

[Tlandcruiser]

It looks like, in the interest of science, I will have to buy various different bottles of red wine to sample…

[bigmowley]

Try Chateau Musar, it’s from the Bekka Valley in Lebanon. There is a lot of variation between years but some of them are the most spicy red wines that I have ever drunk. I really like them but they are not to everybody’s taste. The late 90’s vintages are the most spicy, to my palette, but are getting very hard to find and mighty expensive now.
Try a few different years if you can find a decent supplier. They start at about £30 a bottle.

[eps]

bigmowley said:

Try Chateau Musar, it’s from the Bekka Valley in Lebanon. There is a lot of variation between years but some of them are the most spicy red wines that I have ever drunk. I really like them but they are not to everybody’s taste. The late 90’s vintages are the most spicy, to my palette, but are getting very hard to find and mighty expensive now.
Try a few different years if you can find a decent supplier. They start at about £30 a bottle.

Was just about to suggest this. Only one I know not to try is the '89 (I think Somerfield stocked it back in the day which tells you everything you need to know about that year!!). 88 was most excellent, 90 was great as well. I had a few cases some years ago but probably couldn't afford them now!! There's the Hochar which is the vin du table they produce and a white as well.

[Whoozit]

Lebanese wine tends to that spicy taste - peppery, and for the bigger vintages, big fruit. A fairly cheap and excellent recent discovery is Cuvee Pierre Brun from Domaine des Tourelles, which Majestic has for under £10. To my taste it's materially better than the Hochar or other "ordinary" wines.

Edited by Whoozit on Saturday 6th November 12:40