The 2004 Q Tempranillo, a wine aged for 12 months in American oak. Dark ruby-colored, it has an aromatic array of cedar, tobacco, spice box, mulberry and blackberry. Medium-bodied, it offers ripe fruit with soft tannins upon entry with plenty of spicy red and black fruit flavors. It could use more depth, but will nevertheless provide satisfying drinking over the next 8 years. All of Zuccardi's Q Series wines are very good values.Familia Zuccardi is a family owned winery started in 1963 when they planted the first vineyard in Maipu, then a desert region, followed in 1973 by a second vineyard in Santa Rosa, another desert. Familia Zuccardi has also been a pioneer in the introduction of non-indigenous varieties into Argentina. These are bottled under the Textual label.Importer: Adam Sager, Winesellers Ltd., Skokie, IL; www.familiazuccardi.com

For years the Q Tempranillo from Zuccardi has been a New World wine with heavy fruit and even heavier oak. But in 2004 the wine is a dead ringer for Rioja, with light minty/herbal aromas, dry cherry and raspberry fruit, and vanilla and spice late. It’s lighter than in the past, with more balance and elegance. For Spanish style Tempranillo from Argentina, this is one of the best we’ve seen.——M.S.(11/1/2008)—— 89