My gal Eggy Weg and I shopped for authentic eats to pair with these wines. As she's lived in Spain, I let her loose in Whole Foods, to do her worst to the cheese selections while I shopped for tapas ingredients. To break in Pippa Cuthbert's 100 Great Tapas, we prepared "Dates Wrapped in Bacon," "Spanish Tortilla," and "Valencia Orange, Fennel, and Black Olive Salad." The dates are an automatic hit with the sweet and salty combo for the red Riojas. The Spanish Tortilla recipe needs some adjusting. The egg-to-potato ratio is slightly off and either less potato is needed or more eggs. It was a flipping mess, literally, but the tasters dug in despite its lack of holding it together. The sweet, tangy and salty salad proved a perfect match for the white Riojas. Now, let's move on to what you're really here for, the wines!

Wine 1: Marques de Caceres 2007 Rioja (white)

Taster 1 /
Sniff: Lemon, peach, mineral, orange
Taste: Dry, medium acidity, peach, sweet citrus, lemon, apricot, medium+ finish
Overall Conclusion: Favorite of the two whites. Good with salad---cuts through the olive oil in the dressing and matches flavor of oranges and lemon

Taster 2 /
Sniff: Citrusy
Taste: Acidic
Overall Conclusion: My third favorite (best of the whites)

Taster 3 /
Sniff: Grapefruit
Taste: Crisp, dry
Overall Conclusion: Second favorite

Taster 4 /
Sniff: Oaky, light pear
Taste: According to me, good with the orange & fennel, but olive kicked its puny ass. Wait, let's say there was a tiny woody smell, not like wine-wood, but legit sticks. Hmm...sawdust? pencil shavings? like that.
Overall Conclusion: Favorite

Taster 5 /
Sniff: Cinnamon
Taste: Prickly pear
Overall Conclusion: Nice, but I'm congested and my senses are numbed!

Wine 2: Monte Oeijo Rioja (white)

Taster 1 /
Sniff: Oak, herbal, floral, cheese/yeast, lemon, stone
Taste: Dry, bit more acid than Wine 1, light grapefruit, crisp apple
Overall Conclusion: Liked Wine 1 better---nothing in aroma or taste really grabs me with this white

Taster 2 /
Sniff: Mild oak, salty (like the ocean)
Taste: Flat, dull
Overall Conclusion: My fifth favorite

Taster 3 /
Sniff: Floral aroma
Taste: Acidic, crisp with soft finish
Overall Conclusion: Fourth favorite

Taster 4 /
Sniff: Smells like lemon. I know, you ain't supposed to say that about wine, you're supposed to say citrus or whatever, but it smells like lemons, which is good. I like lemons.
Taste: Tastes a little flinty.
Overall Conclusion: Austere, I think they say. I like it. Good with salad. Too much man for the potatoes. Third.

Taster 5 /
Sniff: Metallic
Taste: Sweet, honey
Overall Conclusion: Dunno!

Wine 3: Cortijo III 2006 Rioja (red)

Taster 1 /
Sniff: Bright red raspberry, red currant, jam, chocolate, brambly berries
Taste: Slight tingle, jam, red raspberry, strawberry, brambly fruit
Overall Conclusion: Third choice for the reds. May work as a base wine for Sangria with its strong acid and fruit flavors

Taster 2 /
Sniff: Strong grape smell
Taste: Acidic, fruity
Overall Conclusion: My fourth favorite

Taster 3 /
Sniff: Nutty
Taste: Buttery, raspberry, sharp finish
Overall Conclusion: Favorite

Taster 4 /
Sniff: Smells nice, peppers.
Taste: This shit is all right. Nice graphite.
Overall Conclusion: Favorite. When I run a shady restaurant, I'm going to pass this off as a Cotes du Rhone and buy a boat!

Taster 5 /
Sniff: Pecan
Taste: Acid!
Overall Conclusion: No

Wine 4: Sonsierra 2004 Rioja (red)

Taster 1 /
Sniff: Wild black and red raspberries, strawberry, pepper spice
Taste: Medium acid and length, smooth, well-balanced, buttery, black currant, red raspberry, strawberry, cherry, oak, vanilla
Overall Conclusion: Very good. Falls in second place. Would like to pair it with grilled steak tips.

Taster 2 /
Sniff: Fruity
Taste: Velvety, yummy
Overall Conclusion: My second favorite

Taster 3 /
Sniff: Nutty/Almond
Taste: Sweet, tannins
Overall Conclusion: Third favorite

Taster 4 /
Sniff: Hey, there's some cherry!
Taste: I was dying for a second hit---I was dreaming of chocolate---that didn't come through, but that's just my greed.
Overall Conclusion: This will do just fine. Second.

Taster 5 /
Sniff: no comment
Taste: Plum
Overall Conclusion: no comment

Wine 5: Lan 2004 Rioja (red)

Taster 1 /
Sniff: Vanilla, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, brambly leaves, soil
Taste: Strawberry, red cherry, medium acid & length, hint of vanilla
Overall Conclusion: Favorite. Good with food or solo. Well-balanced.

Taster 2 /
Sniff: Fruity, grapes
Taste: Smooth, delicious!
Overall Conclusion: My favorite, #1

Taster 3 /
No comment

Taster 4 /
Sniff: Not bad, kinda flat though.
Taste: I might be wasted---all right, I'm wasted---but I can't taste much.
Overall Conclusion: Third

Taster 5 /
No comment, went home with a cold :(