Wine of the Week: 2008 Terra Summa Classic Spanish Red Blend

Terra Summa, translated as "the whole of the earth," is a new family of certified organic wines from Italy, France and Spain. Some are varietals, including a French cabernet sauvignon and an Italian chardonnay, and some are blends. We sampled the 2008 Terra Summa Classic Spanish Red Blend from Valencia (about $12 at well-stocked supermarkets) and found it to be an admirable wine at an attractive price.

The blend is tempranillo (75 percent) and cabernet sauvignon, resulting in a deep garnet color in the bottle and assertive, lively fruit in the glass. Because it opens more fully as it breathes, it would be a good idea to uncork this thoroughly satisfying red a half-hour or so before serving, perhaps with a good, old-fashioned Joy of Cooking pot roast or saucy tapas. This is most definitely a food wine, bold but smooth.

Plum and mellow tobacco greet the nose at first sniff. It is a heady aroma and a harbinger of good things to come. On the tongue, plum, cherry, fig and tobacco sing in silky harmony. Well-developed tannins give this clean, dry blend a structure that persists through a long and complex finish highlighted by a hint of coffee.

By Colette and John Bancroft. She is the Times' book editor, and he is a freelance writer specializing in food, wine and travel.