Castillo San Lorenzo Rioja Reserva 2006

Appearance: Medium red.
Aroma: Vanilla oak and spicy oak.
Flavour: Rich brambly fruit, smooth velvety mouth feel.
Blackberry jam and cinnamon.

Very easy to drink. Will improve for the next 5 years or so.

Wine Name: Castillo San Lorenzo Rioja

Producer: Bodegas Riovinsa

Grape/Blend: Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano

Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 12.5%

Country: Spain

Bought at: Tesco

Price: £5.24

Value for money: ♦♦♦♦♦ Outstanding
Over all rating: ♦♦♦♦ Very Good

Sainsbury's House Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Appearance: Light red.
Aroma: Black fruits.
Flavour: Young, green taste, low tannin with a pleasant savoury and dry finish.
Blackcurrant, dried spices and violets.

Light to medium-bodied rounded wine. Nothing to fault at this phenomenally low price.
 

Wine Name: House Cabernet Sauvignon

Producer: Sainsbury's

Grape/Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: Non-vintage 
Alcohol: 13%

Country: Spain

Bought at: Sainsbury's

Price: £3.99

Value for money: ♦♦♦♦♦ Outstanding
Over all rating: ♦♦♦ Good

Sainsbury's House Torla Rioja NV

Appearance: Light peachy red.
Aroma: Cherry and damp leaves; a lot like old, stewed tea left in the pot.
Flavour: Soft, light-bodied red. Terribly low acid, flabby mid palate and grimy soap finish.
Red berries, soap and anaesthetic throat spray.

This Rioja has a very generic flavour, really struggles with acid and is, quite honestly, boring.
Yes, Rioja is an Olde Worlde wine and one shouldn't compare it to 'New World' wines and expect big, explosive flavours. However, what is expected is some elegance and subtlety, on which this doesn't deliver. The chemically whiffs coming from my glass worried me and I really couldn't enjoy it, despite the low price.

Sainsbury's House brand does have some good wines on offer, only this isn't one of them.
 

Wine Name: House Torla Rioja

Producer: Sainsbury's own-brand

Grape/Blend: Tempranillo

Vintage: NV
Alcohol:  12%

Country: Spain

Bought at: Sainsbury's

Price: £4.29

Value for money: ♦♦ Average
Over all rating: ♦ Poor