A surprising Merlot (and probably the best Merlot money can buy at this price point) is the 2011 Vega Sindoa Merlot. Made from 100% Merlot grown in clay soil from surprisingly low yields (2 to 2.5 tons per acre), this is another completely fruit-driven wine that never sees a day of oak. Dark ruby/purple, it exhibits notes of coffee bean, white chocolate, plums and black cherries. It is medium-bodied and best drunk over the next several years. Bodegas Nekeas is located in the town of Anorbe, north of Navarra in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Owned by eight separate families, it is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to value wines that Jorge Ordonez discovered at the beginning of his career. I was a huge fan of these wines when I was covering Spain, and I remain so after tasting through them for this review of the Jorge Ordonez portfolio. Importer: Value Wines from Fine Estates from Spain, Dedham, MA, tel. (781) 461-5767; Fax (781) 461-2570; www.jorgeordonez.com