By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Some people on my holiday shopping list awoke Christmas morning to find sophisticated vintages under the tree. When it came to myself, 'twas the gift to be simple.

A fortnight ago, upon returning home after an exhausting day of Christmas shopping, I uncorked a bottle of Abrazo Garnacha 2001. This dry red wine from Spain proved to be refreshing.

Bodegas Covinca, a cooperative in Carinena that dates to 1987, makes this simple table wine from 100 percent grenache grapes, which are widely grown in Spain and southern France.

Abrazo Garnacha has an aroma of sweet red berries - with a hint of rose petals. In the mouth, a cake spice-like flavor evokes a taste similar to strawberry tart. I enjoyed this medium-bodied wine while wrapping presents before heading out to a party. Subtle tannin and light oak make Abrazo Garnacha fine for sipping on its own. But it would be a good accompaniment to everything from roast chicken to pasta.

Perhaps most satisfying for those of us facing huge holiday shopping bills this month, Abrazo Garnacha is as easy on the wallet as it is on the palate. At $8.99 a bottle, it's unlikely to max out your credit card.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com