It’s officially Fall in our house. Last night LL made one of our favorite, simple cold weather dishes, the cod stew with leeks, potatoes, chorizo and tomatoes. I have mentioned this dish many times and probably will continue to do so, because we never tire of it. Not that it’s actually cold yet. We were able to eat dinner on the screened porch, but it was a tad chilly.

We’ve tried all sorts of wines with the cod stew, but last night I opened a bottle of the Maximo Viura 2007, from Tierra de Castille, in Central Spain. This is a new label from Grupo Baron de Ley, which produces the well-known inexpensive El Coto de Rioja wines.

Maximo Viura 2007, made completely from viura grapes in stainless steel, is bright, clean, fresh and spicy. It features aromas and flavors of stone fruit like peaches and yellow plums, with hints of quince and pear. Orange blossom makes an appearance, along with a hint, underneath, of some astringent floral element. It takes a few minutes for tangy lime and earthy limestone qualities to emerge, and touches of grass and dried herbs, all of this set in a lovely texture that nicely balances lushness with crisp acid. An immensely satisfying wine, and terrific with the cod stew on a brisk autumn evening. Very Good and at about $10, the wine represents Great Value.

Imported by Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York