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Tag Archives: spain

Conde Bel Varela Gran Reserva 2010, Rioja, Spain

16 Saturday Mar 2024

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$20, 4 stars, 89 points, rioja, spain, tempranillo


Medium garnet with a touch of bricking, light staining and a high viscosity (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of dusty earth, desiccated plum, dried coconut slivers, dried dill, black plum reduction, blueberry jam and a bacon streak.  The palate is dry with medium acidity,medium body and medium tannins that are fully integrated.  Flavors of dried/desiccated blue and black fruit combined with oak nuance and dusty earthiness that is a telltale off the region and of the Tempranillo grape.  The finish is medium (-) in length and focuses on tertiary notes of tobacco, tar, dust and dried herbs.  I fear this wine is just past peak so I had better drink up.  I like it, but the points will reflect the lack of further development.  I paid $20 per bottle and will give it 89 points making it a 4 star effort.  It’s grilled lamb for the pairing btw.  Drink now.  Salut….

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Botani Old Vines Moscatel 2022, Sierras de Malaga, Spain

02 Saturday Mar 2024

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$15, 5 stars, 90 points, malaga, moscatel, muscat of Alexandria, spain


Pale lemon colored with copper highlights and a high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of peach, jasmine, lemon curd, white blossom, honeysuckle, tangerine peel and a waxy lanolin. The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a full body and some bitterness (skin contact perhaps?). Flavors of Jasmine tea, honeysuckle, lemon and tangerine skin, hints of peach and a salty minerality.  The finish is medium in length and the bitterness has worn off at this juncture leaving the mouthfeel a touch waxy with some saline and honey.  I am really enjoying the tropical notes of this rather aromatic wine, albeit not overly complex.  It gets 90 points from me and 5 stars, I paid just under $15 for it.  I’m gonna pair it with roast duck leg and mashed sweet potato.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

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Senorio de Villarrica Reserva 2018, Rioja DOCa, Spain

01 Friday Mar 2024

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$23, 5 stars, 92 points, rioja, spain, tempranillo


Deep garnet colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose of this Tempranillo has medium (+) intensity aromas of vanilla, coconut, back plum, black cherry, tobacco, dust, cassis, Maduro wrapper, mint, dried green herbs, dried orange peel and blueberry compote.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky.  Flavors of black plum, black cherry, cassis, coconut, vanilla, baking spice, dusty earth, mint and tobacco persist to a long finish.  I’m impressed with this wine’s complexity and balance- 92 points from me and 5 stars since it runs $23.  I believe it has great cellaring potential, till 2033 but is drinking beautifully now.  Pairing tonight with Shish Kebabs.  Salut….

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Finca Nueva Crianza 2018, Rioja DOCa, Spain

15 Thursday Feb 2024

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$17, 5 stars, 91 points, rioja, spain, tempranillo


Deep ruby, inky with slight staining and high viscosity (14% ABV).  Aromas of vanilla, baking spices, ripe blackberry, violets, blackcurrant ganache, mocha and blueberry pie.  Dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and a full body. Flavors of  blackberry, dusty earth, violets, blackcurrant, blueberry and vanilla lead to a medium (+) length finish that has some baking spice warmth.  The tannins are delightful and silky.  91 points for this Tempranillo that runs $17 makes it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2030.  Salut…. 

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Adegas Valminor Albarino 2022, Rias Baixas, Spain

13 Tuesday Feb 2024

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$20, 5 stars, 90 points, albarino, rias baixas, spain


Pale lemon with gold highlights and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of peach, white blossom, saline, grapefruit, lemon pith and a hint of papaya.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium body.  Flavors of white blossom, sea spray, peach, papaya, lemon pith and grapefruit zest with a medium to long finish.  It runs about $20 and gets 90 points from me.  I like the crispness and tangy acidity coupled with the saline notes.  Drink this 5 star wine with seafood till 2027.  Salut….

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Osborne Cream Sherry NV, Jerez, Spain

19 Friday Jan 2024

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$15, 5 stars, 88 points, jerez, palomino, Pedro Ximenez, spain


Cream sherry is made by adding a sweet sherry like Pedro Ximenez to the base Oloroso sherry- itself an oxidatively aged wine made from Palomino grapes.  As such the wine has a much darker hue than a pale or medium sherry.  This one is a gorgeous pale amber with orange highlights and high viscosity (17% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of caramel, burnt sugar, walnuts, Brazil nuts and figs.  The palate is off-dry to sweet with medium (+) acidity and a full body.   Layers of burnt sugar, caramel and nuts with some ripe fig nuances lead to a medium length finish.  It’s a nice drop to enjoy as an aperitif but it would certainly hold its own postprandial.  I paid $15 but it’s available for $11 online, which makes it a steal.  88 points from me- 5 stars.  Salut….

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Osborne Medium Sherry NV, Andalucia, Spain

17 Wednesday Jan 2024

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$13, 4 stars, 89 points, Andalusia, palomino, spain


Pale amber colored with high viscosity (17% ABV).  The nose of this sherry has medium intensity aromas of nuts, green almonds, a touch of yeast, seaspray and burnt sugar.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity and a full body.  Medium intensity flavors of warmed cashews, green almonds, caramel, yeast and caramel/burnt sugar carry throughout to a long finish that has a bit of lingering heat.  It’s a tasty drop for sure that could use chilling (I’m tasting at room temp btw).  In case you missed it- Medium Sherry is an Amontillado (partial Biological age then Oxidatively aged) base wine that is sweetened to between 5-115 g/l of sugar.  I like it and think it deserves 89 points.  For $13 it gets 4 stars.  Salut….

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Bodegas Mas Alta Cirerets 2020, Priorat DOCa, Spain

06 Saturday Jan 2024

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$40, 5 stars, 93 points, carignan, grenache, Priorat, spain, VWTC


For the third wine of the tasting we opened this Grenache/Carignan blend from Priorat.  I was excited for this wine and it did not disappoint.  Medium ruby colored with high viscosity (15.5% ABV).  The nose had medium (+) intensity aromas of game, smoke, musk, black cherry, black pepper, leather, blackberry, anise and was a touch jammy.  Very interesting and earthy/meaty.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium  (-) tannins and a full body.  Not quite as jammy on the palate it still showed its gamy side with dark fruit and leather supporting.  It turned a bit dusty and the tannins seemed very powdery on the mid palate.  An ethereal sensation imho.  The long finish closed out this $40 wine that garnered 17 points on our tasting sheet and a technical score of 93 making it a 5 star effort.  I would drink this beauty till 2030 with some lighter meat dishes or even a roast duck.  Salut….

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Osborne Fino Sherry NV, Jerez, Spain

03 Wednesday Jan 2024

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$16, 4 stars, 89 points, aperitif, jerez, palomino, spain


Medium lemon colored with high viscosity (15% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of green almonds, baked sourdough, lemon pith, yeast, saline and petrichor.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a full body.  Flavors of almonds, bread, yeast and some citrus are evident along with tangy salt and wet stone notes.  The finish is long and a touch hot from the lingering alcohol but I’m enjoying the balance of heat and tangy flavors.  A very enjoyable aperitif to drink now- it cost me $16 and gets 89 points making it a 4 star effort.  Best paired with nuts or a charcuterie board.  Salut….

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Tesoro de Bullas Monastrell 2019, Bullas, Spain

05 Tuesday Dec 2023

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$14, 5 stars, 90 points, bulllas, mataro, monastrell, Mourvèdre, mourvedre, spain


Deep, dark ruby with high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose of this Monastrell aka Mourvèdre, aka Mataro has medium (+) intensity aromas of game, violets, black cherry, pine needles, blackberry tart and black currants.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium tannins.  A full body carries the ripe dark berries and gamy notes.  I get a touch of the floral violets but no pine needles.  It finishes medium (-) in length but has a nice closing.  It’s a pretty nice presentation of this grape varietal that is normally blended as in ‘GSM’.  I like it and think it’s worthy of 90 points.   For $14 it gets 5 stars.  I’m pairing it with roasted Duck and gratin potatoes.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

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