Tag Archives: spain

Raventos I Blanc ‘Blanc de Blancs’ 2018, Catalonia, Spain

07 Saturday May 2022

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I wanted to introduce my tasting group to sparkling wines and the differences between Traditional method versus Tank method production.  We kicked off the 27th VWTC event with this Spanish sparkler made from Macabeo in the traditional way.  Apple, citrus, toast, caramel, yeast, and a wet hay component were noted by the group.  On the palate we found a dry wine with high acidity and flavors of green (crisp) apple, citrus, almond (marzipan) and the autolytic characters we smelled- toast and yeast.  A medium finish that left us somewhat refreshed yet yearning for the minerality this wine promised.  I scored it 89 points and for $17 it’s a nice 4 star introduction to this style of wine from Spain.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Bodegas Ego ‘Infinito’ 2017, Jumilla, Spain

02 Monday May 2022

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It says that this wine is 70% Monastrell.  Learning the different names for the same grape has been challenging in my studies but I know that this Mourvedre is also known as Mataro.  There’s 30% Cab Sav thrown in for good measure.  It is a deep ruby color and has very slow moving legs that give away the 15% ABV.  The nose is rich with blackberry, black plum, purple licorice, hints of baking spice and toasty oak.  Blueberry jam is the last thing I coax out of the glass.  On the palate it is dry with medium (+) acidity and grippy tannins.  Full bodied, it gives me waves of rich black and blue fruit notes with oak influenced spices and toast.  The purple licorice turns black on the mid palate and the charcoal and toasted oak really come out.  The finish is dry from the tannins and medium in length.  This is a tasty number that will do well with grilled beef or lamb chops.  The tannins, whilst balanced, are quite powerful on the back end- this wine will last till 2030 at the least.  91 points from me for this $20 make it a no-brainer 5 star effort.  Salut….

Doble de Diez Mencia 2018, Spain

21 Thursday Apr 2022

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This Mencia varietal is medium garnet in the glass with interesting aromas starting with vanilla and dill.  I get fruit-driven cherry, pomegranate and cranberry with secondary notes of cinnamon and smoke.  The palate is lightweight for sure- it’s very easy to drink with medium (+) acidity, gentle tannins and medium intensity flavors of red fruit.  The vanilla and green note taper off quickly but I do get the smoke and spice.  The finish is short lived but very yummy with tannins that just fade away.  This wine is begging to be drunk- it is so smooth and the lower than usual alcohol (12.7 ABV) makes it possible.  We are pairing it with meatballs in Boom Boom sauce on a bed of shredded veggies.  Drink this 90 point wine till 2024.  It retails for $20 and gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Bodegas y Vinedos Valderiz ‘Valderiz’ 2018, Ribera del Duero, Spain

30 Wednesday Mar 2022

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This is the second bottle of the vertical, please read my previous note on the 2017 Valderiz.  Tasting will be via the Systematic Approach to Tasting.

  • Deep purple
  • Medium (+) intensity nose with aromas of blackberry, bramble, black cherry, orange peel, vanilla, black plum compote.  Youthful.
  • Dry, medium acidity, medium (+) tannins, high alcohol, medium (+) body, medium (+) intensity flavors of blackberry, bramble, black cherry, orange peel, vanilla, black plum compote, charcoal with a medium finish.
  • Very Good quality
  • Drink now but has potential for aging

I found this wine far more youthful than the prior vintage, showing no tertiary notes.  It is of a higher quality by half a point but I rounded down to VG, versus Outstanding.  For $30 ($5 cheaper than the 2017), you can get a better wine that I would give 93 points to and 5 stars.  Salut….

Bodegas y Vinedos Valderiz ‘Valderiz’ 2017, Ribera del Duero, Spain

30 Wednesday Mar 2022

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I attended a wine tasting course last night and ended up scoring this bottle with my team- by request.  I knew I had a newer vintage of the same wine at home so I wanted to do a vertical.  I will report on both strictly by using the Systematic Approach to Tasting.

  • Deep Ruby
  • Medium (+) nose with aromas of earthy dust, bramble, dried cherry, orange peel, black cherry, dried tarragon- this wine is developing.
  • Dry, medium (-) acidity, medium (+) tannins, high alcohol, medium (+) body, medium intensity flavors of earthy dust, bramble, dried cherry, orange peel, black cherry, dried tarragon and vanilla with a medium finish.
  • Very Good quality
  • Drink now, suitable for aging or further aging

I thought this was a little thin on the palate compared to the nose, my partners agreed.  I would give it 91 points and for $35 it gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Costers del Priorat Petit Pissares 2016, Priorat, Spain

25 Friday Mar 2022

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Deep garnet in the glass with thick legs (14.5% ABV), this Garnacha/Carinena blend from Priorat has medium intensity aromas of baked plums, blackberry, raisins, black raspberry, coconut and some spice.  The baked/cooked aromas disappeared almost immediately.  The palate is dry with high acidity, medium (+) tannins, medium (+) body and medium (-) finish.  The fruit flavors are quite intense and I get the black raspberry, blackberry, some plum and spice but no oak-derived coconut.  Black and smoky Lapsang Souchong teas present on the mid palate and add to the tannic grip that has enveloped my gums.  I find this wine a bit of a conundrum- it is very primal in fruit, yet shows advances in age beyond its 6 years, I wonder if it was mishandled along the way.  Let me have a look.

I did some research, this wine should have lots of tertiary and secondary notes, instead, I get the baked and stewed fruit which is either very aged wine or heat damaged wine.  The flavors I get do not match the descriptions of where I bought this $23 bottle from.  I would love to revisit it I could get a good bottle.  For now, I would imagine it to hold up to the 90 point score the pros awarded.  It could potentially be a 5 star effort.  Salut….

J. Navascues ‘La Vadina’ Garnacha 2018, Carinena, Spain

10 Thursday Mar 2022

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This Spanish wine is a blend of 75% Garnacha and 25% Cariñena.  It is medium ruby colored:nothing too exciting there.  The nose is a bit off-putting to me.  As an amateur I’m allowed to add personal opinion.  I don’t like candy aromas and flavors in my wine.  This one is loaded with cherry hard candy and ripe raspberry.  Other notes include maraschino cherry, a touch of baking spice and some very feint charcoal.  The palate is…. interesting.  I would like to say it is dry, yet I sense some sweetness via red cherry and really ripe raspberry.  I’ll say this- it’s very smooth and easy to drink.  Medium tannins and acidity coupled with a lighter weight body make it a slippery wine that finishes dry and lasts a decent amount of time.  Not complex by any stretch, this $12 …85 pointer gets 2 stars from me.  I just don’t care for it.  Drink now.

Tinto Pesquera Reserva Especial 2010, Ribera del Duero, Spain

27 Sunday Feb 2022

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Bottle #100 in the Virtual WIne Tasting group!  We concluded the 25th tasting with this Spanish Tempranillo.  The underlying lesson of the session was the use of oak.  Our first red was made using old oak, the second bottle seeing a mix of new and old whilst this bottle would hopefully show off lots of new oak being a Reserva.

In the glass this wine is deep ruby- opaque AF.  On the nose the lesson was quite obvious- Tar, smoky, coconut, chocolate, leather, charred oak barrel, dark berries, bramble, dust and a touch of heat from the alcohol (it blew away eventually).

On the palate this wine was a touch tart at the beginning with black cherry akin to Luxardos, dried black fruit compote, spice, clove, vanilla, cinnamon and a new one- ‘Nummy”.  High tannins, medium acidity, full body and a long finish made this my WOTN that scored 18 marks.  At $50 and 92 points it get 5 stars from me- delicious stuff that worked beautifully in my oak lesson.  This wine needs a juicy leg of lamb, grilled and served with au gratin and a side of asparagus.  At 12 years of age it is just now reaching maturity and will drink nicely till 2030.  Salut….

Marques de Vitoria Gran Reserva 2011, Rioja DOCa, Spain

16 Wednesday Feb 2022

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Deep ruby, starting to turn amber- this 11 year old Tempranillo is beginning to show some age.  On the nose I get classic Rioja: dusty earth, bramble, ripe blackberries, black currants, plums, leather and loads of oak influence.  Vanilla, coconut and charred wood notes are well ingrained.  On the palate it is dry and smooth.  Very integrated tannins and great acidity set the framework up to allow dark fruit, musty and earthy flavors as well as oak nuance to interplay.  Medium (+) bodied this delight has a medium (-) finish.  This is not a bold and big wine, it is more of a seductive and silky drop that appeals to those who enjoy subtlety over brawn.  I like it and would sip it over tapas.  I think it is at peak and will drink nicely until 2028.  It gets 92 points from me and at $40 it gets 5 stars.  Salut….

Bodegas Urbina Gran Reserva 2004, Rioja DOCa, Spain

07 Monday Feb 2022

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Unsurprisingly this 17 year old wine is showing signs of age in the glass- pale garnet in color it is 50% opaque.  The nose is a melange of primary, secondary and tertiary aromas starting with ripe blackberry, plum, black currant and moving on to earthy bramble, loads of cedar, tobacco, leather and game.  I dig it.  The palate is very, very smooth.  Slightly tart, it is dry and has very fine grained tannins that are nearly integrated into the wine.  I get the same flavors as I did aromas plus a tart cherry note.  Medium to full body, medium finish and really balanced.  Delicious stuff that I am pairing with Hangar steak and baked potato.  93 points from me for this $50 Tempranillo makes it a 5 star wine that will drink beautifully till 2026.  Salut….