Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Reserva 2002 The nose shows some of the herbaceousness that can be found with Tempranillo along with vanilla and cherries dabbed with brown sugar and baked in a pie.
The mouth is bright with cherries and structure, youthful. Yet at the same time there is the complexity of age, fruit that is [...]

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Lustau, Jerez DO, Solera Reserva, Puerto Fino, nv This Fino is nutty and spiritous with a light sense of the classic bruised apples. This Palomino-based wine is matured in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Bottling code: 7185 15.5% $15.99 at BB in December ‘09 emilio-lustau.com

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This flight features two methode traditionnelle sparklers from Spain.
Parxet, Cava, Cuvee 21, Brut nv This Cava smells of herbs with a chemical note while in the mouth it tastes of green apples and there is quite an astringency – unfortunate. The grapes behind this bubbly are Pansa Blanca, Macabeo and Parellada. Elabaorado in Tiana 11.5% [...]

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Segura Viudas, Cava, Estate Brut, Aria nv Unfortunately this wine is displaying chemical notes and an astringent grip – not nice. This is traditional method sparkling, fermented in the bottle opened and produced in Torrelavit 11.5% $8.99 at Bottle Barn Segura Viudas

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Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Campo De Borja DO, veraton 2007 The oaky notes ring loud and clear with sweet red candy and a soft, rich profile. This wine is 100% Garnacha. Winemaker Chris Ringland from Australia. Estate bottled in Bulbuente 15.5% $21.69 at Bottle Barn

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Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Crianza 2005 Unfortunately this has a little cork taint which is suppressing the nose and adding uncharacteristic astringency on the palate. The fruit is a high proportion of Tempranillo along with Garnacha and Graciano. The wine is aged in French and US oak. 13% $10.99 at Bottle Barn Caceres

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Vall Llach, Priorat DOQ, Embruix 2005 The nose features a sweetness, black fruits with blackberry jam. In the mouth the sweet theme continues, with very ripe, jammy fruit, density yet suppleness, warmth, a bit of tannin and lowish acidity, a sense that this wine came from the New World, but it didn’t. The grapes were [...]

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Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Reserva 2001 The nose smells of stewed cherries, evolving nicely, developing complexity. In the mouth, the characteristic acidity is on display, on a plate of suppleness, with leather, olive and cherries – very nice. The fruit is a high proportion of old vine 85% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha and Graciano. The wine [...]

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Lustau, Jerez, (Sherry) Denominaciónes de Origen, Solera Reserva, Pedro Ximenez, San Emilio nv The glass is packed with molasses, caramel and toffee. In the mouth it is among the thickest of dessert wines, very rich, very complex and evocative of prunes and raisins – yes. P&B in Arcos in Jerez, latest bottle code 7212, 17% [...]

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Bodegas Palacios Remondo, Rioja DOC, La Vendimia 2007 The nose offers minty green character with liquer-like fruit. In the mouth it is quite fruity, a little chewy with a light body and a lingering creaminess. The grapes are approximately Tempranillo and Garnacha. Bottled in Alfaro 13.5% $11.59 at Bottle Barn

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Cims de Porrera, Priorat, Solanes 2004 This wine expresses ripe black fruits with a supple mouthfeel. The grapes behind this wine are are 40% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Syrah, from 60-100 year-old vines grown at 400-600 metres on steep slopes above the village. P&B by the cooperative in Porrera [...]

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Condes de Albarei, Rias Baixas DO, Albarino 2008 Notes on this vintage parallel the previous: Fully aromatic and lip smacking with a sweet/tart character – delicious. Check that – I don’t mean that the wine is literally sweet, but rather the fruit is vibrant and the acidity is electric – yes, that’s better. This brand [...]

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Pago de Carraovejas, Ribera Del Duero DO, Crianza 2006
The previous vintage of this wine was quite substantial. In the ‘06 the ripeness of the fruit really shows in the nose and the mouth meets that with ample structure for aging. The estate is planted to approximately 75% Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and a [...]

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Muga, Rioja DOC, Reserva, Seleccion Especial 2004 There are sweet brown spices, cherry and light earthiness in the nose. The mouth shows structure, with plenty of tannin and acidity, filled out by the cherry fruit to make this a keeper in the cellar – very long and delightful. The grapes are 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha [...]

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Bodegas Palacios Remondo, Rioja DOC, Crianza, La Montesa 2005 In the nose there are brown spices and a sense of the forest floor while the mouth is supple and fruity, with the acidity I associate with the wines of this region – delicious. The  grapes are approximately 45% Tempranillo, 40% Garnacha and 15% Graciano and [...]

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Alvaro Palacios, Priorat DOC, Les Terrasses 2006 There’s an appropriate amount of brett in the nose, offering complexity to the red fruit notes. In the mouth this is a chewy wine, showing the structure we associate with this rugged region. Let this wine settle into the cellar for a few years or if you must [...]

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Bodegas Borsao, Campo de Borja DO, Crianza, seleccion 2007

There’s plenty of sweet oak to greet you when you pick up the glass. The mouth features more of the same with ripe fruit and enough acidity to make this wine a food friendly value. The grapes are 50% Garnacha, 25% Tempranillo and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon [...]

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Jordan de Asso, Carinena DO, Crianza 2005 This wine features a great balance of oak and fruity flavors, driven by a long sense of acidity. The grapes behind this blend are 40% Tempranillo, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah. The wine was aged in 100% French oak for one year plus a year in bottle [...]

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Artadi Vinedos & Vinos, Rioja DOC Vinas de Gain 2005 The wine is a bit reductive and needs some air. With a bit of airing, there is a green spice/herbal character in the nose while the fruit is still buried in the background. Give it 20 minutes and the black currents start to emerge. In [...]

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Muga, Rioja, Reserva DOC 2005 The nose combines vanilla, smokiness and ash with cranberries and just the right amount of horse blanket and leather. In the mouth, the tannins make a ripe blanket on top of the tart cherry fruit – the acidity makes this perfect to consider with the next leg of lamb. 70% [...]

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Bodegas Borsao, Campo de Borja DO 2007 The fruit just leaps out of the glass and has a candy element to it with a bit of black pepper. The mouth is soft, the wine is light-bodied, tasting of red candy, with a hint of tannin and a touch of warmth – this goes down easily [...]

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Bodegas Hidalgo, La Gitana, Jerez, Manzanilla nv The nose has classic bruised apples with some acetone as well. The mouth is quite dry and gripping. This drinks to paradigm yet is too evolved in the chemical direction, lacking the freshness of a new bottle of Lustau Manzanilla. Aged in Sanlucar de Barrameda 15% $12.59 at [...]

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Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Campo De Borja DO 2006 The previous vintage was like what it would be like to drink candy – supple and rich, sweet-appearing as well. The ‘06 is even more so with tons of oak on top. This is 100% Garnacha aged in new French and US oak. Don’t let the alcohol [...]

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Segura Viudas, Cava, Brut, Aria, Pinot Noir nv This seems a sweeter brut than many with some astringency – awkward. This is traditional method sparkling, fermented in the bottle opened and produced in Torrelavit 12% $7.49 at Bottle Barn

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Lustau, Jerez DO, Solera Reserva, Dry, Amontillado, Los Arcos nv
This wine is nutty and sweet smelling but beware it’s not sweet. In the mouth is a sense of toffee, peanut brittle and toasted almonds. This is the budget Amontillado from Lustau, not as concentrated as their Escuadrilla yet no slouch for the price. P&B in [...]

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Finca Sobreno, Toro DO, Crianza 2004 There is a rustic quality to the nose, combining earthiness and fruit on the ground. In the mouth this wine is a baby with ample tannin and a balance of acidity and extract – give this a good 4 years in the cellar. This wine is 100% Tempranillo and [...]

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Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Campo De Borja DO, veraton 2006 This wine exudes the sweet smell of oak with a hint of cedar. The mouth is soft and fruity, having a lusciousness that is true to the house style.This wine is 100% Garnacha. Winemaker Chris Ringland from Australia. Estate bottled in Bulbuente 15.5% $21.69 at Bottle [...]

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Martin Codax, Rioja DOC, ERGO, Tempranillo 2006 The Martin Codax brand has developed a solid reputation on in the northwester portion of the country in Galicia. With this wine from the Rioja, the brand is throwing its equity behind Spain’s most recognized wine region. The smell is a pretty combo of cedar and vanilla. The [...]

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Bodegas Martin Códax, Rias Baixas DO, Albariño 2007 In the nose there is a mix of herbaceous, green bean aromas and citrus fruits. The mouth shows the acidity and citrus that we associate with Albarino, albeit in a softer profile. Behind the scenes this might be explained by the 20% ML and 4 months of [...]

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Bodegas Borsao, Campo de Borja DO 2006 There’s cherry fruit and a sense of cherry pie leaping out of the glass. The mouth is full of juicy fruit in a a light-bodied, easy to drink format. This is certainly the last of the ‘06 as the ‘07 is on the market. The good news is [...]

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