Wine Regions & Grapes
Sampling of Wineries
Acorn Andrea Oberto Atlas Peak Benziger Beringer Blandy's Bodega Navarro Correas Burgans Cantina Terlano Chimney Rock Chronicle Domaine Carneros Domaine de la Mordoree Dow's Dr. Loosen Emilio Lustau Fonseca Foxen Gaston Riviere Glen Ellen Hess Collection Innocent Bystander Kendall-Jackson Korbel La Caudrina Luna Vineyards Madeira Wine Company Martin Codax Masi Merryvale Mulderbosch Navarro Vineyards Pahlmeyer Roederer Estate Ruggeri Sawyer Cellars Sbragia Six Sigma Winery St. James Steltzner Vineyards Trinchero Winery Trione V. Sattui Winery William Fevre Wilson Winery
Category Archives: Spain
Naia Verdejo 2008
Naia, Rueda, Verdejo 2008 Quite simply, this wine is delightfully refreshing, emphasizing fresh fruit and acidity. This is perhaps the 3rd or 4th vintage of the Naia Verdejo that I’ve tasted and the consistency is a hallmark – very nice. … Continue reading
Posted in Rueda, Spain, Verdejo
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Finca Sobreno Toro 2005
Finca Sobreno, Toro 2005 This vintage is a nice step up from the previous. The nose shows a mix of fresh and cooked red fruits, with a sweet overlay of vanilla. In the mouth it is approachable and oaky with … Continue reading
Posted in Spain, Tempranillo, Toro
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Vetus 2005
Vetus, Toro 2005 There’s a definite sense of Port in the nose, combining liqueur-like berry essence and a bit of spirit. In the mouth the berry flavors are vibrant yet this wine is still quite tight and would benefit from … Continue reading
Mas Doix Salanques 2006
Celler Mas Doix, Priorat, Salanques 2006 The nose greets you with a fair waft of oak, sweet with jammy fruit and brown spices. In the mouth this wine is dense yet supple, with ripe tannins and lots of jammy black … Continue reading
Posted in Carignane, Grenache, Priorat, Spain
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R. Lopez de Heredia Rioja 2003
R. Lopez de Heredia, Rioja, Crianza, Viña Cubillo 2003 The smell of this wine pulls me in – there’s a complex mix spices, leather, stewed cherries and raisins. In the mouth the acidity that I associate with Rioja is evident, … Continue reading
Alto Moncayo 2007
Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Campo De Borja 2007 This wine smells like dessert personified, with vanilla, cherries and pastry dough. In the mouth it is soft and fruity, quite rich and laden with oak, as it has been consistently over the … Continue reading
Bodegas Borsao Campo de Borja 2008
Bodegas Borsao, Campo de Borja DO 2008 As in the previous vintage, the fruit just leaps out of the glass and has a candy element to it with a bit of black pepper. This is exactly what I smelled the … Continue reading
Marques de Caceres Reserva 2002
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 … Continue reading
Lutsau Puerto Fino
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 … Continue reading
Cava
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 – … Continue reading
Posted in Chardonnay, Macabeo, Parellada, Penedes, Spain, Sparkling Dry, Xarel.lo
Tagged Gramona, Parxet
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Segura Viudas Aria Estate Brut
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 … Continue reading
Alto Moncayo veraton 2007
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% … Continue reading
Posted in Campo De Borja, Grenache, Spain
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Marques de Caceres Crianza 2005
Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Crianza 2005 Unfortunately the first bottle of this vintage tasted in November ’09 had a little cork taint which suppressed the nose and adding uncharacteristic astringency on the palate. The second bottle tasted in July 2010 … Continue reading
Posted in Rioja, Spain
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embruix de Vall Llach 2005
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Priorat, Spain, Syrah
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Caceres Reserva 2001
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
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Lustau PX
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 … Continue reading
Palacios Remondo La Vendimia 2007
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Grenache, Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
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Cims de Porrera Solanes 2004
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Carignane, Grenache, Priorat, Spain
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Pago de Carraovejas 2006
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Ribera del Duero, Spain, Tempranillo
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Muga Seleccion Especial 2004
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
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Palacios Remondo La Montesa 2005
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 … Continue reading
Posted in California, Grenache, Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
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Palacios Les Terrasses 2006
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. … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Grenache, Priorat, Spain
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Borsao seleccion 2007
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Campo De Borja, Grenache, Spain, Tempranillo
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Jordan de Asso Crianza 2005
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Aragon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carinena, Spain, Syrah, Tempranillo
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Artadi Vinas de Gain 2005
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
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Muga Reserva 2005
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Grenache, Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
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Borsao 2007
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, … Continue reading
Posted in Campo De Borja, Grenache, Spain, Tempranillo
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