by Ray Johnson | Jul 21, 2010 | Carignane, Grenache, Priorat, Spain
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 fruit – quite yummy. The Salanques estate sits at...
by Ray Johnson | Jun 28, 2010 | Albariño, Galicia, Rias Baixas, Spain
Martin Codax, Rias Baixas, Albarino 2009 The nose features hay and lime with a hint of roses. In the mouth it is clean and crisp, sporting minerality combined with citrus. This vintage captures the crisp and refreshing character that I associate with the best wines of...
by Ray Johnson | May 7, 2010 | Grenache, Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
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, making this wine ready to pair...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 21, 2010 | Campo De Borja, Grenache, Spain
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 vintages – a real crowd pleaser....
by Ray Johnson | Apr 21, 2010 | Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain
Burgáns (Bodegas Martin Códax) Rias Baixas, Burgáns, Albariño 2008 The nose features sweet floral notes while the mouth shows us citrus, lots of acidity and a creamy texture. The grapes are grown on fertile soils overtop granite and schist. The wine sees no oak, only...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 19, 2010 | Campo De Borja, Grenache, Spain, Tempranillo
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 last time around. In the mouth this wine is light-bodied, tasting of...