by Ray Johnson | Apr 8, 2009 | Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
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...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 8, 2009 | Grenache, Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
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...
by Ray Johnson | Apr 8, 2009 | Campo De Borja, Grenache, Spain, Tempranillo
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...
by Ray Johnson | Mar 13, 2009 | Manzanilla, Sherry, Spain
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...
by Ray Johnson | Jan 20, 2009 | Campo De Borja, Grenache, Spain
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....
by Ray Johnson | Dec 12, 2008 | Cava, Pinot Noir, Spain, Sparkling Dry
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
