by Ray Johnson | Oct 9, 2008 | Albariño, Galicia, Portugal, Rias Baixas, Spain, Vinho Verde
Fâmega Vinho Verde Denominação de Origem Controlada Vinho Branco 2007 This is a personal favorite for lean white wine on a budget. There’s citrus in the nose and the petillance is quite palpable on this date, adding to the livliness. Notes on the ’06:...
by Ray Johnson | Oct 1, 2008 | Campo De Borja, Grenache, Spain
Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Campo De Borja DO 2005 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...
by Ray Johnson | Sep 11, 2008 | Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo
Marques de Caceres, Rioja, Reserva DOC 2000 The house style is soft and oaky with an appropriate acidic frame. The 2000 at this stage, 8 years on smells delightful; there’s sweet vanilla, earth and some stewed, evolving fruit and veg. The acid shows nicely, the...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 15, 2008 | Cava, Italy, Prosecco, Spain, Sparkling Lightly Sweet, Veneto
Cristalino, Cava, Extra Dry nv This wine isn’t amazing but it has a hint of RS, it truly is methode champenoise and it’s cheap. The grapes are Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo, traditionally grown in the Penedes for Cava. Produced by Jaume Serra in Vilanova...
by Ray Johnson | Jul 1, 2008 | California, Sardon de Duero, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, Spain
Abadia Retuerta, Sardón de Duero, Seleccion Especial 2004 Herbaceous notes like in Cab Franc in the nose. The mouth is full-bodied with acid and ripe tannins at the time of the original post with an oaky backcurrent. A year later the tannins are drying out and...
by Ray Johnson | Jun 27, 2008 | Andalucia, Jerez, Palomino, Sherry, Spain
Lustau, Sherry, Denominaciónes de Origen, Solera Reserva, Rare Cream nv This is a step up from Lustau’s Deluxe Cream Sherry and cries out for a fireplace after dinner. There’s tons of complexity to this wine, the sort of experience for the nose that you...
