The Good Wine Guru » Spanish Wine

New Years Eve Bubbles Massacre

George — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:36:34 +0000

In a more perfect world I would have made some pointed and in-depth piece about what bottles of bubbles I was opening for the friends I was having over to my house on New Years Eve. We do not live in such a world. While I did come across tweets and pieces about people opening $100 bottles of sparkling wine and champagne, I just couldn’t justify that, in no small part because I knew exactly how the evening was going to descend (into a raucous good time).

I do, however, feel as though I owe it to the new year, and to the bottles that I opened, to show the bottles that I provided for the evening. Friends brought over others, but here’s a picture of the bottles that I provided for the festivities.

As you can see, the selection was on the whole rather affordable, with the most expensive one coming in at under $20, and most of them staying in the $10 range. New Years is certainly a time to celebrate, and this was certainly not some effort to only put out cheap wines since I had friends coming over, but was instead an effort to recognize what was about to happen at my house – a lot of drinking that most of us either wouldn’t remember or would rather forget the next morning. Also, the girls at the party spent the better part of the evening making bellinis using the bubbles, and I may have had a panic attack had they been doing so with $100 bottles of champagne, though the bottles of Barefoot that were sent to me as samples performed the task admirably and were a huge favorite with everybody.

I do hope that everybody had a safe and fun New Years and I look forward to another year of sharing my thoughts on wine with all of you that take the time to visit this site on a regular basis or even just once.

Thanksgiving 2011 Wine Selection

Martin Codax Albarino 2010

George — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:00:51 +0000

Varietal: 100% Albarino
Region: Rias Baixas – Spain
Cost: $15 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: A highly aromatic wine opening with a nose of tropical fruit and apple, along with a subtle herbal nuance. Led by pear and passion fruit notes, this dry, full-bodied wine boasts a fruit-forward profile, finishing with a round mouthfeel. Pairs well with seasonal shellfish and other seafood fare.

My Review: I had received this wine, along with a bottle of Torrontes, as samples for the holiday season, and as the bottle of Torrontes made its way up to Northern Virginia with me to my parents’ house for Thanksgiving, I’d been looking for a good opportunity to open this bottle. Finally one presented itself this past weekend.

I should start by saying that I probably picked the wrong food to pair this wine with. That being said, it performed admirably given the handicap I gave it. In the glass the wine was very light, nearly clear really, and on the nose I got light citrus and tropical fruit notes. In the mouth the citrus continued on and while I was expecting a hint of honey or other subtle sweetness at the end it never materialized…and that was ok.

My wife and I paired the wine with a dinner of her deconstructed chicken pot pie, and the nice acid, as compared to the subtle sweetness I was expecting, did a nice job of cutting through the creaminess of the food. Now, to be fair it still wasn’t the best pairing, and I enjoyed the wine more after the food was gone, but in a bad situation it did ok.

As a general rule I’m hit or miss on Albarino, and while I’d hesitate to call this a favorite, I did appreciate that it was something different from what I expected, and that’s often enough to give me a favorable opinion of a wine – doing something unexpected.

If you can’t find the 2010 Martin Codax Albarino in your local store (which shouldn’t be a problem), you can order it online by clicking on this link: http://www.winezap.com/search/searchResults.cfm?r=181364 .

Thanksgiving 2011 Wine Selection

George — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:00:59 +0000

There are a lot of different wine sites out there giving suggestions on what you should be pouring during your Thanksgiving festivities. Since, however, it’s been fairly well established what varietals go well with the traditional Thanksgiving feast, I thought I would change it up and let you know what I’m pouring at dinner, or rather, what I’m taking up to my parents house to pour for the army-sized feast my mother will be cooking.

2009 Coastal Vines Pinot Noir – Sonoma, CA – $10

I picked up a pair of these at my local Richmond wine shop since it would have been irresponsible of me to not show up with some Pinot Noir. While there are plenty of wine sites that will be recommending $30 and $40 bottles, I don’t see the reason to break the bank when there are perfectly serviceable bottles under $20. I’ve never had this one before, so it will be interesting to try it out on Thursday.

2010 Ponga Pinot Noir – New Zealand – $14

I’ve had other Ponga varietals before (namely Sauvignon Blanc), so I’m holding out high hopes for this being a good value wine that over-performs for the price.

2010 Alamos Torrontes – Argentina – $13 (SRP) *

Much like the Ponga, I’ve had other wines from Alamos, so I’ll be interested to try this one. For those unfamiliar with Torrontes, the best approximation I can give, and the comparison I usually use, is Viognier. Given that I live in Virginia, and that I’m not bringing any Viognier myself (sorry VA Wine Marketing Board), it seems appropriate to bring something similar.

2009 Steininger Gruner Veltliner – Austria – $25

A few months back I received a case of summer white wines to try out, and of those my favorite was a Gruner Veltliner. I found it to be light, minerally, and refreshing. Since Gewurztraminer is a popular choice for Thanksgiving, I wanted to mix it up and try something a bit different though similar. As I’ve only had one Gruner (that I remember), I’ll be interested to see if this one is as enjoyable to me as the other one.

Freixenet Cordon Rosado – Spain – $12 (SRP) *

Rose’ in general has been finding its way more and more into my wine selection, as have sparkling wines. It’s only natural that they should combine. A blend of Trepat and Garnacha grapes, this wine will probably be a good selection before and during the dinner. I may use this bottle as a way to entice my parent’s neighbors that pretty much only drink bubbles to come over for a drink at some point in the evening.

2011 Christmas at Biltmore – California – $12 (SRP) *

This one will most likely get brought out for dessert, as one of the suggested pairings is pumpkin pie. A blend of Gewurztraminer, Muscat Canelli, Chenin Blanc, and Riesling, this wine has 4% residual sugar, so it’s definitely going to need something to either cut or compliment the sweetness.

2008 Foris Gewurztraminer – Oregon – $15

Since I was grabbing some Pinot Noir to bring, I of course had to bring some Gewurztraminer as well. I’m always a bit gun-shy around this particular grape, so I had my guy at my local wine shop show me to his driest Gewurztraminer. Hoping that this will go well with the feast my mom puts out.

Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut – Spain – $18 (SRP) *

A blend of Pinot Noir and Trepat (85%/15%), it will probably be a coin flip to see if this or the other sparkling rose’ makes it to the dinner table and which one gets opened up early for cocktails before dinner. I’m leaning towards dinner with this one though.

2009 Montinore Estate Reserve Pinot Noir – Oregon – $21

My wife and I actually bought half a case of this wine thanks to enjoying a glass of it so much at our local Flemings while there for happy hour. Since it’s rude to not share, I grabbed a bottle of this to throw into the selection that we’re taking up to Norther Virginia with us.

Hopefully you’ll all enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner and I hope you all have a safe Thanksgiving and have safe travels. If you feel like sharing what you’re pouring I’d certainly be interested to hear it.

Wines marked with a (*) were received as samples.

Segura Viudas Aria Pinot Noir NV

George — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:00:58 +0000

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Spain
Cost: $13

Winemaker’s Notes: Pale, bright raspberry pink, with an abundant, uninhibited mousse. Intense raspberry aromas, backed by strawberry and aniseed, and a hint of cherry caramel. Red berry flavours dominate the palate, complemented by strawberry, touches of peach, watermelon, and lemon. There is a lovely minerality which adds to the complexity, and just a hint of sweetness which will increase its versatility in both food pairings and when it will be drunk.

My Review: My wife and I picked up this bottle at a local store after having dinner last week as the bottle looked interesting and we didn’t have any bubbles in the house, something we’re trying to do a better job of remedying. While neither of us was familiar with the maker, a Cava made with 100% Pinot Noir was intriguing so we bought and this past week, opened.

We both suspected the wine would be a rose’, but given the darkness of the bottle it wasn’t possible to know for certain until the first bit fell into the glasses. On the nose I got a the raspberry and strawberry, which I expected from a rose’. In the mouth I continued to get strawberry but it was more subtle. The actual bubbles were very small, to the point that once would almost think this a still wine that just happened to have a hint of effervescence to it.

We paired the wine with some seafood and while it wasn’t a bad pairing, I just honestly wasn’t a huge fan of this wine. There was nothing that was categorically “bad” about it, but I also know that for the price I can get a Cava that I will really enjoy, not one that’s just meh.

If you’re looking for a rose’ Cava to try out, I don’t think you’ll hate yourself for picking up this one, but neither do I feel like you’ll be missing anything if you pass it over in favor of another.

Montecillo Rioja Crianza 2007

George — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:00:28 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Rioja – Spain
Cost: $13

Winemaker’s Notes: Garnet red color with intense fruit aromas that pairs well with any meat dish.

My Review: I enjoyed the 2003 Montecillo Rioja Reserva so much that I didn’t want to wait too long before opening up this bottle. I’m glad I didn’t.

Since it was an absolutely gorgeous Monday here in Richmond, Virginia, my wife and I decided to grill out on the deck and enjoy the weather and some wine. I stopped by a local shop on my way home and picked up a New York Strip Steak and a Lobster tail – that’s right, we went surf n’ turf for dinner. The steak and lobster grilled, some risotto with parmesan cheese whipped up to go with it, and the bottle of wine opened and we were ready for dinner.

The wine was a nice dark garnet color in the glass – not as dark as the 2003 Reserva, but certainly not light by any stretch of the imagination. The aromas of fruit, noticeably plum and berry lead nicely into a wine that balanced good flavors of cherry and plum with a hint of cedar on the finish. Again, not as woody as the 2003, and in a blind tasting I think it would be easy to pick which wine was older, but not a wine that anybody would call fruity by any stretch.

Paired with the steak, lobster, and risotto, it was very enjoyable, and probably a better pairing than the Reserva would have been given the lobster’s more delicate nature. Even after the food was gone it was nice to sip on, with just enough fruit on the palate to make sure you didn’t have to demand food with it.

Of the two Montecillo wines I’ve had in the recent weeks, I’d have to say that the 2003 Reserva was my favorite. However, that is in no ways a condemnation of the 2007, and I would still recommend it, especially if you prefer a wine with a bit more fruit on it. If you can’t find the wine at your local store, you can follow this link and have some shipped to you directly.

Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2003

George — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:00:04 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Rioja – Spain
Cost: $18

Winemaker’s Notes: A deep red in color with bright flavors of ripe berries and oak that will pair with duck, any red meats, and roasted vegetables.

My Review: A few weeks ago a pair of bottles showed up to my office. Whereas most samples I get have at least some tasting notes, if not a letter from the winemaker/vineyard owner/head of marketing letting me know something about the wine that might not be in the tasting notes, the two bottles of Montecillo (one the 2003 Reserva, another to be reviewed later), had nothing. In fact I took a moment to look over the shipping label to make sure that they were in fact intended for me.

Knowing what I know now, I would have at least kept the 2003 Reserva anyways.

The 2003 Montecillo Rioja Reserva was a lovely dark red in the glass, with subtle and smooth aromas of berry and spice on the nose. In the mouth, bright berries were quickly tempered with a smooth oak finish that lent body to the wine and made it a great pairing for what may have been the most perfect steak I have ever cooked. I’m just saying.

I think it’s fair to say that over my last few years of writing this site I’ve made no secret of my continuing fondness for Spanish wines, and the 2003 Montecillo Rioja Reserva is just another example of why I enjoy them so much. If you’re looking for something to pair with your next steak dinner, I definitely recommend this wine both because of it being a good pairing, and for it being a good price. If you can’t find the wine near you, follow this link and have it shipped directly to you.

Campo Viejo Reserva 2006

George — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:00:53 +0000

Varietal: Rioja (85% Tempranillo; 10% Graciano; 5% Mazuelo)
Region: Spain – Rioja
Cost: $14 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: Wild cherry, pepper, and oak aromas with soft tannins that pair well with beef, lamb, grilled foods, and strong cheeses.

My Review: Anybody that’s been reading this site long enough knows that I’m a fan of Tempranillo and blends using it. Rioja was my first real introduction into Spanish wine, and I tend to hold a soft spot in my heart for the region because of that…also because they make good wines.

I’d received this bottle around the Super Bowl, and honestly it would have been a good bottle to open up with some meatballs or a good cheese platter had such a thing materialized, but with that game being shown in my house to a total of four people, my wife and I just couldn’t muster the energy to put out a big spread that didn’t involve some quickly made wings and beer.

However, last night we did open the bottle, though there were some hiccups along the way. Since one of the recommended pairings was grilled foods, and because I have a distinct lack of beef and lamb in my house at the moment, we decided to throw some herbs on some chicken and then throw said chickens on the grill. However, my grill was being tempramental and decided it didn’t really want to heat…so the chicken ended up going into the oven.

The wine itself was a medium-dark red color with just a hint of rust color that was really only visible when the wine was swirled in the glass. The aromas of cherry, pepper, and oak were very noticeable, as was a little smoke. In the mouth, the cherry flavors carried over in what could only be described as a bright wine. A hint of smoke on the finish, along with some nice soft tannins, would have made this a great wine to pair with any grilled meat coming off my grill. That being said, it was still more than enjoyable with the chicken out of the oven.

What I liked about this wine so much was that the bright flavors made it perfect for just enjoying by itself, but also lent it a versatility to be paired with a good range of foods. If you come across this bottle and are looking to try some Spanish wine, I would definitely recommend giving it a try, and if you can’t find it in your local store, you can just follow this link and have it sent right to you.

Lucky Duck Tempranillo

George — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:00:58 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Spain
Cost: $4

Dark garnet in color with aromas of berry and dark cherry. On the palate, dark cherry, spice, and bittersweet chocolate. Pairs well with grilled lamb, olives, and rich cheeses.

Recommendations: So I don’t remember where or when, but somewhere, on some blog or website, I had read about the Lucky Duck line of wines. Unfortunately I don’t remember what that blog/article/website said. So, when I came across the wines at my local Wal-Mart while poking around after buying new glasses (the eye kind, not the drinking kind), I knew that I was familiar with the wine’s name, but not much else. However, since I’m always looking for something new to try, I grabbed some.

The wine itself was a dark garnet color in the glass, and the aromas of dark cherry were pretty in your face. That cherry and some berry carried into the palate in what was a very bright, fruit forward wine, but also very clearly a Tempranillo. With a dinner of beef stew that the wife had been cooking all day it was a nice bright note against the heartiness of the meal.

Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that this is an amazing Tempranillo and that you simply must buy it. However, at $4 a bottle, it’s a noticeable step up from the usual cheap cabernet/shiraz/merlot table wines you usually find at your big box stores, with a selection that included a Malbec as well (that I will be reviewing at a later date). Is this wine even in my top 30 all time-time Tempranillos? No, of course not. Would I buy it again as an inexpensive wine to keep around as a slightly above average table wine? Sure.

If you’re looking for a quality Tempranillo that really shows off all that the grape has to offer, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a cheap bottle of wine that’s different than the usual varietals you see on the shelves, than you should absolutely give this one a whirl. I mean, what do you really have to lose beyond the four bucks?

Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut Cava

George — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:00:24 +0000

Varietal: 50% Macabeo; 35% Parellada; 15% Xarel-lo
Region: Spain
Cost: $10 (SRP)

Fresh, toasty nose with flavors of citrus, green apple, and mineral with a clean, crisp finish. Pairs well with caviar, sushi, seafood, fried foods, and Asian dishes.

Recommendations: This bottle showed up quite unexpectedly at my office one day, but once I opened the packaging, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to checking it out. This past Friday, after a long week, my wife and I decided it was time to toast the weekend and popped open the bottle.

The nose was very subtle, without the typical yeasty aroma I associate with sparkling wines, but I did get a hint of the toast and it was certainly a fresh, clean aroma. Mineral flavors were the most dominant on the palate, with citrus and green apple showing, but not dominating. The wine was crisp and the bubbles were small enough to make it easy to drink without feeling like you were drinking a soda.

We finished the wine with our dinner, a meal of oven baked chicken and a pasta side, and while it wasn’t a terrible pairing, I’d much rather have just enjoyed the wine by itself or with a plate of sushi or fried finger foods. Yes, this may actually be the perfect Super Bowl party wine – it pairs great with fried foods.

For the price, if you’re looking for a bottle of bubbles to open for New Years, you’d be hard pressed to find one that’s got this quality for the cost. I’d be lying if I said I was a connoisseur of sparkling wines, but I do know the difference between good and bad, and this was certainly good, and one I’d drink again and would recommend to anybody looking for a bottle of sparkling wine.

Biltmore Estate Blanc de Blancs Methode Champenoise – Brut 2007

Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo Cabernet 2009

George — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:00:18 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo (60%); Cabernet Sauvignon (40%)
Region: Spain
Cost: $10 (SRP)

Fruit aromas with flavors of raspberry, cherry, plum, and blackberry. Pairs well with grilled eggplant, grilled skirt steaks, vegetarian chili, pork, and tapas.

Recommendations: Last month I did a review of the 2009 Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo Shiraz, and while I enjoyed it, if push came to shove and I had to choose between the Shiraz blend and the Cabernet blend…I’d have to go with the Cabernet blend. The aromas of the wine were of berry, and based on the nose I was expecting a fairly fruit forward wine, but that’s not what I got.

Sure, there were flavors of berry, but there were also hints of chocolate and a smoothness to the wine that I found incredibly enjoyable. Paired with a dinner of pork tenderloin and risotto, this wine was a perfect compliment, and quite honestly was great just by itself. This may actually be one of the best value wines I’ve had in a while, and I definitely recommend trying it out if you come across a bottle of it.

While both Tempra Tantrum wines were good, my wife and I both agreed that the Tempranillo/Cabernet blend was our favorite and the one that we could see ourselves grabbing a case of to just have around the house for whatever. This is a great party wine as the flavors will fit with a range of foods and a range of palates. I absolutely say try out a bottle, and if you can’t find it near you at a store, you can find it online by going here. Give it a try and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.