Wines of Spain

[Leslie]

Last night a friend and I attended a wine tasting in mid-town Manhattan. The wines featured for the evening were wines of Spain along with samples of cheese and tapas from the region. The place where it was held has events like this every other Tuesday I believe. If anyone would like more info, just let me know and I'd be happy to share.
Forgive me for not giving ratings on every wine, you'll see with the amount I tasted and the fact that I was writing with one of those little pencils on my hand why it was a bit difficult.

Winery, wine, region, red or white if I can remember

Table A

Carchelo Mourvedre Tinto, Jumilla - Red
Berberana Crianza, Rioja - Red
Berberana Reservaa, Rioja - Red
Marques de Grindon Gran Reserva, Rioja
Lusco Albarino, Rias Biaxas - I enjoyed this one.
Martinsancho Verdejo, Rueda - white, tasted almost creamy
Bodegas Toro Albala "Don Pedro Ximenez" 2000, Andalucia ***
Bodegas Toro Albala "Don Pedro Ximenez" 1975 Personal Collection, Andalucia ***

Table B

Baron De Ona Reserva, Rioja - Red **
Vega Sicillia "Valbuena", Ribera Del Duero (approx $100/bottle)
Marques de Riscal Sauvignon Blanc, Rioja
Marques de Riscal Blanco, Rueda **
La Rioja Alta Reserva "Alberdi", Rioja - this was a very cozy wine, winter evening by the fire ***
Lagar de Cervara Albarino, Rias Biaxas - white **
Hacienda Monasterio, Ribera del Duero - a very BOLD red **
Belondrade Y Lurton Verdejo, Rueda Blanco - white (approx $30/bottle)

Table C

Vina Leirina, Ribeiro - white - did not like at all.
Gran Lierina Special Selection - white - was not that special to me.
Pazo Tinto, Ribeiro - Red, seriously it tasted like lettuce to me, plain lettuce.
Pazo Blanco, Ribeiro about $7.99 a bottle and its a WINNER ***
Cava Masachs Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine, Penedes - not a major fan of Sparkling wines or champangne - it was okay.
Cava Masachs Brut NV Sparkling Wine, Penedes - prefered this one over the previous.
Masachs Chardonnay, Penedes - liked this one alot **
Masachs Merlot, Penedes - red, not a bad wine, good with a burger.

Table D

Juve Y Camps Brut NV Spakling Wine, Penedes
Fontal Roble, La Mancha - Red, had a nice bite to it.
Castillo Monjardin Unoaked Chardonnay, Navarra - white, very clean, crisp, nice ending.
Castillo Monjardin "Deyo" Merlot, Navarra - a heavy merlot.
Vina Clavidor Tinta Fina, Rueda - Red, even heavier than the previous.
Senorio de Cuzcurrita, Rioja - Red I enjoyed this one, smooth. **
Convento San Francisco Crianza, Ribera Del Duero - red, again another wine I enjoyed.


Please don't read too much into the stars or what little descriptions I gave. It's all according to what I like and my palate is still evolving as far as learning about wines and understanding all the complexities that some of them have.

I hope some of you get a chance to try one or two. I don't know that all wines are available in all areas and you may want to check online also.

Enjoy!

[Elbert Phillips]

If you fancy spanish reds, I highly recommend Protocolo (medium bodied red)-it's a blend of several grapes so don't frown when you see the words: table wine on the label. Union Square Wine may have it. Remelluri rioja (big body, mineral, some fruit) is another favorite of mine, Protocolo being the least expensive of the two. Taste on!
;)

[ September 24, 2003, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: EL ]

[TAC]

Mucous Grachias (I Think that's the way its spelled).

Leslie coming through big time.

[domodisco]

Ahhh - Spanish wines. One of my favorite topics!

I recommend

Vina Alarba - 100% Grenache. Great fruit & medium body with a smooth finish, and only $6-$7

I second the above rave for Protocolo.

Borsao - either their Tempranillo or their Grenache. Amazingly good wines for around $8-$10

Coto de Imaz Rioja
Marquez Caceres Rioja
Any wines from Albarina or Ribiero

[Gojay]

Originally posted by Leslie:
Last night a friend and I attended a wine tasting in mid-town Manhattan. The wines featured for the evening were wines of Spain along with samples of cheese and tapas from the region. The place where it was held has events like this every other Tuesday I believe. If anyone would like more info, just let me know and I'd be happy to share.
Forgive me for not giving ratings on every wine, you'll see with the amount I tasted and the fact that I was writing with one of those little pencils on my hand why it was a bit difficult.

Winery, wine, region, red or white if I can remember

Table A

Carchelo Mourvedre Tinto, Jumilla - Red
Berberana Crianza, Rioja - Red
Berberana Reservaa, Rioja - Red
Marques de Grindon Gran Reserva, Rioja
Lusco Albarino, Rias Biaxas - I enjoyed this one.
Martinsancho Verdejo, Rueda - white, tasted almost creamy
Bodegas Toro Albala "Don Pedro Ximenez" 2000, Andalucia ***
Bodegas Toro Albala "Don Pedro Ximenez" 1975 Personal Collection, Andalucia ***

Table B

Baron De Ona Reserva, Rioja - Red **
Vega Sicillia "Valbuena", Ribera Del Duero (approx $100/bottle)
Marques de Riscal Sauvignon Blanc, Rioja
Marques de Riscal Blanco, Rueda **
La Rioja Alta Reserva "Alberdi", Rioja - this was a very cozy wine, winter evening by the fire ***
Lagar de Cervara Albarino, Rias Biaxas - white **
Hacienda Monasterio, Ribera del Duero - a very BOLD red **
Belondrade Y Lurton Verdejo, Rueda Blanco - white (approx $30/bottle)

Table C

Vina Leirina, Ribeiro - white - did not like at all.
Gran Lierina Special Selection - white - was not that special to me.
Pazo Tinto, Ribeiro - Red, seriously it tasted like lettuce to me, plain lettuce.
Pazo Blanco, Ribeiro about $7.99 a bottle and its a WINNER ***
Cava Masachs Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine, Penedes - not a major fan of Sparkling wines or champangne - it was okay.
Cava Masachs Brut NV Sparkling Wine, Penedes - prefered this one over the previous.
Masachs Chardonnay, Penedes - liked this one alot **
Masachs Merlot, Penedes - red, not a bad wine, good with a burger.

Table D

Juve Y Camps Brut NV Spakling Wine, Penedes
Fontal Roble, La Mancha - Red, had a nice bite to it.
Castillo Monjardin Unoaked Chardonnay, Navarra - white, very clean, crisp, nice ending.
Castillo Monjardin "Deyo" Merlot, Navarra - a heavy merlot.
Vina Clavidor Tinta Fina, Rueda - Red, even heavier than the previous.
Senorio de Cuzcurrita, Rioja - Red I enjoyed this one, smooth. **
Convento San Francisco Crianza, Ribera Del Duero - red, again another wine I enjoyed.


Please don't read too much into the stars or what little descriptions I gave. It's all according to what I like and my palate is still evolving as far as learning about wines and understanding all the complexities that some of them have.

I hope some of you get a chance to try one or two. I don't know that all wines are available in all areas and you may want to check online also.

Enjoy! Wondering how after all that, you still remebered the table letters?

graemlins/all_coholic.gif

peace,
gojay

[Leslie]

Marquez Caceres Rioja - yes a favorite of mine, a friend brought me a bottle when she first came to visit in my new home.

Gojay - I was assisted by the pamphlet everyone received last night, there was no way I could remember even a quarter of what I tasted.

[Elbert Phillips]

Originally posted by domodisco:
I second the above rave for Protocolo.

A buddy and I split a case about five years ago, broke my last bottle by accident-DAMN! I can remember corking a bottle for any reason-friends stopping over, mid-week, dates (who didn't appreciate it), making a tape-whatever. Tried Remelluri back in '97 at a tasting. Generally, I spit out samples and go down the line but, I remember going back to Remelluri after my first try! Are you into cellaring, drinking now or both?

[ September 24, 2003, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: EL ]

[domodisco]

Originally posted by EL:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by domodisco:
I second the above rave for Protocolo.

A buddy and I split a case about five years ago, broke my last bottle by accident-DAMN! I can remember corking a bottle for any reason-friends stopping over, mid-week, dates (who didn't appreciate it), making a tape-whatever. Tried Remelluri back in '97 at a tasting. Generally, I spit out samples and go down the line but, I remember going back to Remelluri after my first try! Are you into cellaring, drinking now or both? </font>[/QUOTE]Drinking now, defintely. I can see myself starting a cellar, but not till i gots more money!!

[nev m]

What a Superb reveiw. There's some really good cheap Spanish wines too. Don Darius for example. A good red for just "slurping".

[Bill Blake]

I hate you