Espana!

Ah, what wonderful tasting opportunities we've had lately, thanks in part to you, the reader. More and more restaurants in the Elm have been telling me they have heard their customers mention Elm City Wino. Thanks.

So I had the chance to sample a few Spaniards the other night. Allow me to share some of the highlights...

Nora De Neve 2005 ($$-$$$) was an awesome white from the Rias Biaxas region in northwest Spain. The area is known for it's autonomy, and this wine showcases this independent spirit. The use of oak with Albarino is usually shunned, as winemakers fear it will overpower the fruit. With the Nora de Neve, however, it works. The wine is light gold in color, with a nose of exotic citrus, peach, and a "toastiness" that probably comes from the French Allier oak (aged 7 mos.). With medium body and a taste of grapefruit and something I could only describe as "tree-bark", which gave it just enough bitterness to round out the wine. At a tasting with plenty of spit-buckets, this is one I didn't spit out. This wine is a MUST BUY.

Remelluri Rioja 2001 ($$-$$$) comes from the highest elevation in Rioja at bodega Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri. It is marked "Reserva" in Spain, but for some reason it does not in the states. The wine has a nose of tobacco and earth, with obvious notes of the oak (90% French, 10% American). The wine is full bodied and just a pleasure to drink. I also consider this wine a MUST BUY, especially for those of you with proper cellars, as the wine shows signs of "ageability" (still can't figure out the proper spelling for that word). The wine is predominantly Tempranillo, with Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo added for balance.

Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva 2003 ($$$-$$$$) was my favorite of the bunch. It comes from the traditional blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and 10% Mazuelo and Graciano. It has a bouquet of fresh, dark red fruit and cooking spices and wonderfully merged flavors of fruits and mineral. The fruit is complemented by French and American oak. If it can be found, it must be had.

Prado Enea Gran Reserva 1998 ($$$), another Rioja from Bodegas Muga came a close second in my list of favorites. The wine is a beautiful ruby red. The nose is quite interesting, with several different aromas all vying for recognition. Leather, gardensoil, berries, vanilla, and coconut are all present, and each pop up independently of each other. Leather, vanilla, and cinnamon are on the tongue with a silky smooth mouthfeel. The wine finishes with a small "injection" of acidity (hello, cellar-time). As I re-read my notes, I begin to wonder if this wine may have been my favorite instead.

Alonso Del Yerro 2004 ($$-$$$) is a Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero that is quickly achieving cult status. Stop reading now. Get out and buy this wine. It might be gone by the time you finish reading this post. Fellow wine-blogger WineCentric has a pretty good post on the Alonso del Yerro.

Cenit 2004 ($$$) has been a favorite of mine for a while. It is a Tempranillo from 80 to 100 year old vines from the Tierra de Zamorra region northwest of Madrid. It has an aroma of blackberries, blueberries, cooking spices, and something that can only be described as "No. 2 pencil" (woody, graphite). It is rich in body texture and taste, with a good acidity that shows cellar potential. This is a MUST BUY and will definitely be one of my top favorites of the year.
For those of us with tighter budgets, Vinas del Cenit also offers Venta Mazzaron ($-$$). The color of oxblood Doc Martens, it has a nose of blueberry, blackberry, mocha, and espresso. The Mazzaron tastes of dark fruits, that are "interrupted" by white pepper. It has a looooong finish that will give you time to think about how smart you are for finding this bottle for less than $20. An obvious MUST BUY.

Juan Gil has been mentioned before. That was the '04 vintage. Now we're on Juan Gil 2005 ($-$$). Wildflowers and big, red berries give way to sweet fruits balanced by oak and ginger.


All of these wines can be found at Barcelona (155 Temple St) or around the corner at Wine Thief.

Ole!