This is a high quality Rioja Reserva from Remelluri. It opens to aromas of game, sweet red fruits and cedar. The palate is medium bodied with mid weight tannins. Its principal feature is its saturated red fruit character interlaced with chocolate. Long length on the finish confirms this to be a very good wine that…Continue readingRemelluri Reserva Rioja 2012
From Alicante in the south of Spain, this is a full bodied, spicey and edgeless blend. The grape varieties are monastrell (mouvèrdre), syrah, alicante bouschét (a red variety that also unusually has red flesh) and giró (a red variety found in Spain and Sardinia). This pleasant wine is ready to drink now. Rating: Good. Website:…Continue readingPepe Mendoza Casa Agricola Alicante 2018
From Rias Baixas in Spain, this proves quite a typical expression of white variety albariño. If you are less familiar with albariño (little is grown in Australia – please chime in if you’ve found a good one), the style of these wines is typically towards full bodied, with high acidity and a saline overlay. An…Continue readingValminor Albariño Rias Baixas 2017
From the Toro region in Spain, this is a more full throttle expression of tempranillo, more akin to a Ribera del Duero or Valencia than a Rioja in terms of style. Its aroma reminds of plum syrup and cooked blueberries. The palate is dry and full bodied, with sweet ripe fruit, soft tannins and, distinguishing…Continue readingTelmo Rodriguez Dehesa Gago 2018
Mesta Verdejo 2018 Wine ReviewContinue readingMesta Verdejo 2018
Rosé is just right for these hot summer days. Here’s another one, this time a blend of garnacha (aka grenache) (70%) and viura (a white wine grape commonly known as macabeo outside of Rioja) (30%). This rosé is an easy to appreciate with a full bodied and dry expression of strawberries, some refreshing acidity and…Continue readingConde Valdemar Rioja Rosé 2018
First post for the new year! I’ve been tasting a battery of different styles in preparation for the Master of Wine exams, and will now up the posting. This is a sound tempranillo from producer Bodegas Valparaiso and the Ribera del Duero appellation. Deeply coloured in the glass, its aroma is restrained and savoury, reminding…Continue readingFinca el Encinal Ribera del Duero Roble 2016
There’s a lot of value to be had in red Rioja. This Rioja crianza is 8 years old and an 80/20 blend of tempranillo and graciano. It saw 18 months in barrel and is from an organic vineyard. In the glass, there are aromas of game, cedar, leather, spice and red fruits. The tannins are…Continue readingViñedos Real Rubio Crianza Rioja 2010
A second Spanish wine review, also from the same producer. I wasn’t initially entirely taken by this wine – a Rioja Reserva. That said, drinking it now a couple of days after opening, I am enjoying it. For this reason, I would suggest a long decant. It has a caramel and cedar driven nose, with…Continue readingHerederos del Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva 2013
This wine is from Rueda in Spain, and the grape variety is verdejo. Not verdelho, which for the English speaker, is close enough to be confusing. In the glass, this is a lovely wine, with saline aromatics that remind of florals and stones. The palate is fuller bodied with soft but still fresh acidity, and…Continue readingHerederos del Marqués de Riscal Rueda 2016
This is an enjoyable albariño from Pazo Barrantes in Rias Baixas. Neither the name of this appellation (Rias Baixas) nor even the grape variety are particularly accessible to the English speaker, but the wine style is fresh, saline and worth seeking out. Yellow gold in the glass, the 2016 vintage has aromas of minerals, stones…Continue readingPazo Barrantes Rias Baixas Albariño 2016
A by the glass purchase. Since my encounter with this Palacios wine from Bierzo (see here), I have taken the charms of mencia more seriously. Ribeira Sacra is its own appellation and specialises in reds, and mencia in particular. Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra are neighbouring regions in Galicia in the wet north western part of…Continue readingD Ventura Vina do Burato Ribeira Sacra 2012