Tag Archives: Spain

by

2013 Buenas Tempranillo, Cosecheros y Criadores

Road wine, this 2013 Buenas Tempranillo, and one that I had over the last several nights while fighting off the influences of Old Man Winter. All week we’ve been saddled with 20-degree temperatures, and no amount of gloves, hats, and scarves can keep you as warm as a good bottle of wine.

2013 Buenas Tempranillo, Cosecheros y Criadores

2013 Buenas Tempranillo, Cosecheros y Criadores, Spain.

The simple math? Yes, “buenas” means the beginning of an enjoyable evening between family and friends, as the winemakers Cosecheros y Criadores will tell you. And no, none of that happened on this occasion. I’m flying solo, and didn’t have this Tempranillo with even a hint of real adult food so no pairing recommendations for you readers.

That being said, this 2013 wasn’t all bad for a bargain Spanish red. A little underdeveloped in taste, and I’m quite certain I didn’t let it breathe sufficiently. There is definitely some cherry, a light sprinkling of spices, and a slightly tannic finish to this wine.

I won’t be purchasing another of the 2013 Buenas Tempranillo but mention my appreciation to Cosecheros y Criadores for making sure I stayed warm during this busy week of travel.

by

2005 Bodega Classica Hacienda Lopez de Haro Reserva

The 2005 Bodega Classica Hacienda Lopez de Haro Reserva kicked off our “after party” last night, a rich red Rioja that carried notes of chocolate, leather, and spice from the first taste to the last of the bottle. This bottle continued a fun evening, one that started with a fantastic crostata (prosciutto and cheese with roasted red peppers!) and a great production of A Christmas Carol. A few random Dickens facts conveyed by our playbills:

  • Christmas was not always a day off for workers; Scrooge’s question to Crachit, “You’ll want the whole day off tomorrow, I suppose?” helped create this expectation for us all.
  • The first commercially produced Christmas cards were printed in 1843, the same year Charles Dicken’s novel was published.
  • There is no Christmas tree in A Christmas Carol, and his characters do not exchange gifts–a tradition usually reserved for New Year’s Day celebrations in that day.
  • In the early 1800s (and thanks in part to the Puritans), Christmas was celebrated more like Halloween is today–as a time for merriment and feasting.
2005 Bodega Classica Hacienda Lopez de Haro Reserva

2005 Bodega Classica Hacienda Lopez de Haro Reserva, Rioja, Spain

Okay, now back to the vino. This 2005 is a red blend of 90% Tempranillo, and 5% Graciano and 5% Garnacha and hails from Bodega Classica. The winery is located in San Vincente de la Sonsierra (on the south of the Cantabrian Mountain Range and the Tolono mountains) and irrigated by the River Ebro. With good rainfall during the winter, protection from the wind and humidity, and excellent “calcareous clay” soil, Sonsierra seems particularly conducive to growing Tempranillo. Bodega Classica ages their 2005 Hacienda Lopez de Haro Reserva for 20 months in French and American oak. The product of this care? An aromatic, full red that is nearly chewy on the palate.

I could see this as a great accompaniment for cheeses, for a black-and-blue burger, or perhaps a cracked pepper accent on a grilled chicken salad or steak. It stands on some big legs. If you’re after some experts’ thoughts, allow me to present tasting notes from Parker’s Wine Advocate:

“It has a beautiful, rounded, sensual bouquet with hints of over-ripe Satsuma and gravel. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of piquancy on the entry. It has crisp acidity and taut tannins on the dry, dusky finish but it remains extremely well-focused.”

It’s been some time since we covered a 2005 in Notes and glad to share on this occasion! Holiday fun to be sure.

by

2014 Orquestra Cabernet Sauvignon

In-flight beverage, this 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain. After sitting on the tarmac for more than an hour, I was grateful for any beverage and this dark red rang that bell.

Since I’ll fly American on several more trips before year’s end I’ll be sure to include additional notes next time. For now, I’ll say simply that the dark fruits come together effectively and leave a pleasant mouthfeel. Nice long finish, too.

Last note on this tasting: these grapes are grown at an altitude of 700 meters in the Castile La Mancha region where rainfall is scarce.

by

Pico Cuadro Original 2010

In this Spanish red you have an amazing confluence of tastes, and I noticed it best earlier this week when I uncorked the Pico Cuadro Original 2010 the night after a pedestrian Cabernet Sauvignon from California. I thought the Cab was pretty good until this gem splashed my glass on the next night, and I realized there is such a clear difference between the quality of the two bottles. You’ve got amazing dark fruits in the Cuadro, and some crazy graphite…maybe mocha?…or something lurking back in the shadows. This wine earns great points for not only its subtle underpinnings but also the bold fruits that are front and center.

Pico Cuadro Original 2010, Ribera del Duero, Spain.

Pico Cuadro Original 2010, Ribera del Duero, Spain.

We had the Pico alongside filet mignon, a great and rare treat, and flamed up the steaks just right (yes the extra kiss of heat was perfect). They had been prepared with the last of a homemade salt and seasoning rub, and soaked up the herbs perfectly. You wanted to slurp all the salty goodness out of each bite, to roll it around on your palate, and then wash it down richly with a mouthful of this well-structured red wine. A spot of burnt butter asparagus and mashed potatoes made the meal complete.

“This Ribera del Duero is sourced from a single vineyard of 100% Tempranillo vines with 80+ years of age. The wine is all about precision, with clean and distinct aromas of blackberry, raspberry, violet, cinnamon, and leather along with notes of black licorice.” Others offered, “…offering concentrated boysenberry and cherry cola flavors lifted by zesty acidity.” Sounds great, right? That’s the profile that enticed me to buy this one too. I’m always going to remember the Cuadro–as much for these unbelievable tastes as for the memories it will always stir.

by

2012 Ergo, Martín Códax Rioja

Just finishing an enjoyable glass of 2012 Ergo, a last cocktail for the weekend. Fitting, perhaps, as the Ergo also ushered in our Friday evening. Like a few other youthful wines we’ve had of late, the Ergo smelled tart at first…an acidic sharpness that was not actually present in the drink itself.

2011 Ergo, Martín Códax, Rioja, Spain.

2011 Ergo, Martín Códax, Rioja, Spain.

My wife picked this wine out, possibly to accompany a Mexican chicken soup that we had earlier in the week (at which time I opted to finish an open Pinot instead), and had the same vibe as to the Ergo’s tart notes. You can also smell dark cherry and maybe just a hint of pepper in this mix of Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes?

I liked it very much. You think you’ll have a tough finish when you get a whiff of this wine’s acidity, but it’s much smoother and lighter. At the same time, it was able to muscle up nicely to thin grilled steaks–which featured a new spice rub that is still much the topic of debate in our house. (We are not sure if the rub worked or not.)

My initials jump right off the label, so I knew I was going to be a fan from the start. I have no decent photo to share this evening…at least of the 2012 Ergo. Give this wine a shot and taste for yourself.

by

2011 Bodegas Avanthia Godello

Dinner with clients and educators in the Windy City as we prepare to lead an all-day training course tomorrow at the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago. Yes that is a fantastic tuna tartar, mushrooms, and a smear of something creamy–squash? potato?–on my plate. I’m not sure in hindsight but know I absolutely crushed it like a viking and left only the faintest hint of dressing on my plate. Old friends and new spent a few relaxing hours together at this restaurant…

2011 Bodegas Avanthia Godello, Galicia, Spain.

2011 Bodegas Avanthia Godello, Galicia, Spain.

…As an accompanying beverage, we selected the 2011 Avanthia Godello–my first of this varietal. It’s been rated well by experts, but we were the most important critics on this particular evening. This Godello, which is aged in French Oak barrels for seven months, did not disappoint in the slightest.

Located in the mountains of Spain next to El Barco de Valdeorras in the province of Galicia, this winery brings a bright, minerally white to the table in the 2011 Acanthi Godello. I know that you often hear the wine bourgeois talk about “terroir” when referring to grapes, and this is one of those occasions when I agree with them. You can almost picture the soil where these grapes were growing as you sip contentedly. The vines were planted in 1975 nearly 1,500 feet above sea level in soil consisting of slate and quartz.

According to the winemaker, “The 35-year-old vines are grafted from the gnarled 300-year-old Godello vine planted by monks but now resides in the courtyard of the present-day winery.” Sounds cool, doesn’t it? The wine steward was very happy with our choice when we selected this 2011 Avanthia, and I was too when having it with my tuna dinner. Fun to research, and even more enjoyable to drink.

Image by

The Ones That Got Away – Winter 2015 Sampler

NotesOfNote

2012 Biltmore Estate Merlot Limited Release, North Carolina, USA; 2013 Relax Riesling, Schmitt Sohne GmbH, Germany; 2007 Virgen de Aguila Artigazo, Edicion Limitada, Carinena, Spain; 2013 Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA; 2012 Red Blend, Bell Canyon Napa Reserve, Napa Valley, California, USA; 2012 Buena Vista Pinot Noir Private Reserve, Sonoma Valley, California, USA.

by

2007 Virgen del Aguila Artigazo, Edicion Limitada

Excited for this big Spanish red blend from the moment I first ordered it, and it hit every quality mark I hold dear for red wine. Big, dark fruit evident right from the first pour? Check. Well-balanced finish? Yes. Good spice or earthy undertone? Yup. Great taste? Most importantly, yes.

2007 Artigazo, Edicion Limitada, Carinena, Spain. NotesOfNote.

2007 Artigazo, Edicion Limitada, Carinena, Spain.

I did conduct a brief advance screening of the 2007 Artigazo last evening just to see if it warranted consideration for a Friday night feature. As a result, I knew that by the time I revisited today after the long work week we were already in good hands. Tonight the Artigazo accompanied a pepperoni pizza with just a bit of red pepper flakes added to the slices as an accent. You can bet it would perfectly complement grilled steaks, or perhaps some excellent barbecued pork, and I’ll look forward to that in the future since we have a couple more of these still to go.

My wife and I both noted the fruit-forward notes of the Artigazo right in the glass; it hits your nose even before its juicy blueberry/plummy goodness reaches your lips. Really a mouth-watering taste, and one that seems to fold in some spices as just a subtle accent or two. The 2007 Limited Edition is a blend of Garnacha (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), and Syrah (30%), and I’m betting its the latter that throws the spice profile into the final product. Admittedly I’m a growing fan of the Syrah and that may bias me toward the 2007 Artigazo…but if you are too you really can’t go wrong with this excellent Spanish red.

T