Tag Archives: Spain

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2008 Ondarre Reserva Rioja

My brother has good taste in wine, though he’s perhaps less interested than I in breaking down all the specific flavors a given bottle may convey to its consumer. This Tempranillo from Spain’s Rioja region is a good example–a bright, fruity red that finishes easy and comfortably for your Saturday night dinner. He picked it because it sounded good, I’m sure; I’m describing it here on Notes because he was right.

2008 Ondarre Reserva Rioja, Spain.

2008 Ondarre Reserva Rioja, Spain.

So what steak, what beef did we consume with the 2008 Ondarre Reserva Rioja? We actually cut against the grain and, after sampling it first during hors de oeuvres, continued on with it for our main course. Mom pulled out a gem of a shrimp dish that included butter, olive oil, lemon zest, garlic, red pepper flakes (some welcome heat!), and fresh minced rosemary. The kitchen smelled fantastic at this point, and the entire dish was roasted in the oven beside slides of lemon and ultimately finished with salt, pepper, and squeezed lemon juice.

All that goodness we ate with a side of cous cous and peas, plus the Ondarre. The red didn’t quite blend with the sauce on the shellfish but both the wine and the shrimp entre stood loud and proud by itself. Bearing the Reserva title from the Rioja region, we know that the grapes were oak aged for at least three years. With three of us drinking this wine for the evening, it did not age long in our glasses–a good thing.

This wine is solid. It can serve as the foundation for a good evening of wine drinking and certainly for smiles among family members enjoying a visit at Christmas. May yours be merry and bright…and thanks Steve for the nice contribution!

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2010 Marques de Caceres Rioja Crianza Red

The Marques de Caceres was introduced to me some time ago by great friends, friends with a penchant for amazing food and great fondness for Spanish reds. They love the Riojas and served us a 2008 at their house in Raleigh; this 2010 we opened at our place to help usher in some Christmas merriment.

2010 Marques de Caceres Crianza Red, Rioja, Spain.

2010 Marques de Caceres Crianza Red, Rioja, Spain.

Like the 2008, this 2010 Crianza is deep ruby red and packs in a hearty berry burst that you’ll really enjoy if you like reds even a little. There’s some cherry here, or maybe even red raspberry flavor, but the truth is you really won’t much care. This one is not about the notes as much as the emotional response it will create for you. It’s delicious, easy to drink, and sure to cheer up the occasion you’ve decided to celebrate with this fruity Spanish gem.

Forgive the brevity of this particular entry; I’ve offered all the praise that I can for both this vintage and the 2008 Marques de Caceres. Pick one up today and start enjoying for yourself.

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2012 Penascal Estate Tempranillo

Okay, the conditions for this Penascal are not ideal but hopefully give you an interesting read nevertheless. I’m on the road for work, hoteled tonight and making my way through the remainder of this 2012 Tempranillo from Penascal Estate. I picked it up after a long day at a Javits Center trade show, popping into a little bodega off 11th Avenue in search of some interesting bottle. I’m as non-judgmental as anyone, but it says something about your wine evening when the big requirement isn’t a region, a vintage, or a grape but rather a twist top.

2012 Penascal Estate Tempranillo, Castilla y Leon, Spain.

2012 Penascal Estate Tempranillo, Castilla y Leon, Spain.

But y’know what? This warm red is pretty welcoming, if not extravagant. The Penascal has a nice foundation of red fruit and has a little spice undertone as well. I’m drinking it out of a stupid paper cup, and it’s so red, so deep and inky red, that it almost looks black. This Tempranillo has an easy, tannin-free finish that is ingratiating and smooth on the tongue.

Already I’ve forgotten what the wine accompanied over the last couple evenings. Tonight, however, I had the 2012 Tempranillo with a simple salad, mixed greens with crumbles of baked ham, turkey, egg, tomato, and a few black olives. This meal is not that glamorous, but it is probably healthier, even with some light buttermilk ranch sprinkled about, than other options I had wrestled with this evening.

The Dallas Cowboys are on the radio, and I’m looking forward to the trip back home. One more night before heading out of the tri-state area…but one that’s better than expected thanks to the 2012 Penascal Estate Tempranillo.

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Summer Reds

The summer is nearing its end, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t share several reds that we sampled along the way. Some scored high marks (like the Atilla’s Selection from Buena Vista); others like the Toro or Navardia will probably fall into the “been there done that” camp. The real fun is in discovering which is which. Here’s a fly-by for your consideration:

2013 Toro Tempranillo, Spain.
2012 Buena Vista Atilla’s Selection Zinfandel, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA.
2011 Insomnia Red Wine Blend, California, USA.
2012 Navardia, Rioja, Spain.
2012 Cruz Alba Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina.
2011 Mannara Primitivo, Puglia, Italy.
2010 Solanera, vinas viejas, Yecla, Spain.
2011 Cairanne La Cigalette, Rhone Villages, France.
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2009 Ares Crianza, Rioja, Spain

Our local wine store was bringing all their Spanish wines to the mat, and in our last visit we grabbed several new reds that are now making their way to our humble table. A recent Tempranillo I’ve put off summarizing because it was largely forgettable, but this one is 180 degrees in the other direction. The 2009 Ares Crianza is a gem; it’s packed with a fruity, mossy scent and filled with both weight and substance.

Keeping my glass filled all night was a challenge, and regrettably I took no photo of this bottle as it was less and less full over the course of the evening. The 2009 Ares complimented juicy filet mignon, baked potato–pre-slashed and in need of only a sprinkle of salt–and a delicious pile of expertly cooked asparagus.  This guy drank his grapes from a Pinot Noir glass, and the Tempranillo showed off its muscle even in this crystal cage. Deep purple, damp, earnest, and lip-smacking–the Ares (my astrological sign) will be easy to remember.

I’ve learned that Rioja–which this wine is–is a term used to describe several red blends from Rioja. Tempranillo is at the heart of many of these blends, but Grenache and Carigan often play a role in a Rioja as well. But the 2009 Ares Crianza is supposed to be 100% Tempranillo, aged for 12 months in French oak, so Rioja must mean more than just Spanish red blends. Call it what you will, this one was fun and earned a place on our dinner table again in the future.

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2012 Rio Madre Rioja Graciano

For a Friday evening meal, there’s little that I enjoy more than this classic ritual: glass of interesting red (okay, maybe glasses), delicious steak from the grill, and crispy salad. Throw in a potato of some kind–it was roasted potato tonight–and you’ve got yourself a veritable feast.

And on this particular Friday, the part of the red was played by the 2012 Rio Madre Rioja Graciano. I don’t remember where we got this red, luscious beauty but it was a good one. Rich, deep red in the glass, and lots of cherry in the taste. Do you get a hint of spice or something in the finish? I can’t place it but pretty sure it’s there and you’ll know it when you taste it too.

I am positive the 2012 Rio Madre Rioja Graciano is my first sampling of a Graciano grape, and it was a great experience. This Graciano is aged for 11 months in French oak, by the way, and that’s probably where some of its subtle flavors are engendered. If the other Rioja wines are as good, then I’ll have something beyond Tempranillo to look forward to from Spain. Some reviewers advocated opening this and allowing it to breath for a full year; it may have set for a mere hour (or less) in our home. Ran through nearly the entire bottle tonight and wish I had another waiting in the wings.

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2009 Bodega Briego Crianza

Somehow we’ve managed to have three previous bottles of this 2009 Crianza, crafted from 20-year-old vines in the Ribera del Duero, Penafiel region of Spain, and have yet to jot out some thoughts for Notes visitors. Let us remedy this oversight today and share some technical information that may be helpful to your exploration of this red–cherry red–beauty.

2009 Bodega Briego Crianza, Castilla Leon, Spain.

2009 Bodega Briego Crianza, Castilla Leon, Spain.

The 2009 Bodega Briego Crianza is a red blend, a dry French- and American-oak-aged wine, that comes from Fernando, Gaspar, and Javiaer–the Benito Hernando brothers–and the village of Fompedraza, Spain. It’s got promise, this delicious Ribera del Duero.

Some tasting notes that I simply collect and offer here from my knowledgeable pros: “Strong characteristics of the Temperanillo grape variety. Ripe red fruit aromas – blackberries, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, etc. – followed by delicate notes of tobacco, caramel, eucalyptus, wood aging characteristics – cinnamon, vanilla, cumin, etc. All provide the qualities of a great wine full of expression and complexity.”

All that being said, I found it not quite as good as advertised. I’ll add that it was smooth, more dark fruit (plum? not quite blackberries?) than red, but there is a little something of the latter in here nonetheless. It’s subtle but present. We had the 2009 Bodega Briego Crianza with various meals, and at various times of the evening, but must have rushed each instance as I’m doing a little catch up with this entry post facto. Hopefully the overdue post still shares a bit of the profile so you can decide if it’s a good option for you and yours.

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Jaume Serra Cristalino Sparkling Wine

Just finishing now a refreshing glass of the Jaume Serra Cristalino Cava Brut on the patio, enjoying the sun and the company this beautiful Easter Sunday. This sparkling wine started in mimosas with brunch – light and refreshing – and now sits bubbling in a flute, throwing reflections of the Carolina sun back toward the heavens.

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It’s a soft, dry white with (obviously) floral notes, a Spanish sparkling wine crafted in the traditional method. Just today I learned that this means secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle itself. Wine & Spirits Magazine has already recognized the performance of the Jaume Serra Cristalino, so it’s no surprise if you arrive at this post more informed of its profile than I am even now.

I can say it was affordable and fared well against more expensive champagne to which I would have compared the Jaume Serra Cristalino. We had this sparkling wine with glazed ham, French Toast casserole, and scrambled eggs (with cheese!). Not your typical Sunday and the the Brut stood well in this occasion. We tend to drift more often to big reds in this house but were happy today called for something a little different.

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2012 Cinco Joses, Aragones Winery

The 5 Joses proclaims itself “one hard workin’ bottle” and this red earns a grin in both its aspirations as well as its execution.  This “Old Vines” Grenache hails from Spain (perhaps garnacha is thus more appropriate) and was part of an internationally flavored dinner for our humble table.  The Cinco Joses accompanied a great quinoa and kale salad, accented with onions, cucumbers, arugula, and tomato salad–fresh and with just the right amount of kick to it.

Unconventionally, the red also complemented a fish entre, a whitefish packing too just a hint of zest.  Not quite the way you might draw it up on the whiteboard but just fine for this family.  Throw in a side of portabello mushrooms and you’re ready for good eating.

Grenache seems to have one of those easy growing profiles (you can find it in Europe, Australia, and the U.S.) and it takes on a similar profile in this 2012 red.  It was a bit acidic right out of the bottle, but I seem to have this inherent flaw in that I never let a new bottle breathe enough, so you have to balance that into your own evaluation.  That’s how I regarded the tannins in the Cinco Joses, but it definitely packed in the fruit right from jump too.  I would say less strawberry or raspberries in your taste here, and more black berry.

If you’re a fan of Zinfandel I think you’d be happy with this affordable, rich red.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.

 

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Marques de Caceres Rioja Crianza Red 2008

Friday night I enjoyed the company of old friends and a new Tempranillo.  It’s always great when you’re mixing the two, in particular when they get you outside your “usual suspects” and choices.  If you read Notes with any frequency, you see tastes that run domestic more than European, reds more than whites, and Cabernets more than Merlots.  (This last one is obviously a current and seasonal bias…)

Marques de Caceres Rioja Crianza Red 2008, Spain.

Marques de Caceres Rioja Crianza Red 2008, Spain.

Consequently, I was really happy when our gracious hosts unveiled this treat on us.  It was a new opportunity to learn, consider, and describe.  The Crianza Red 2008 is deep ruby red in color, and with a hearty berry burst that comes tumbling right out of the bottle into your glass.  I’m not sure if it’s a cherry undertone or red raspberry base, but either way it’s on point.  Not sure if there’s a spice in the mix but presume so…though I have virtually no ability to separate it from the abundant fruity notes.  Easy, smooth finish too…

I sampled my first glass in the waning evening light, playing cornhole on a well-manicured Raleigh NC lawn and surrounded by the laughter of children and lifelong friends, and was fortunate to have another as the day began to wind to a close.  I’m not going to give you the experts’ feedback; the Marques website has that information if you want it.  I know this is affordable, accessible, and should be a ‘no brainer’ that complements a lot of situations in which you may find yourself.  Do it…and soon.