Wine Tasting - Spain Revisited April 2023

 It's been several years since I last led a tasting on Spanish wines (although I did do a wine report in conjunction with my trip to Barcelona right before the Covid lockdown in the spring of 2020), but with the continuing development of Iberian wine regions producing ever higher quality and good value fruit of the vine, it's always the right time to check out what's going in the fincas, viñedos and bodegas.  Spain is much more than just Rioja and Sherry, so here are some selections from an array of varietals and regions for your taste and enjoyment.  Olé y Salud!

Please note that for the 3rd class, I selected an alternate wine list for the same varietals and/or regions, so you have here a couple of options for each style!

Ossian Quintaluna Verdejo Seleccionado de Segovia 2019 ($20, Wine Works, Cherry HIll, NJ)

Origin: Castilla y Leon, Vino de la Tierra, Certificacion de Origen

Varietal: 100% Verdejo

Production and Tasting Notes: Stainless steel fermentation; aged 6 months on the lees in both stainless steel and oak; aromas of white flowers, orchard, stone fruit (peaches), citrus (lemon, Mandarin), with hints of tropical fruit; complex palate showcasing bright acidity, and almond and ripe fruit flavors; fresh grass and aniseed on the finish. (92 points, James Suckling)

Food  Pairing: shellfish; seafood; summer salad; goat cheese

Alcohol: 14%

 

Valdihuete  2021 ($9, Chairman's Select, PA; suggested list price $17)

Origin: Rueda, Denominacion de Origen (DO)

Varietal: 100% Verdejo

Production and Tasting Notes: Stainless steel fermentation; unoaked; aromas of white flowers, white fruit (pear, green apple), mineral, stony notes; vegetable nuances of fennel, herbs, brushwood; elegant, broad and persistent on the palate.  (90 points, James Suckling)

Food  Pairing: shellfish; seafood; summer salad; goat cheese

Alcohol: 12.%

Eulogio Pomares Zarate Albariño 2021 ($20, Wine Works)

Origin: Val do Salnes, Rias Baixas, Denominacion de Origen (DO)

Varietal: 100% Albarino

Production/Tasting Notes: Biodynamically farmed vines; granite soils; partial malolactic fermentation; 3 months on lees; crisp, fresh exhibiting linear, steely style; vibrant acidity; aromas of soft peach and pear with floral notes.  (94 points, Decanter)

Food pairing: aperitif; grilled white meats; fish; seafood; hors d'oeuvres; paella with lobster and chorizo

Alcohol:  12.5%

 

Martin Codax Albariño 2021 ($17.69, PA)

Origin: Rias Baixas, (Galicia) DO

Varietal: 100% Albariño

Production/Tasting Notes: Bright acidity, crisp minerality; notes of pear, passion fruit, apple; lemon, grapefruit; persistent, rounded, full-bodied on the palate.

Food pairing: aperitif; grilled white meats; fish tacos; seafood; hors d'oeuvres; paella with lobster and chorizo

Alcohol:  12.%

Dominio de Tares La Sonrisa de Tares Godello 2021 ($15, Wine Works)

Origin:  Bierzo, DO

Varietal: 100% Godello

Production/Tasting Notes: Slate, schist over clay soil; aged 5 months in stainless steel tanks on the lees; notes of white flowers, green apples, peach; smooth texture on the palate; refreshing acidity; long finish

Food Pairing: seafood ceviche; fish tacos; ahi tuna poke bowl

Alcohol:13.5%

 

Maruxa Godello 2019 ($19, PA)

Origin:  Valdeorras, DO

Varietal: 100% Godello

Production/Tasting Notes: Gently ripe flavors of white peaches, nectarines; hint of smoke on the nose; soft, rounded and juicy on the palate; clean, dry lingering finish.

Food Pairing: seafood ceviche; fish tacos; ahi tuna poke bowl

Alcohol:13.5%

Descendientes de José Palacios Pétalos Bierzo 2020 ($19, Wine Works)

Origin: Bierzo DO

Varietal: 92% Mencia; 5% other red grapes (Alicante Bouschet, Gran Negro, Pan y Carne, Negreda); 3% white grapes (Valenciana, Jerez, Godello);

Production/Tasting Notes: Slow malolactic fermentation over 2 months with indigenous yeasts in steel and oak vats; 8 months aged in barrels; fruit-driven; juicy, round on the palate; fine, powdery tannins; more balanced with bottle aging. (93 points, Wine Advocate)           

Food  Pairings: grilled duck with walnut pesto; blackened Cajun-spiced chicken; Iberico pork

Alcohol: 14.1%

 

Finca Luna Beberide Mencia Bierzo 2018 ($22, PA)

Origin: Bierzo DO

Varietal: 100% Mencia

Production/Tasting Notes: Clay, slate soil; aged in French oak barrels; nose of black cherry, sweet dark berries, espresso, slate, woodsmoke, smoked meats, cedar, graphite; deep, full-bodied and complex on the palate with creamy mouthfeel; long, complex, tangy finish. (92 points, Wine Advocate, Vinous)  On a personal note, I have to say this is the finest Bierzo Mencia I've ever had in the many years it's been a favorite of mine from Spain.

Food  Pairings: grilled duck with walnut pesto; blackened Cajun-spiced chicken; Iberico pork

Alcohol: 13.5%

Pagos del Rey Condado de Oriza Gran Reserva 2014 ($20, Chairman's Select, PA; suggested list price $40)

Origin: Ribero del Duero, DO

Varietal: 100% Tempranillo

Production/Tasting Notes:  Aged  24 months in French and American oak barrels; rich, powerful; complex notes of spice and leather, balsam wood, cedar and mulberry on the nose; deep, expressive on the palate; concentrated dark ripe fruits (plum, blackberry) flavors; long, elegant finish with smooth mouth-feel. (92 Points, Wine Enthusiast)

Food Pairing: Wild mushroom and eggplant; pasta with red clams sauce

Alcohol:  14%

 

Bodegas Olarra Reciente Gran Reserva 2015 ($16 Chairman's Select; suggested list price $65)

Origin: Rioja, DOCa

Varietal: 90% Tempranillo; 10% Graciano and Mazuelo

Production/Tasting Notes: Aged in American oak; two months on the lees; malolactic fermentation; 31 months oak aged, 45 months bottle aged; smoky and oak-tinged cherry and dark berry scents overlain with floral and spice nuances; broad and chewy on the palate, exuding bitter cherry, cassis and mocha flavors and a hint of licorice; long spicy finish with smoky notes and hint of espresso.  (93 Points, Vinous)  This is a classic example of a Rioja Gran Reserva, and if you able to snag the Chairman's Select discount (in PA wine stores) on a bottle, you may never find its equal at that price.

Food Pairing: Wild mushroom and eggplant; pasta with red clams sauce

Alcohol:  13.5%

Finca Bacara Time Waits For No One Monastrell 2017 ($12, Wine Works)

Origin : Jumilla, Denominacion de Origen Protegida (formerly known as DO)

Varietal: 100% Monastrell

Production/Tasting Notes: Hand harvested;  Aged 6 months in American oak barrels; powerful, intense nose dominated by ripe fruit aromas, with hints of new wood; balanced, round and savory on the palate;  (95 points, Decanter)    

 Food Pairings: roasted red meat; braised ox tail stew; baked eggplant stuffed with lamb mince; blue cheese, cured cheeses

 Alcohol: 14.5%

 

Ego Bodegas Marionette Monastrell- Syrah 2020 ($10, Wine Works)

Origin :  Tierra de Murcia, Indicacion Geografica Protegida

Varietal: 50% Monastrell; 50% Syrah

Production/Tasting Notes: Hand harvested;  separately fermented in stainless steel tanks; aromas of red fruit and floral hints complemented with subtle touches of wood; round finish with refreshing acidity and complex tannins. (90 points, Wine Enthusiast)       

Alcohol: 14.5%

Notes on Spanish Wines, Wine Regions and Wine Producers

·       The top two classifications of Spanish wines are Denominacion de Origen Protegida (previously known as Denominacion de Origen, which still appears on many bottles), and Denomincacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa or DOQ  in Catalonia) which includes only the Priorat and Rioja regions.

·       Both DO and DOCa wines distinguish the duration of aging before release:

o   Crianza - 2 years minimum aging, with at least one year in barrel

o   Reserva - 3 years minimum aging, with at least one year in barrel and 6 months in bottle

o   Gran Reserva - 5 years aging, with at least 2 years in barrel and 2 in bottle

·       Although Spanish wine cultivation dates back thousands of years, French wine merchants were instrumental in bringing about the modern era of Spanish winemaking after migrating (predominantly to Rioja and Penedès) during the Phylloxera infestation of the 19th century.

·       Spain has more land under vine than any other country and ranks third in wine production after Italy and France.

·       Castilla y Leon is Spain's largest wine region and includes many DOs, such as Bierzo and Toro, as well as some quality producers labeled DO Vino de la Tierra.

·       The Ribera del Duero DO was established in 1982, about 120 miles north-northwest of Madrid.  Cultivation under vine increased five-fold from then until 2020, from 12,350 acres to over 59,000.  Today there are more than 300 wineries, including Bodegas Vega Sicilia, one of Spain's most acclaimed, founded in 1864.

·       Monastrell is the varietal known as Mourvèdre in France.

·       The Jumilla DO, created in 1996, is an arid and mountainous region northwest of Murcia, with a heritage in old vine Monastrell.

·       Rias Baixas, a DO in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain, adjacent to Portugal's northern border, is best known for its Albariño (Alvarinho  in Portuguese) wines.