Queridos Feastitos,
True, for those of us who don’t live in Spain or its environs, it’s easy to default to Rioja when we think of Spanish wine. It’s certainly a prolific region, and an age-old producer of excellent wine, but it turns out that Spain is a varied place, with a lot more to offer than Tempranillo from Rioja. Andres Ramirez joins us this Sunday for our Last Sunday of the Month tasting to offer you a glimpse of the breadth and depth of wine that Spain has to offer. So no Tempranillo this Sunday, nor anything from Rioja, if only to show you that Spain’s no Juan-y One Note. The tasting is Sunday, February 22nd at 3:30 pm, and includes food pairings, and the wines are quite affordable, so the tasting is $30 rather than the $35 it often costs. Make your reservation by calling 326-9363, as web and email reservations won’t guarantee you a place.
Juan-y One Note
2013 Shaya Old Vine Verdejo, DO Rueda $20.00
Toasted baking spices on the nose of nutmeg combined with spring flowers, marzipan, and pit fruits. With a bit of richness and complexity on the palate, the wine is well balanced.
2013 Bodegas Joan Gil “Albacea” Monastrell, DO Jumilla $12.00
Intense deep red cherry color. Powerful nose, clean and complex. Very attractive fruity aromas with a touch of ripe fruit and hints of new wood. Well-balanced, soft tannins and a very long finish.
2012 Atteca Old Vine Garnacha, DO Catalayud $21.00
Rich morello cherry and plum flavors are accented by mint, orange peel and sassafras notes. An expressive red with soft tannins, juicy acidity and a smoky finish.
2012 La Atalaya Garnacha/Tintorera/Alicante Bouschet/Monastrell, DO Almansa $20.00
High, cherry-colored depth with a ruby rim. Explosive notes of red and black fruit, fig preserve, hints of toast, arabica coffee, toffee, spices, menthol and a dash of violets. Bold, meaty and full-bodied, yet a surprising freshness. Good acidity and round though under-ripe tannins give tension and complexity. Long finish.
2012 Bodegas El Nido “Clio” Monastrell/Cabernet Sauvignon, DO Jumilla $56.00
Dark cherry red color in the glass. Intense nose of ripe fruits and confit fruit mixed with sensations of toasted coffee and licorice which bring finesse and elegance. Strength, flesh, savory and opulence combine in the palate of this wine that little by little develops in the bottle.
2012 Bodegas Alto Moncayo “Veraton” Garnacha, DO Campo de Borja $22.00
Inky purple. A heady bouquet evokes ripe red berries, anise, mocha and pungent fresh flowers. Supple and sweet on entry, then more structured in the middle, offering deep, mineral-accented dried strawberry and cherry liqueur flavors. Takes a spicy turn on the long, sappy finish, which echoes the pure red berry qualities.