Serious Spain
Spain has a long history of making wines. They produce A LOT of wines. Some value driven, and some meant to age a very long time. The wines chosen for today are of the latter ilk. A Reserva Copinnat (Cava), a non fortified white Sherry grape Palomino, and two red Rioja Crianza. Taste the serious side of Spain!!!
@ Humble Vine
September 27th
2-8 PM
Wine Tasting: $20
Iliota, Corpinnat Brut Reserve, Penedes Spain, $28
A handful of producers in Penedes were tired of the cava region being to lenient on regulations and letting Cavas be created anywhere. So they created “Corpinnat” to offer the world top class sparkling wine from where Spain began its bubbly wines in the 1870’s. A Reserva is aged longer than traditional standards. This baby has been aging for 18 months vs the 9 months of a regular Cava. Notes of Apple, clover and grassy aromas are supported by a nice underlay of yeast. Apple, nectarine and melon flavors finish clean and mellow.. Made using the traditional method, the most revered method for quality sparkling wine in Penedes. Made from a blend of the three classic grapes of Cava: Xarello, Macabeo, Parellada.
Callejuela , “Las Mercedes” Palomino, Andalucia, Spain, $26
I think this wine is super cool. It is the Palomino Fino grape, a white grape widely grown in Spain and South Africa, and best known for its use in the manufacture of sherry. But this Palomino is not fortified (like sherry and port where they dump a neutral booze in the mix) SO… much like sherry it has a mineral open, with gentle oxidative tone. Deep, dry, and soft, it lays out easily in the mouth, with a touch of spice. Butter, grasses, shortbread, nettle, white peach, white flower. Volume leavened by salty minerality. It's really savory and open at the finish with a tracery of chalk-brine wandering off into space. A great food white, as it will compliment rather than take over.
Conde Valdemar, Crianza, Rioja Spain, $21
Crianza is an aging classification for Spanish wine. Red wines labeled as Crianza have aged for at least two years. It displays a medium layer red cherry color, clean and bright. On the nose, intense aromas of forest fruits (blackcurrants and blueberries) dominate, well integrated with the hints of oak and the notes of sweet spices. Tasty on the palate, with a pleasant, lively entry. It has a long and persistent finish with nuances of black fruit.
Lopez de Heredia, “Cubillo” Crianza, Rioja Spain, $35
After the phylloxera plague decimated much of Europe, French wineries came down tonRioja to look for alternative grapes to craft their wine with. Winemaker Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic student in the art of wine making, followed closely in their footsteps. In 1877 he created the legendary winery we have today. Cubillo is an earthy, well-aged (at least 2 years) Rioja with complex aromas of dried oranges, savory dried plums, mushrooms, tobacco and wet leaves. Distinctively zesty with bright, citrusy fruit on the medium-bodied palate, rounded by firm, juicy tannins. Quite a long, outstanding red from this traditional producer.
