Spain
Lets go to sunny Spain!… in our minds… As we taste 1 white and 3 reds form Northern (ish) Spain.
First an Albarino from the beach lovers paradise of Rias Baixas, in the North West corner of the country. Then over to the North East for a Penedes light red blend. A little to the West x South West (still north and west of Madrid) to The Toro region for a dark 100% Tempranillo, the country’s main red grape… And we finish with one my favorite wine regions, Montsant, for a deliciously juicy Grenache.
Humble Vine
Wednesday, April 23d
2-8 PM
Wine Tasting: $25
Maccerato, Albarino Rias Baixas, Spain $22
Wonderful ALbarino, grow near the Atlantic Ocean and accepts its salty breezes on some of the more coastal vines. A beautiful yellowish green hue that hits the nose with zesty lemon, a touch of sea salt, white florals, white stone fruit, and a dash of spearmint. The palate follows suit with a low to moderate acidity but lively!!
Azimut, Negre Penedes, Spain $20
The Azimut Negre is a blend of 40% Tempranillo, 20% Garnaxta, 20% Monastrell, 10% Syrah, and 10% Samsó (Carignan). It is unfined and filtered with a soft paper filter to remove sediment. Medium-bodied mouthful of lip-smacking black cherry, blackcurrant, and mulberry, with hints of tobacco leaf. Refreshing acidity and well-integrated tannins cleanse the palate after every sip. Organically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.
Frontaura, Valdelacasa Cosecha Castilla y Leon - Toro, Spain $26
Bodegas del Palacio de los Frontaura y Victoria is an estate in Toro, Spain that has over 120 hectares of vineyards. The vines are drip-irrigated at an altitude of over 650 meters. The winery owns a majestic building which dates back to 1574 and is located in the city of Toro itself.
Aromas of concentrated red fruits and spice. On the palate the wine is full bodied with flavors of strawberry and cherry combined with a rich, spicy finish. 100% Tempranillo fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak casks for seven months.
Sileo Viticola, Montsant Tinto Montsant, Spain $25
I drove to Montsant/Priorat from Barcelona because I love the flavors of the region. A high desert with brambles of vines that are mostly Grenache. The wines have dark juice but remain lively and refreshing at the same time… Sileo is a classic Montsant, mineral driven, with dark and juicy fruits like cherries and raspberries. But it has a sense of lift and agility to it, thanks to the fresh acidity and aromatics. It's a big, flavorful, yet refreshing wine. 90% Grenache, 10% Carignan.
