Spain
A delightful wine tasting with a selection from Spain! Verdejo, Rioja Blanco, Rioja Reserva, and Priorat Red, each with its own charm. The Verdejo greets us with a refreshing burst of citrus and herbal notes. We move to a Rioja Blanco with its rich texture and hints of stone fruits, while the Rioja Reserva reveals its depth through layers of red fruit and subtle oak. Finally, the Priorat impresses with its bold character, offering a beautiful medley of dark fruits and earthy spices.
@ Humble Vine
Dec 18th
2-8 PM
Wine Tasting: $25
Jose Pariente, Verdejo Rueda, Spain $22
This was the first wine made by the winery in 1998. A classic, approachable and appealing Verdejo that shows off the citrus and tropical nature of the variety with lots of lime and pineapple aromas. Some time spent sitting on the lees adds to the richness on the palate while some use of concrete and tinaja (large earthen jar, like an amphora) in fermentation adds to the texture and body. Aromas of fennel, scrubland, anise, and balsamic. Citrus with a crisp acidity in the palate.
La Antique, Rioja Blanco Rioja, Spain $35
70% Viura, 20% Garnacha Blanca, 10% Tempranillo Blanco. From 70 year old vines!
Green-tinged gold. Meyer lemon, toasted grain, ginger and white flowers on the mineral-accented nose. Fleshy and dry on the palate with citrus and orchard fruit, tarragon and honey. Shows a suave blend of richness and vivacity. Finishes spicy and very long, featuring lingering notes of bitter pear skin and candied ginger. Aged for 14 to 18 months in a blend of 80% French and 20% American oak barrels. 10% of the wine is aged under natural flor: a thin layer of native yeast naturally forming on top of the wine in barrel (like Sherry!)
Marques di Murrieta, Rioja Reserva Rioja, Spain $33
The Marques de Murrieta estate is one of Spain’s great wine-producing properties, with iconic wines dating back to the earliest days of Rioja’s greatness. Their Reserva bottling is their main wine, and it is always an exercise in polish and sophistication. Spot-on flavors for Rioja, with dark cherry, mulberry, allspice, and a touch of savory smoked meat. Never tannic, always medium-bodied, this shares many Burgundian qualities, in the sense that the wine is not big and heavy, but it is strong, persistent, and yet lovely.
Celler Cecilio, “Black Slate” Gratallops Priorat Priorat, Spain $28
Clocking in at 15% ABV, the Black Slate Gratallops is a wine that knows what to do with every ounce of its heft. Quick to the punch with vibrant sunburst cherry flavor, it gives way to a dense, luscious midpalate full of darker plum, prune, and a hint of orange peel. A terrific tobacco and blackberry finish. It is everything we crave from a standout Priorat.
Comes from a blend of older and younger vine fruit originating from August vineyards near the village of Priorat. Made from mostly Grenache, with a pinch of Carignan and Syrah.
