03/02/07
Robert
Parker’s The Wine Advocate, the most widely recognized wine review periodical,
devoted a good portion of their latest issue to the wines of
Suddenly,
every wine shop in the country is avidly buying and promoting highly scoring
Spanish brands.
It feels
great to be a Spanish wine store this week.
If you
are getting this newsletter, you probably don’t need to be told that Spanish
wines are some of the best out there in terms of quality and price, but we like
to bask in the pleasure of being the ‘it’ wine region, so here is some of what
Jay Miller had to say in this month’s Wine Advocate:
“Spanish wines continue to be
red-hot. As this review will detail, there are hundreds of terrific wines
available for under $20, many of those for less than $12.”
“Another positive trend is the
ongoing reclamation of indigenous varietals. Prominent among them are Mencia, grown in Bierzo, Graciano in Rioja, Bobal in Vino
de la Tierra de Castilla and Utiel Requena, Verdejo in Rueda, Albarino in Rias
Baixas, Hondarribi Zuri in Txakoli, and Godello in Valdeorras. These can be
fascinating and unique expressions at very nice prices.”
“If I were a budding wine
collector with limited discretionary income, I would be laying in cases of
2001s and 2004s from Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat,
Toro, and Montsant. The top wines from these regions
will reward extended cellaring and, with just a handful of exceptions, cost
less than $50-60 a bottle.”
But wait,
it gets even better.
While
most of the industry attention is being paid to the latest Spanish wine
reviews, the same edition of The Wine Advocate also contains the first ever,
for them, overview of Portuguese wines. For this initial foray into the table
wines of
Here is
some of what Mark Squires had to say:
“Whether you are a shell-shocked
consumer looking for alternatives to soaring prices in familiar regions, or
just someone wanting new experiences in wine, one good answer might be the dry,
red table wines of
“If these wines have been flying
under your radar, don’t feel guilty – even Douro winemakers describe an industry
that is changing constantly and quickly, and only recently developing a
respectable number of fine, artisanal wine
producers.”
“Today,
“Finally, from what I saw and
tasted, in
Take a
ride indeed. This week, wine retailers all across the country are getting on
board with distributors of Iberian wines that scored highly in The Wine Advocate.
The
Spanish table is very proud to already have many of these wines in stock. Some,
like the 100 point (a perfect score) Clos Erasmus 2004 were sold out by the end
of the first day that the reviews came out. Many others, including numerous
wines under $20 are still here for you to try for yourself.
Here are
just a few highlights from the latest Wine Advocate reviews:
Mas Doix Doix Costers
de Vinyes Velles 2004
$115.00 “Deep
purple, the aromas are other-worldly with truffle, tar, graphite, kirsch, and
wild blueberry among the array of scents leaping from the glass.98 points.”
Numanthia 2004 $58.00
“The wine is a glass-coating opaque purple with a killer nose of mineral,
pencil lead, wild blueberry, and blackberry liqueur that roars from the glass.
On the palate the wine is full-bodied, dense, and already beginning to show
complexity within its layers of spicy black fruits.98 Points”
Alion 2002 $72.00 “Saturated purple in color, it offers up an exotic nose of
coconut, espresso, herbs, black currants and cherries. Rich and complex on the
palate with lots of glycerin and layers of black fruit flavors, it has a pure,
long finish that goes on and on. 94 Points.”
Quinta
Do Vallado Reserva 2003 $42.99 “…opens beautifully, with a touch
of game, and seductive texture. It was easily my favorite of the wines reviewed
here. It has a carefully constructed mid-weight, mid-palate that matches its
structure. It has plenty of tannins for aging ability, but is not overbearing
or unduly astringent. Precise, flavorful and intense, it shows some brightness
and a little sweetness on the finish, too. 92 Points.”
Dorado Alvarinho 2004 $21.99 “…a single Quinta wine from a
70-year-old vineyard in the sub-region of Moncao that
receives no oak aging. It has unusual depth for Vinho Verde, and this is not exactly your
light, “barely there,” version of the wine. It is obviously trying to make a
statement. It is crisp and steely, solid in the mid-palate and penetrating on
the finish. 91 Points.”
Pasanau Ceps Nous 2005 $24.99 “… produced from the estate’s
youngest vines.
Purple-colored, it exhibits a fragrant bouquet of smoked meat, lead pencil,
blueberry, blackberry, and licorice. Full-bodied, the wine is layered and
packed with mouth-filling black fruits intertwined with ripe tannins. 91 Points.”
Hecula 2004 $11.99 “Exhibiting aromas of toasty black fruits with milk
chocolate in the background, this is a super-rich effort with terrific depth
and concentration for its humble price. It is a remarkable value for drinking
over the next few years. 91
Points.”
Quinta
do Crasto Tinto 2003 $18.99 “Ripe and succulent, it is bursting
with flavorful fruit, tinged with red berry nuances. The texture is velvety and
appealing, and the wine has fine structure, and a lively demeanor, including significant
grip on the finish. 90
Points.”
Peique
Joven 2005 $12.99 “Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits a fragrant, fruity bouquet of spicy
black currants and blueberry that jumps from the glass. This medium-bodied,
supple-textured, easy-drinking wine might be considered
03/09/07
As we
mentioned last week, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, the most widely
recognized wine review periodical, devoted a good portion of their latest issue
to the wines of
Last week
we featured mostly the top end of the scores as well as the higher priced
wines. Another useful aspect of The Wine Advocate reviews are the value priced
wines that score in the 80s and 90s. These wines are excellent examples of
winemaking skill at very reasonable prices.
So, this
week we will feature wines that cost less than $20 that scored highly in the
latest Wine Advocate. Here are some
suggestions from our current inventory:
Red Wine:
Corpus
Ercavio Roble 2005 $10.99 “The 2005 Ercavio Roble is a
remarkable value. Produced from 100% Cencibel (Tempranillo), this is a custom
cuvee selected by importer Eric Solomon, and was aged for 5 months in French
and American oak. Purple colored, with fragrant spice box, tobacco, blueberry,
and blackberry aromas, this full-bodied effort has gobs of ripe fruit, a firm structure,
and a 40-second finish, not bad value for a sawbuck. Although
this well-made wine will surely evolve for 2-3 years, who will have the
patience? This is one to purchase by the case. 90 Points.”
Hécula
2004 $11.99 “Exhibiting aromas of toasty black fruits with milk chocolate in the
background, this is a super-rich effort with terrific depth and concentration
for its humble price. It is a remarkable value for drinking over the next few
years. 91 Points.”
Luna Beberide Mencía 2005 $14.99 “The 2005 Luna Beberide Mencia (100% varietal) is a worthy successor to the 2004
and a top value in quality Bierzo. Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits a fragrant
nose of crushed flowers (violets), mineral, and blueberry. This is followed by
an elegant, medium-bodied wine with a velvety palate-feel, plenty of spicy blue
fruits, and light, well-integrated tannin. Drink this well-made wine over the
next 1-2 years. 89
Points.”
Mas Donís Barrica 2004 $13.99 “The 2004 Mas Donis
Barrica is 85% Garnacha from 80+-year-old vines and 15% Syrah aged for 8 months
in French and American oak. Opaque purple, it has a wonderfully expressive nose
of spice box, pencil lead, pepper, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. On the
palate the wine is full-bodied with layers of ripe, spicy black fruits, nicely
concealed tannins, and a long, pure finish. It is an outstanding value for
drinking now and over the next 4-6 years. 90 Points.”
Peique
Joven 2005 $13.99 “Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits a fragrant, fruity bouquet of spicy
black currants and blueberry that jumps from the glass. This medium-bodied,
supple-textured, easy-drinking wine might be considered
Semele Crianza 2004 $17.99 “The 2004 Semele is 90%
Tempranillo and 10% Merlot aged for 12 months in used French and American oak.
This purple-colored wine has a fragrant bouquet of cedar, spice box, blueberry,
and blackberry which jumps from the glass. Medium-bodied with some elegance, it
has a streamlined style with ample fruit, good acidity, and ripe tannin, all of
which are nicely balanced. This well-made wine should continue to evolve for
2-3 years and drink well for a decade. It is also an excellent value. 89 Points.”
Torremorón 2005 $11.99 “The 2005 Torremoron
is an unoaked cuvee of 100% Tempranillo from 60- to
90-year-old vines. Medium ruby-colored, it has a terrific perfume of wild
berries including raspberry, strawberry, and cherry. On the palate the wine is
youthful, very concentrated and structured. The finish is long and fruity. It
seems unlikely that many people will cellar a $10 wine but this amazing effort
should continue to evolve for 1-2 years. Drink it with pleasure over the next
3-4 years. It is an outstanding value. 90 Points.”
White Wine:
Avinyó Brut Reserva Cava $15.99 “The non-vintage Brut Reserva,
made from Macabeu, Parellada, and Xarel-lo, is aged
18 to 22 months on the lees before being disgorged. A fruity, yeasty nose is
followed by a wine with crisp notes of pear and peach. The finish is
surprisingly long. 89
Points.”
Mesache Blanco 2005 $ 11.99 “The 2005 Mesache Blanco is an
intriguing blend of 35% late-harvested Macabeo, 35% Gewurztraminer, and 30%
Chardonnay fermented and aged in stainless steel. Light gold in color, the bouquet
of this crisp, refreshing effort is given a lift by the Gewurztraminer
component. In addition to the lychees, there is a hint a banana and other
tropical fruits. On the palate, this dry, medium-bodied wine is surprisingly
ripe, rich, and long. Drink it over the next two years. 90 Points.”
Oro de Castilla 2005 $14.99 “The 2005 Oro de Castilla is 100%
Verdejo fermented and raised in stainless steel.
Medium straw-colored, it offers lovely aromas of melon, honey, and citrus with
a hint of mineral in the background. It is almost creamy on the palate with
excellent depth and richness, lacking only the complexity necessary to merit an
outstanding rating. Drink it over the next 2 years. 87 Points.”
Sherry:
La Gitana Manzanilla $11.99
(500ml.) “Among
the single solera sherries, the pale-colored dry,
salty La Gitana Manzanilla is a terrific aperitif. 88 Points.”
Maestro Sierra Fino $13.99
(375ml.) “The
non-vintage Fino offers up aromas and flavors of sea salt and roasted nuts. It
is excellent as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to sushi. 90 Points.”
Hidalgo Alameda Cream Sherry
$15.99 “The
Alameda Cream is dark amber and medium sweet with creme
brulee aromas and flavors, a far classier drink than
what your grandmother used to imbibe. 91
Points
03/15/07
As winter
gives way to spring, new wines continue to arrive in abundance here at The
Spanish Table. The new vintages of highly scored wines from the recent Wine
Advocate are arriving weekly in our store. Other unsung brands are on our
shelves just waiting to be discovered by you, with a little help from your
knowledgeable, enthusiastic and always friendly Spanish Table staff.
The
‘house wine’ section has proved to be a popular concept that continues to grow
as we find new value priced wines to include in this new section. Our latest
‘house wines’ are the amazing bargains from Infinitus.
Infinitus
is the brand name for a line of wines from the V.T. Castilla region in central
We also
just received a handful of Spanish rarities that will only be available for a
brief time. These wines are some of the best examples of modern Spanish
winemaking skill and will appeal to collectors and adventure seekers alike.
New House Wines:
Infinitus Tempranillo 2005 $6.99 Fresh, youthful aroma, bright
cherry-like fruit character and gentle grape skin tannins in the background. Excellent with rice or pasta dishes.
Infinitus Syrah 2005 $6.99 Dark garnet color, spicy herbal aroma and rich,
full-bodied black cherry fruit character. Pass the cork screw and fire up the
grill!
Infinitus Viura/Chardonnay 2005
$6.99 Crisp,
young white wine made from a 50/50 blend of tank fermented (no oak) Viura and
Chardonnay. Fresh citrus and green apple fruit character.
The perfect back porch cocktail.
Vall Major Blanco 2004 $6.99 This D.O. Terra Alta white wine is
produced from 100% Macabeo grapes.
Pale straw color, grapefruit aroma and tart green grape fruit character. A composed salad of spring lettuces and
Spanish ventresca tuna with a sherry vinaigrette would
make a nice accompaniment.
Collector’s Wines:
El Nido Clio 2004 $44.99 The 2004 Clio has arrived! With a 97 Point score from The Wine Advocate,
this wine will sell out fast. Jay Miller says “The 2004 Clio is 30% Cabernet
Sauvignon and 70% Monastrell (from 63-year-old vines) which received malolactic
fermentation in new oak followed by 26 months of aging in new French and
American barriques. A glass-coating opaque purple, it exhibits a sensational
nose of earth, mushroom, leather, blueberry, and blackberry jam. On the palate
the wine is supple-textured, complex, with vibrant flavors of spicy blue and
black fruits and a big-time WOW factor. This is a totally hedonistic effort
with exceptional length and balance. It is remarkably light on its feet for
such a powerful wine.”
Laurel 2004 $40.99 We received a small amount of this stunning D.O.Q Priorat from the
makers of Clos Erasmus. The Wine Advocate gave this one 94 Points, saying “The 2004
Aljibes 2005 $23.99 From V.T. Castilla, this dry, earthy red wine is an
excellent example of the regional style.
Serve this with a traditional Gazpacho Manchego (game bird and tomato
stew thickened with crumbled traditional flat bread). The Wine Advocate gave it
90 points. Jay Miller says “The 2003 Aljibes, which
spent 9 months in new French and American oak, is composed of Cabernet Franc,
Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. It could easily pass as a
Pegaso 2002 $35.99 Celebrated winemaker Telmo
Rodriguez makes this V.T. Castilla wine in a long
neglected wine making region just outside of the small town of Cebreros, about
an hour west of Madrid. Pegaso is a 100% Garnacha
wine produced from the old-vine fruit from estate vineyards. A rocky
mineral quality underlies the rich, dark berry fruit character (Barrancos de Pizarra translates
literally as ‘slate cliffs’). This potent, 15% alcohol, inky dark wine is bold
and concentrated yes, but also quite balanced and poised, due in large part to
the sense of terruño coming from this
same minerality.
To highlight the rather wild
sophistication of this wine, serve it with duck or other game birds and slow
cooked white beans.
03/22/07
Remember
that Bierzo wine you had last Thanksgiving? Well, Bierzo season has returned,
especially now that winter is turning into spring.
ElBierzo is located in northwestern
Wine making in El Bierzo was geared toward local consumption until 1989 when
the region was officially demarcated. Now the wine world is taking notice of
the
unique wines of this region. Today, El Bierzo, once known for its precious
metal, is becoming increasing popular for its unique wines and precious grape.
The Mencía grape is the predominant variety in D.O. Bierzo and produces wines
that tend to be light in color and possess gentle fruit character, lively
acidity and dry minerality. Bierzo wines generally display less concentration
and extraction than wines from further south, which is why they are such
perfect accompaniments to springtime meals. In El Bierzo, one gastronomic treat
is the androlla, a meat dish that is
made with a pig's rib marinated with garlic, paprika and salt.
If we have yet to tempt you to try Bierzo wines, now is your chance. We have
some new wines in our store right now as well as new vintages of old favorites
that have recently come in.
Los Bayos Roble 2004 $10.99 The Los Bayos Roble 2004 is a
youthful, lively Mencía wine that sees eight months of barrel age prior
to bottling, adding a bit of additional tannic complexity to the cranberry-like
fruit character and leafy aroma already present in the wine.
Castro
Bergidum Godello 2004 $12.99 In neighboring D.O. Valdeorras the
white Godello grape produces elegant
subtle wines with balance and poise. In D.O. Bierzo the same attributes apply,
but here the mineral aspect of the variety is more pronounced and serves to
moderate the melon and green plum fruit character of the wine. This is the only
white Bierzo available to us at the present time.
Peique
2005 $12.99 This popular young Bierzo is ripe, floral, earthy and
uncomplicated. This friendly wine is ready to pair with poultry, composed
salads and a variety of hot and cold tapas. Jay Miller of The Wine Advocate
gave it 90 Points and
said “Dark ruby-colored, it
exhibits a fragrant, fruity bouquet of spicy black currants and blueberry that
jumps from the glass. This medium-bodied, supple-textured, easy-drinking wine
might be considered
Luna
Beberide Mencía 2005 $14.99 A bold young Bierzo, full of tangy pie cherry fruit and
just a touch of loamy earth aroma. This is a perfect wine to serve with grilled
and/or spicy food. The recent Wine Advocate review awarded 89 points to this wine saying “Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits a
fragrant nose of crushed flowers (violets), mineral, and blueberry. This is
followed by an elegant, medium-bodied wine with a velvety palate-feel, plenty
of spicy blue fruits, and light, well-integrated tannin.”
Pucho 2005 $14.99 This is
a new arrival here in
Vinademoya
Mencía 2004 $17.99
If you want to get an idea of what Bierzo is all about, this wine is a great
place to start.
Tilenus
Pagos de Posada 2001$37.99 This shows how, in the right hands, the Mencía grape can produce
elegant, rich and distinctive wines. Carefully selected old vine Mencía from a
single estate vineyard is aged briefly in oak before bottling. Multi-layered
fruit character with a floral tinge blends well with an underlying mineral
foundation. The oak adds depth and a savory aspect that balances the rich
fruit. This is a fine candidate for taking along to accompany a celebratory
restaurant meal (chances are they don’t have it on the wine list).
03/29/07
Do we love Albariño?
Yes we do! So imagine how excited we were to see Tim
Teichgraeber’s thorough
and informative article in the San Francisco Chronicle last week all about
this delightful, crisp white wine from the Atlantic coastal region of
In less than twenty years the Albariño variety has come from near
obscurity (even the Spanish didn’t drink them back then) to its current status as the white wine of
choice for many American wine lovers who are fatigued from too many rich,
buttery, barrel fermented white wines.
The clean, crisp, citrusy flavors of Albariño wines combine with a bit of
background minerality to keep the wines refreshing. The bright acidity makes these wines
particularly food friendly. They pair well with a wide range of foods from
salads to cheeses and cured meats but are particularly well suited to seafood
meals. It comes as no surprise that Albariño
grows in popularity with each new vintage.
As winter departs, the appearance of Albariño wines on the dinner table are
(like the first robin of spring) a sign that the cold season is past and we can
start to look forward to the green leaves, flower buds and sunny weather that
is just around the corner.
Her are some of our current favorites:
Lagar de Bouza Albariño 2005 was
$14.99, NOW $10.99 An excellent value just got better.
The 2005 Lagar de Bouza is lemony and bright with a bit of green apple fruit
character in the mix. This dry, lively wine is specially priced to encourage
you to take home a box to have around the house for whenever the mood strikes
you.
Lícia Albariño 2005 $15.99 From the same winemakers who
brought us the exclusive single vineyard Albariño
called Finca Arantei comes this well
priced second label that is new to the US market. Lícia is crisp and lemony,
with a hint of floral richness held in check by the dry mineral component found
in all the best wines from the region.
Fefiñanes Albariño 2005 $16.99 Long before these wines were
popular, Fefinanes was growing Albariño
in Rias Baixas. Founded in 1904, this winery has
achieved a fine balance between the dry mineral side of Albariño and the more
floral aromatic elements of the grape. An outstanding value.
Carballal Albariño 2005 $17.99 Another new product for the US
market, Carballal is clean and crisp, with gentle citrus blossom aroma and a
bit of grapefruit to balance the dry mineral foundation of the wine.
Laxas Albariño 2005 $17.99 Pronounce the name of this wine
‘luscious’, and you start to get an idea of how it tastes. Ripe aromas of
honeysuckle and tangerine along with full-bodied flavors of green plum and
golden delicious apple predominate without totally masking the underlying
minerality that maintains the balance of flavors.
Avian Albariño 2005 $23.99 The
flagship wine from Bodegas Castro Martin (some of you may remember the
excellent Castro Martin Albariño which is sadly no longer available).
Avian is straw colored with a tinge of green and a dry, steely foundation
supporting rich floral aromas and flavors of citrus and pear.