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La Vendimia 2008

January 15, 2010   Dave Worthington   3 Comments

la-vendimia-08After a fairly indulgent Christmas/New year period and start of a new year, I usually think it’s time for a couple of weeks of detox. Well not detox really, just a couple of weeks to a month of not drinking. Given I’ve got almost a month of eating and drinking in Spain coming up in a couple of weeks, it seems like the wise thing to do. So it will continue to be fairly quiet here at Tinto y Blanco for a couple of weeks…

This time in Spain I’m having a bit more of a holiday and I’m focusing more on food than a full on wine adventure: lazy days with long lunches, lots of jamon and roasted lamb, and of course a bit of wine here and there. Of course I can’t help but have a couple of appointments in and around Bierzo, plus a couple more in Rioja to get the low down on the 2009 vintage. I’ll post up some notes as we going along…Oh and another thing. If you haven’t checked out the new (or not so new) Movida book “Movida Rustica”, do check it out. From the brief look I’ve had so far it looks like its full of ‘real’ Spanish food.

Anyway on to the wine. Love the label and the 2008 is much better than the 2007 that was around for a little while mid last year. Fresh raspberry and earth is the first thing on the nose, it opens out to show some cherry and a little herb. Easy to drink, but still kind of serious and savoury at the same time. Meaty with soft tannins, its a little light in the acid department. Very likeable with a nice hunk of goat. 88 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $27 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.vinosherenciaremondo.com

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Quinta do Ameal 2008

December 16, 2009   Dave Worthington   2 Comments

ameal-08It’s 38 degrees in Melbourne today, so what to drink? The best idea is probably water, a bit boring for this time of year tho. A more enjoyable solution would be a nice bottle of manzailla or a beer, perhaps something sparkling. Or Vinho Verde, which is my choice tonight. There isn’t a lot of vinho verde getting around in Australia, so I feel quite comfortable in saying that this is the best around….

It’s peachy, lemon-limey, herby and a little salty on the nose. A little melon creeps in as it warms up too. Nicely textured, you could be convinced there is a bit of spritz there, but its not really fizz but the fine minerally acid. From what I’ve seen of previous vintages, this will open up and keep deilvering over the next couple of years. Next time you’re heading out for yum cha, grab a couple of bottles of this, loads of friends and fill the table with seafood dumplings. Heaven. 89 Pts

Web: www.quintadoameal.com

Other Vintages: 2005, 2007

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Telmo Rodriguez Gaba do Xil 2008

December 15, 2009   Dave Worthington   No comments

gaba-08I am developing a bit of a soft spot for Godello. I have always liked it, but there have a been a few recent example that have really delivered, both in the interestingness and drinkability factors. Its one of the lesser known grape varieties from Spain, often over shadowed by Albariño and Verdejo. I find it more exciting than verdejo and more versatile than albariño in it’s ability to give a good refreshing drink while matching with a wide range of foods. It seems to go very well with Thai food and is excellent with goats cheese for some reason.

Valdeorras is a very striking place too, very hilly and rainy. There are some great photos on the Temlo Rodriguez website. In fact I think they might have the best photos of any wine website I’ve seen…Anyway, hopefully I’ll get a chance to have a quick look around here when I’m back in Spain in February.

This version from Compania del Vinos de Telmo Rodriguez is looking very raw at the moment (this is a good thing), there is some clear power there, but the classic pears, freshly cut hay and a touch of guava and hot wax are all there. Very robust and tight for a white wine, kind of like white burgundy in structure, but nothing like it in flavour. Crunchy minerals and an acid laden finish. A little fleshy, the texture is silky and fine. I’ve not had an aged godello, but this looks like it has the goods to go for at least 5 years…90Pts

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $28 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.telmorodriguez.com

Other Vintages: 2005, 2006

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Los Hermanos ‘Tributo a Galacia’ 2009

December 09, 2009   Dave Worthington   1 Comment

los-hermanos-2009If I was going to pick a wine scandal of the year, it would have to be Albarinogate. But there are those out there with the cunning and guile to recover and release something with a great name like ‘A tribute to Galacia’. I loved this label last year, but it seems to go better with the new name.

White peach and white flowers get things moving on the nose, followed up by a base of an apple/pear combo. Taught and firm in the mouth, nice menerally acid and a long tangy finish. More of that apple and pear on the palate with some lime and lemon and a very slight herbal note. Good stuff. Get on board S.S. Savignin! 89 Pts

Source: Crittenden Estate Cost: $28 Closure:Screwcap

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Toscar Rosado 2008

December 08, 2009   Dave Worthington   No comments

toscar-rosado-2008It is that time of year when a good rose is in order. Well, it is normally. We’ve been getting good rain here in Melbourne, which is odd for this time of year but more than welcome. This puppy is 100% monastrell from Alicante, and it confirms my thoughts that the best two grapes for rose from Spain are Monastrell and Garnarcha. Although a rosado made from Mencia that I tasted a couple of weeks ago was excellent as well…mor on that soon.

The nose is almost meaty, with plum and strawberry notes. A bit of toffee and earth round this out nicely. There is a slight texture there in the mouth, balanced out with some good acid. The palate has a tangy red apple note to it, with some light plum juice and earthiness. Savoury and very drinkable, with or without food this is a winner for $14. It’s under screwcap too. How can you go wrong? 88 Pts.

Source: Ce Soir Imports Price: $14 Closure: Screwcap



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“My Favourite Spanish Wine” 2007

December 01, 2009   Dave Worthington   No comments

my-favourite-07It is quite a cheeky name, but the value here is unmistakable. I’m sure google will have a field day with the title of this post too…So a similar blend to the 2005 I reviewed a while ago, Tempranillo and Monastrell from Alicante in all its fresh and rustic glory. And it’s in screwcap now too.

Open and ready to drink, the nose offers up plums and cherries, with some earthy herbs and a rustic mustiness. Open weave on the palate with a bit of edge to keep it interesting. Light tannins and good acid. It drinks like a champ, round and fruity, but not overly sunny and obvious. My neighbour is cooking lamb chops on the BBQ (and they smell fantastic), I might have to go and see if I can pinch one…87 Pts.

Source: Ce Soir Imports Price: $11 Closure: Screwcap

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Capcanes ‘Lasandal’ 2006

November 30, 2009   Dave Worthington   No comments

lasendal-2006I had a craving for grenache on the way home last Thursday, a quick stop in at City Wine Shop turned up this little gem. The flash new label really stands out, I like the textured paper with bold black ink, great for photos. Packaging is all well and good, but who gives a toss? It’s all about the wine, and in this case it’s a garnarcha/syrah blend (85%/15% respectively) with a spell in older American oak.I’ve been following this wine for a while now, this is the best yet.

This is really bright and vibrant, but with all they savoury, earthy, herby stuff that makes Spanish granache so tasty. Raspberry and black cherry on the nose, hot rocks, sage and rosemary, earthy and musk. It has a core of juicy fruit wound up in a ball of light tannins, minerally acid and good length. It’s smooth and refreshing. Highly enjoyable and drinkable, I’d drink now but there is nothing wrong with keeping it for a couple of years. Excellent value too. And yes, I did buy it for the label… 92 Pts.
Source: The Spanish Acquisition RRP: $40 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.cellercapcanes.com

Other Vintages: 2000, 2004, 2005

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Adegas Galegas Dionisos 2008

November 20, 2009   Dave Worthington   No comments

dionisos-008Albariño season has reared its head a bit early this year, its been bloody hot for the last couple of days in Melbourne. Perfect for sitting in the yard with a bowl of clams after the sun goes down. Pitty I didn’t have any clams. I know I always go about shellfish with albariño, its only because its a perfect combination. If you haven’t already seen it, have a look at Spain on the Road again…. for an example of what happens in Galicia. However, if you do watch it, have the remote handy. Mario Batali must be one of the most boring and annoying people on TV, and there is plenty of him waffling on about crap in each episode he’s in…he should stay in the kitchen.

Anyway, back to the wine. I like the style of this wine, it balances the floral notes with firm acidity very well. There is that trademark minerality that shows up in good vintages in Rias Brixas, along with plenty of green pear, lemon and lime leaf complexity. Its just long enough and has a tangy lemon sherbet/hot rocks thing going on the finish. Very easy to drink, it’s on the firmer side of Albariño which makes it perfect with food. The price is a couple of bucks cheaper than last year too. 91 Pts.

Source: Ce Soir Imports Price: $28 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.galiciano.com

Other Vintages: 2007

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Mount Majura TSG 2008

November 19, 2009   Dave Worthington   2 Comments

mt-majura-tsg-2008Another cracking wine from Mount Majura, this time a blend of Tempranillo (56%) Shiraz (31%) Graciano (13%) aged in older wood. I haven’t seen a lot of Graciano aorund, I’d be interested in seeing what else is being done with this variety here. These kind of blends are really showing potential in Australia, and the resulting show a bit of Spain, a bit of France, but show through very much as Australian. Putting an Aussie stamp on Tempranillo can only be a good thing.

The photos might be a little wierd for the next couple of posts, I’ve upgraded a much more complicated and capable camera (a Canon 7D). However, my skill level still leaves a lot to be desired!

A good robust nose full of cherries and plums,`earthy notes, a little herb and pepper action. Soft and gentle in terms of texture, but the flavour profile is robust. More of that cherry and plum, a little liqorice, some cola notes and black pepper. It’s an open weave kind of wine, easy to drink but highly enjoyable. Excellent value too. 89 Pts.

Source: Winery Sample Price: $21 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.mountmajura.com.au

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Balbas Barrica 2008

November 16, 2009   Dave Worthington   No comments

balbas-barrica-20081Some Spanish wine law is a bit out there. Media crianza, semi joven, or barrica are all names for wines that have seen less than 12 months in oak, making the wine not quite a crianza or a joven wine. Now this isn’t an official term, people just make it up, but Barrica (which just means barrel in Spanish) seems to be winning out in Ribera del Duero and Toro. Confusing or what? Not a particularly great marketing plan, many Spanish people don’t know what it means either. Anyway, this puppy is all tempranillo that has 4 month in oak. It works quite well this wine, rather than adding unneeded wood it adds a nice edge to the wine.

Its a bit meat and savoury on the nose, a bit of herb, a bit of earth and plenty of dark cherry and blackcurrant fruit. Tight and fine in the mouth, a back line of acid and slightly raspy tannins. Licorice and spice, cherry fruit and tangy herbs on the palate. Nice drinking now, it will hang around for a while too, say 5 years, at its best. Very tidy for the price too. 89 Pts.

Source: Ce Soir Imports Price: $25 Closure: Conventional Cork

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