Naia Verdejo 2007

This wine has been dubbed the giraffe wine at home. I like giraffes, but I’m not sure I’d like to get too close to one in the flesh. This wine however is very friendly. And it is long and textured too.

A classy nose of citrus, lemon and grapefruit, with fennel bulb and herb notes. The real show here is the texture, length, and complexity on the palate. Very classy. Apples, lemons and pears with a touch of mineraly goodness.  A bit higher in cost than most Verdejos, but it is the most interesting I’ve had. 91 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $40 Closure: Conventional Cork

Con Class Verdejo 2007

This is another of the Vintage Cellars imports and personally, I’m very impressed. I get to taste a load of stuff with some of the importers, a lot of it is in search of a cheap white like this. Unfortunately not many reach this standard, and at this price. For sure, it’s not the best wine on earth, but it really over delivers and offers a real alternative to the cheaper NZ Sauv Blanc that seems to be the big seller in bottle shops.

Up front and fresh on the nose, pears and a little peach with some white flowers. A bit more air shows the classic fennel bulb. The palate show some guava, pear and passionfruit plus some musk stick. Its not that textured, which is something I look for in good verdejo, it’s lean with acid drive. Excellent for the price, I’ve tasted quite a few ‘inexpensive’ wines from Rueda and this has to be one of the best cheapies around. 87 Pts.

Source: Vintage Cellars Price: $12 Closure: Screwcap

Mantel Blanco Verdejo 2006

I’ve been meaning to write this wine up for a while, but the image has been a bit pesky. So, A small promo shot will have to do for now. I gave the Martel Blanco Sauv Blanc a bit of a wrap, but really the star from these guys in the Verdejo. This is a textbook example and comes in at a very reasonable price.

Bright golden hay in colour, with a classic verdejo nose of apples and pears with some fennel bulb and a touch of fresh green peas. Nicely textured with a very subtle bit of sweetness on the mid palate that works with the driving acid. The palate shows apple and lemon, a touch a tropical fruit and finishes off with a long clean finish that shows some bitter sage. I could drink this wine all day on a warm day. 88 Pts.

Martinsancho 2006

 

Telmo Rodriguez Basa 2007

This is my first look at a wine from 2007, I've heard that it was a difficult vintage but this wine doesn't show it.  Its a bit more textured than last year, but other wise its good all the qualities we're used to from Basa.  It kicks of with fresh apple and pear, fennel bulb, a touch of white melon and nuts. The texture gives it a rich, middle weight feel in the mouth, but is kept in balance by a hit of acid toward the finish.  On the palate its fairly much a mirror of the nose with some added minerals.  Another good Basa, it seems that a very handy white gets turned out here every year.  88 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $20 Closure: Conventional Cork

Palacio de Bornos Verdejo 2006

Verdejo is one of my favorite wines to take to a Thai or Vietnamese restaurant.  It copes really well with the spread of flavours, salt, oil and chili while adding lemon and fennel bulb that enhances the whole experience.  This is a very good example and does the job with ease.

Pale straw in colour and shows fennel bulb, lemon, pear and peach highlight on the nose.  Don't chill this too much or you'll be missing out on the lightly oily texture to go with the crisp acid.  In the mouth flavours of pear, lemon, pineapple and a touch of honey.  The finish is a bit short, but shows a some tangy bitter herbs.  88 Pts.

Source: Toro/Wood Wines Price: Around $20 Closure: Synthetic Cork

Telmo Rodriguez Basa 2006

Just a quick one today.  I don't know how Telmo does it, but this wine is very good every vintage. It could be that this bottle is a bit fresher, but I like the 06 a bit more than the 05, more tropical fruit and a more lively nose.  The more wines I drink from Rueda, the more I like them.  Always fresh and interesting

A fresh straw colour, the nose shows passion fruit, melon, fresh fennel, pear and light lemon rind.  The oiliness that I love in verdejo is there, with some crisp acid to provide balance.  In the mouth there is melon, apple, and lemon with a quick shake of minerals. A handy wine for the growing "Anything but Sav Blanc from New Zealand" set.  I'd love to see this under screwcap.  88 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $20 Closure: Conventional Cork

Marques de Riscal Blanco 2005

White Rioja isn't exactly the sexiest white wine around.  There are some good ones to be sure, with some new wines coming out that are starting to show promise.  However, the ol' Marques has done himself a favour and gone west in search of white wine.  To Rueda in fact.  The Blanco is a blend of 85% Verdejo, 15% Viura, from the 195 Ha that Riscal has in Rueda

Its very attractive, vibrant pale straw colour that makes me want to pour it into a glass.  The nose is fresh and full of summer fruit, passion fruit, grassy herbs, a bit of apricot and cooked fennel.  But where this wine really makes an impact is in the mouth: silky, oily texture with a pin prick of acid and apple fruit.  A bit of lime and herb as well.  A very handy food wine I think, but just as good on its own. 89 Pts

Source:  Toro/Woods Wines Price: Around $24  Closure: Conventional Cork 

Web:  www.marquesderiscal.com

Telmo Rodriguez Basa 2005

I've had countless bottles of this wine and it never fails to satisfy, especially with food.  So, I took this along to my favorite Vietnamese joint on Victoria Street, Richmond.  Mid way through a plate of salt and pepper squid, a nice English chap on the next table remarked that this was his favourite Spanish white and lamented at the lack of recognition such wines get in the UK supermarkets and wine stores.  Sounds like we have it fairly good down here in Aus (pricing aside)…

A fresh straw colour, with aromas of cut grass and herbs with some green pear and a lemon/lime combo.  There is enough acid to freshen up the mouth and there is a slight oiliness to it.  More tart apple and lemon on the palate with raw fennel bulb on the finish.  It dealt with the chili and spice of the squid very well, its perfect with this kind of food. Check it out next time you're at your local Asian eatery. 87 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $22 Closure: Conventional Cork

Bodegas Angel Rodriguez Martinsancho 2004

Angel Rodriguez and his wines (yes Angel is a bloke) are credited with preserving and reviving Rueda's indigenous Verdejo grape.  The story goes that Angel  had a plot of 200 year old verdejo vines.  The plot, or majuelo, is called Martinsancho, hence the name of the wine.  In the mid 70s Angel decided to grab some cuttings and plant 25 acres of the stuff.  This is the wine made from those 25 acres.  Most of the other verdejo vineyards in Rueda have also grown from these "mother vines". Verdejo has to be one of Spains best performing white wines.  Angel was even honoured by King Juan Carlos for his efforts.

Great story, now let me tell you about cork.  I've only had a couple of corked wines so far, perhaps I've had a good run.  This one wasn't so lucky, and it was the worst kind.  Scalped.  It was very subtle, where the wine should have been fresh and fragrant the wine had a very slight nose, still quite viscus, but an overwhelming sense of blandness.  Buggar.  I'll take this back for anther bottle.  NR

Source: Retail Cost: $30 Closure: Conventional Cork