Spanish Varietals Flashcards
La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza
Winemaker's Notes #34 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2014
Dark ruby red with an orange tint on the rim. Intense and lively on the nose, with spicy and balsamic aromas, scents of vanilla, coconut shells and black pepper with undertones of blackberries. Well-structured on the palate, perfectly balanced in acidity and alcohol content, with soft and silky tannins. The long aftertaste displays flavors of fresh blackberries along with spicy woody notes.
Blend: 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha.
Critical Acclaim
RP94
The Wine Advocate - “Cropped from a vintage deemed almost perfect, the 2005 Viña Ardanza Reserva follows the same varietal mix found in the last vintages; 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. The grapes are always sourced from the same vineyards, 30-year-old Tempranillo from Fuenmayor and Cenicero in Rioja Alta and Garnacha from Tudelilla in Rioja Baja. In the case of the 2005, it was racked six times during its elevage. The one bottle I tasted first was a bit evolved with plenty of cigar ash, incense and leather along with hung game (woodcock came to mind). But the palate was drying out a bit. Another bottle showed much fresher, with a great classical Rioja profile. This is very affordable making it a superb value for what it delivers. 600,000 bottles were produced of the prodigious 2005 vintage. This wine is not produced in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 or 2013.”
Descendientes de J.Palacious Petalos
Northwest Spain.
escendientes de J. Palacios Pétalos 2011 Bierzo, Spain
98% Mencia, the balance made up of 20 other varieties in the region, a blend of different villages. Fresh, floral black cherry nose is quite beautiful, with a meaty edge. Amazing palate is fresh and vivid, with intense notes of pure black cherries, meat and olives. 94/100
Wines today are more likely to have a bright complexion with a vivid maroon color, fresh acidity and tannins, and dark-fruit flavors with a herbal dimension of mint or thyme.
Wine Spectator 91 points - Expressive flavors of black cherry, currant, licorice, mineral and smoke mingle in this focused red. The texture is gentle but firm, with well-integrated tannins and racy acidity providing structure. A compact wine that shows good intensity. Drink now through 2023.-T.M. (Apr 1 2015)
Finca Sandoval
y Josh Raynolds - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 10 - Finca Sandoval 2008 - 92/100
($31; 76% syrah, 13% mourvedre and 11% bobal, planted on chalky soil; aged in 85% French and 15% American oak that ranged from new to three years old) Bright purple. Spicy, highly fragrant nose features perfumed blackberry, violet and orange peel, with hints of smoke and black olive. Really showing the syrah now. Dense, sappy and chewy but surprisingly lithe; the intense red and dark berry and floral pastille flavors are at once taut and rich, thanks to zesty minerality. Finishes very suave and long, with fine-grained tannins and lingering spiciness.
Allende rioja
100% tempranillo Intense cherry colour, with purple edges; in the nose there is a predominence of fruit aromas
( blackberry, cranberry and wildforest fruits) over the notes of oak, perfectly integrated, which
reminds one of cedar and tobacco. In the mouth, it is serious and lively with intensity and great
balance . An expansive palate combines fresh fruit and an elegant structure for a wine with a great
ageing potential.
Dacu Tempranillo
Dacu Ribera Del Guadiana Tempranillo 2012. Plum color. Red Plum, Cherry and slight strawberry on the nose. Full body/ slight tannin on the palate/ overall pretty smooth. Definitely recommend airing it out. Red plum & Cherry on the palate, along with roasted red pepper, and very nice lasting finish. Great with Chipotle Gouda/ pepper jack & my favorite with this wine- Manchego Cheese. I rate it a 4.0 out of 5. Great deal for $12. 14.5 % Vol.
