Spanish Tasting @ Urdaneta!

Meetup

Dec 7

Written By

What was poured

In the order it was served. Quoted tasting notes are credited to their sources.

1 · 2016 Pago Casa Gran Casa Benasal Elegant Moixent Spain - blend of 60% Garnacha (Grenache), 40% Monastrell & 20% Syrah

94 James Suckling

“Really impressive elegance & concentration make for a compelling, medium-weight red. Plenty of red & dark plums & cherries & deeply flavorsome, succulent tannins. This has real appeal. (JS)”

James Suckling

2 · 2014 San Gregorio Garnacha Las Martas Calatayud Spain

“A big wine that is full of mystery with complex earthy & floral notes. Some really big tannins for this grape, but also a fresh acidity..." Enjoy today with steak! Rated 93 JS”

tasting note

3 · 2016 Losada Bierzo Vinos de Finca Mencia Spain

“Sexy, stylish & complex Bierzo with a wealth of dark graphite & stony aromas, pepper, baking spices & dark berries. Succulent palate with a deep & juicy core of pitch-perfect, ripe & spicy black cherries & blackberries. The tannins are immaculate. Long & regal. Rated 96 JS”

tasting note

4 · 2011 Aletta Garnacha Campo de Borja Spain

89 International Wine Cellar

“Vivid ruby. Fresh cherry, raspberry & white pepper on the nose. Pliant & approachable, with bright acidity giving lift to jammy red fruit & spice flavors. Smooth, seamless & appealingly spicy, with fine-grained tannins & good juicy persistence.”

International Wine Cellar

5 · 2016 Montesecano Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley, Chile

94 The Wine Advocate

“Alsace winemaker André Ostertag is the consultant for this stunning Pinot Noir, made from a seven-hectare block of older vines. Aged in concrete eggs & clay amphorae, it’s all about fruit purity rather than oak, with 30% whole bunch spice, crunchy red fruits, some tobacco notes & incredible intensity. (WA)”

The Wine Advocate

6 · 2015 Bodegas Salentein Gran Corte Spirit Vineyard Argentina

93 Wine Enthusiast

“Baked black-fruit aromas hint at prune & raisin on the nose of this Malbec-based Bordeaux-style blend. The dense, full-bodied palate is a bit viscous, while ripe berry & chocolate flavors culminate with toasty richness & plenty of weight. (WE)”

Wine Enthusiast

7 · 2009 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 Cosecha Rioja

96 Tim Atkin

“Reflecting the excellence of the vintage, as well as its power, this is the latest in a superb run. Combining Tempranillo with 10% Graciano for added backbone and grip. Spicy, aromatic and enticing, with the vanilla sweetness of American oak, savoury tannins and a core of stylish, balsamic-edged fruit.”

Tim Atkin

8 · 2015 Raul Perez Ultreia Mencia de Valtuille Bierzo

95 Josh Raynolds

“Vivid ruby. An expansive, seductively perfumed bouquet of ripe red/blue fruits, pot-pourri, exotic spices and cola, along with an intense mineral overtone. Concentrated yet vibrant in character, showing superb definition and mineral lift to the sweet raspberry, boysenberry, cola, spicecake and violet pastille flavors. Shows alluring sweetness and powerful thrust on the youthfully tannic finish, which hangs on with outstanding clarity and mineral-driven persistence.”

Josh Raynolds