Neat Thoughts About Food, Wine, Travel & More
Deep inky red in the glass, the 2010 Salmos Torres isn’t for the faint of palate. There are big chocolaty, dark fruit and pumpkin pie spice aromas that had me clamoring for the first sip. The wine is rich, smooth with light tannins. The dark fruit with light vanilla is present and endures through the long finish.
Pairings: Grilled or roasted meats, aged cheeses.
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 50% Cariñena, 30% Red Grenache and 20% Syrah
Region: Catalunya, Spain
Price: $35
I discovered this beautiful pale pink wine with the 2009 vintage and it’s been one of my go-to summer rosés.
This zippy Spanish wine is super dry with a great level of acidity. Strawberry, floral and slate nose. Light fizz on the front of the sip that dissipates into a dry finish. Bright, ripe strawberry flavors make this a great wine for summer sipping or to match up with foods that are a little fatty like salmon or event lamb chops.
Wine&Spirits – 90 points.
Style: Rosé
Grape Type(s): Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza
Region: Pais Vasco, Spain
Around $20
This wine is offered by Bodega Martin Codax, one of my favorite Albariño-makers. It was recently given 90 points by Wine Enthusiast and I can see, and taste, why.
In the glass, this wine is golden with greenish hues – very pretty. The aromas are of lush, juicy peach and apricot. The flavors are of ripe tropical fruits with floral and citrusy notes that carry on a long finish. Crisp with a great food-friendly level of acidity.
Pairings: Light fish, grilled seafood, aperitif
Style: White Wine
Grape Type(s): Albariño
Region: Rias-Baixas, Spain
Price: $14.99
Campo Viejo, the second largest Spanish wine brand in the U.S.*, is running a contest called Capture the Vibrancy. The contest lets shutterbugs upload photos that capture the vivacity of American cities.
Folks are asked to submit a photo that best embodies the flavor of their city for the opportunity to win a five-day trip to Rioja, a VIP tour of the award-winning winery and a professional photography class during their stay in the stunning region.
Photo entries will be open for public voting for ten days once the submission appears on the Capture the Vibrancy Facebook tab (facebook.com/CampoViejoWine). At the end of the contest period, the ten entries with the highest number of votes will be selected as finalists and will be awarded a photography accessory package to help further develop their skills. A panel of judges will determine the most striking and expressive image from the top ten entries to be announced as the grand prizewinner.
Applicants are encouraged to visit Campo Viejo’s Facebook page to submit their original photo(s) between March 1st and April 30th (one unique entry per person per week). Ten finalists will be determined by voting on or before May 16th, with the grand prizewinner announced on or around May 29th. The grand prize includes round trip airfare and a five-day, four-night stay for two in Spain, which is valued at approximately $5,000.
*Campo Viejo is ranked the second largest by $ volume in the U.S., according to Nielsen XAOC+Liquor, end 2/2/13.
Red/blueish in the glass, this young Spanish wine offers a noseful of stone fruit and earthy notes. This food-friendly Tempranillo is bright with rich fruit flavors.
Pairings: Grilled lamb, garlicky shellfish, seared salmon
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): Tempranillo
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Price: $8.99
I’d had this inexpensive Spanish wine in my cellar for a while and opted to uncork it to pair with grilled porterhouse steaks with peppercorn sauce.
In the glass, it shows a deep purple color not unlike the purple band on the bottle’s label. On the nose, I smelled Herbes de Provence and hints of cracked peppercorn. The palate of this Monastrell is a mouthful of dark berries with nice acidity and pine needle notes. The finish is short, which is a bit of a disappointment. Grilled pork chops would have been a better match than my steaks. Nice wine for $10.
Pairings: Grilled pork chops, goat cheese on toasted bread.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Monastrell (also known as Mourvedre)
Region: Murcia, Spain
Around $10
I enjoyed this wine at San Francisco’s Spruce restaurant, which I highly recommend, and absolutely loved it.
On the nose, this Spanish wine is perfumed with sweet green apple and light lemony notes. In the mouth, this affordable Albarino is crisp and dry with lime zest and more green apple flavors. The finish is long with a great level of acidity.
Pairings: Pork belly, blackened chicken, grilled salmon.
Style: White
Grape Type(s): Albarino
Region: Rias Baixas, Spain
Around $20.
Lovely, aromatic wine with juicy peach aromas and tons of floral and ripe pear and apple flavors. The 2008 Naveran Dama Cava offers a rich, long finish. Great sparkling wine at this price point.
Style: Sparkling Wine
Grape Type(s): Chardonnay Blend
Region: Catalunya, Spain
Around $20
Made of three varietals, Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo, this Rioja is dark cherry ruby with a pale ring in the glass that reminds me of some of my favorite California Pinot Noirs. On the nose are aromas of wet wood, stone fruits and vanilla. On the palate, this lighter-bodied Spanish wine offers cherries, some rosy notes and a creamy, velvety mouthfeel with a slightly spicy, smooth, long finish.
Had this wine with a platter of cured meats and it was super. Would be great with grilled meats such as pork or chicken and with heartier fish like swordfish.
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.
Pairings: Grilled meats, lasagna bolognese
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo
Region: Rioja, Spain
Price: $10
2005 San Roman Toro
Had been saving this wine for a special occasion and boy what a treat it was. This Spanish wine is 100% Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) and inky black in the glass screaming at you to grow a backbone and dare have a sniff and a sip. The nose is intoxicating with loads of black, ripe fruit, smokiness and strong coffee. In the mouth, it’s velvety, concentrated and offers juicy fruit and dark chocolate. The 2005 San Roman Toro features supple tannins with a long, slightly-spicy finish.
Best Spanish wine I’ve had and in my top 50 list.
95 Points – Wine Enthusiast
Around $60.
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