The Official Wine Thread - Page 911

1968 is a great vintage for Spain. Assuming the cork is sound and it was well stored it should be very nice.

They say it was released last year by the winery (or whatever they are called in Spain) and they bought it direct from the importer.

Seems like a bunch of older Riojas are doing late releases following the success of Lopez de Heredia.

Yup. Was typed up by one of the family's kids. I may have a chance to snoop. It was moved a couple of times and no one can vouch for it's care though it's largely been in a cool cellar space for much of the last 20.
Edited by Cary Grant - 8/11/12 at 3:46pm

This was an 09. Equal blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, and Counoise. This is simply the best drinking bottle of wine I have had in months. If you can land a bottle of this do it. For only three years old it is highly integrated. The tannins give great structure but are not the type that grip your tongue. Full of lush, dark berries but not a fruit bomb. I'm not kidding here, this drank better than this 03:

Simply amazing. Huge amount of pure fruit, amazing concentration, perfectly integrated silky smooth tannins, 45+ second finish, drinking perfectly right now.

Anyone know anything about Madiran? Just had my first one and I liked it a lot.

I think those wines are made primarily from Tannat, which is one of the few red grapes with red flesh, so they tend to be black, and on the rustic side. I've had a few from Kermit Lynch I think, and liked them.

Tannat does make very dark wines, but the fleshly isnt red - you may be thinking of Alicante Bouschet. I made a fair bit of wine from tannat last year, and it certainly has tannin, acid, and color in spades.

I think I'm finally going tasting at Ridge today, which is pretty exciting.

This was 60% Tannat and 40% cab Franc. It's from somewhere south-east of Bordeaux in what used to be called Gascony, I don't know what the frogs are calling it now but you aren't supposed to say Gascony any more.

It was a 2006 and maybe a little tight but not overly so, I thought it was drinking fine. $15.

which location, Lytton or Montebello?

Isn't it funny how you've never seen a wine from a certain grape and then suddenly it's everywhere? I think I've tasted three of four wines this year with Tannat.

^Isn't that the case with everything?

Monte Bello. I'm looking at it out my window now, perhaps two miles off, but it's going to be a 45 min drive.

Also, Tablas Creek has some Tannat as well.

Had a glass of Viña Zaco 2008 yesterday. Great for the money. Very smooth. Good aftertaste. At least the wine was good since the food wasn't.