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School me on Spanish wines.

post #1 of 28
5/19/10 at 3:20pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks.
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post #2 of 28
5/19/10 at 3:29pm
spain and portugal - the two regions that I am least familiar with. A shame.

Though I absolutely love Albarino, especially at this time of year. It's one of those wines that I tend to like more than Chablis or Kiwi SB or even some Loire whites ... yet I always forget to venture over to that section. Seek this varietal out.
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post #3 of 28
5/19/10 at 3:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gomestar View Post
spain and portugal - the two regions that I am least familiar with. A shame.

Though I absolutely love Albarino, especially at this time of year. It's one of those wines that I tend to like more than Chablis or Kiwi SB or even some Loire whites ... yet I always forget to venture over to that section. Seek this varietal out.
Liking albarino more than Chablis is sacrilege, but I love it as well. Still, I know so little that it is pretty hit and miss. If you can find this wine, buy it for great summer meals. Otherwise, I will experiment and report back.
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post #4 of 28
5/19/10 at 3:33pm
Exhibit A: Rioja - R. López de Heredia.

Go drink as much as you can. The blancos, the rosados, the tintos. You may have caught my post in the wine thread, but for summer I'd look first to the 1998 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Rosado. Then, the blancos. The 1990 Tondonia Reserva is marvelous. If you're still around, THEN try the tintos.

While you're doing that, read the following by Asimov:

A Rosé With a Past By ERIC ASIMOV
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.c...e-with-a-past/

"I've become obsessed with the wines of López de Heredia, a Rioja producer that clings serenely to the old ways regardless of current fashion and trends. Just as the best Rioja producers used to do, López de Heredia ages its wines for years, sometimes for more than a decade, before releasing them to the marketplace...

Tradition Ascendant in Rioja By ERIC ASIMOV
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.c...dant-in-rioja/

"It's almost reflexive when talking about López to describe it as classic or unyielding, because it is quite immune to the trend-following that so often guides decision-making in the world of wine. That is true. But it took me this visit to realize that in its own way, López de Heredia is now a cutting-edge winery.

"It's a case of what goes around comes around, as forward-thinking winemakers have in many ways come around to López de Heredia's ways of doing things. This is particularly true in the vineyard, where its gentle, natural viticultural approach is now the preferred approach my many of the world's great producers. In the winery, it's harder to say, except that Lopez's gentle handling, reliance on natural yeasts and overall artisanal methods are likewise an ideal today...
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post #5 of 28
5/19/10 at 3:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by iammatt View Post
Liking albarino more than Chablis is sacrilege, but I love it as well. Still, I know so little that it is pretty hit and miss. If you can find this wine, buy it for great summer meals. Otherwise, I will experiment and report back.

the word like perhaps wasn't my wisest choice, perhaps prefer would have been better. When it's hot out and I have a $20 bill, I much prefer Albarino to Chablis. I've had misses as well, but I'd much rather miss at $12 and just chill it before downing than miss with a $35 Chablis.
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post #6 of 28
5/19/10 at 5:30pm
vega sicilia (tempranillo) from the ribera del duero region is supposedlly one of the world's great reds....
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post #7 of 28
5/19/10 at 5:30pm
If you happen across these, I think they are nice representations:


Rioja, Crianza, Marqués de Tudellia, 2002
Rioja, Reserva, Marqués de Tudellia, 2000
Rioja, Reserva, Hazana, 2003 Spain
Ribero del Duero, Dominio de Atuata, 2003
Rioja, Gran Reserva, Faustino, 1995
Ribera del Duero, Pingus, 2001

I love Albarino Spirng/Summer. Inexpensive, just never really had anything "bad" and some are really good. grassy green and strong mineral... Rias Baixas is pretty common.

Look to Rueda for their Verdejos- personally the best ones put albarino to shame.
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post #8 of 28
5/19/10 at 5:34pm
Top tip: Old-fashioned white Rioja is almost-criminally undervalued.

Try the Marques Murrieta Ygay white at about 10 years old, for example.

The new style white Rioja for early drinking is also pleasant.
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post #9 of 28
5/19/10 at 5:36pm
Spanish grenache wines are nice.
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post #10 of 28
5/19/10 at 6:13pm
Assuming we're not talking about sherry...

I like Ribiera del Duero wines from Valladolid/Burgos/Segovia. Also good are Priorat and Penedés in Catalonia.
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post #11 of 28
5/19/10 at 6:36pm
The 2007 Senorio De Pecina, Rioja, Spain is really nice. 100% Stainless Vino Joven with bright crisp acidity and red fruits. With a slight chill this is my summer picnic red.
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post #12 of 28
5/19/10 at 10:14pm
mmmm... rioja......
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post #13 of 28
5/19/10 at 10:17pm
Cava.
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post #14 of 28
5/19/10 at 10:19pm
Rioja lasts forever. I should like it because I love old wine but I have never been able to warm up to it.
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post #15 of 28
5/19/10 at 10:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manton View Post
Rioja lasts forever. I should like it because I love old wine but I have never been able to warm up to it.

we had spotty luck at that one tasting for Spain. Some just overdo it with the oak and secondary malo.
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