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Showing posts with label Wines of Spain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wines of Spain. Show all posts
Friday, August 22, 2025
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
One of the most ICONIC wines: Torres 2016 Mas La Plana (Spain)
Today it's one of the most iconic wines in the world from Spain and the Family Torres :
Familia Torres 2016 Mas La Plana
The Wine Note ... Lots of dark fruit like black cherry, kicks the wine off and continues to be at the heart of each sip – hits of mocha and spice also make an appearance with notes of violet on the finish. There's a nice purity and freshness to the wine with good acidity, while the cedar and tannins fight it out on the finish where a dichotomy of silky and gritty battle for supremacy. Rating: ****
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Bodegas Valoria 2014 Rioja Reserva (Spanish Wine)
A modern take on an old wine, this is a lovely reserva that shows how this style can be modernized
Bodegas Valoria 2014 Rioja Reserva
--- THE WRITTEN REVIEW ---
Bodegas Valoria 2014 Rioja Reserva
A winery that began in 1860 but one that also seems to be moving with the times. This is an elegant, Rioja Reserva that saw 30 months in American oak barrels, then spends another six in bottle before release to the public. Soft yet with a smokey edge; there's also a toasty note and some vanilla (especially on the finish - totally expected based on that US oak); but still fruit comes through with baked black cherry and strawberry notes coming into the mix. The oak does not overwhelm. In fact, it's well integrated, making more of a seasoning statement than an intrusive part of the wine. (****)
Monday, October 11, 2021
Torres 2016 Gran Coronas Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (The Wine Review - #...
Torres is back on the videos series, but this time with a more "value" priced wine,
proving they make good wine at every level :
Torres 2016 Gran Coronas Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
available at the winery
(and other fine wine stores)
Monday, October 26, 2020
Monday, April 11, 2016
Monday, March 7, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
Report from: Profile Portfolio Tasting – September 29, 2015
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Bersano 2010 Barolo Nirvasco, Italy ($29.95)
Good fruit, herbal, sour cherry and a little bit smoky; well-structured. (****)
Bersano 2007 Barolo Riserva, Italy ($76.95)
Rich, ripe and fruit driven with great spice and a dark fruit linger with pepper on the backend. (****+)
Fantinel 2014 Spumanti Prosecco Brut “One & Only”, Italy ($23.95)
Only 48,000 bottles are produced from this single vineyard offering: great minerality and freshness with citrus, mac apple and good acid balance – not your same old same old Prosecco here. (****)
Fantinel 2011 La Roncaia Refosco, Italy ($41.95)
2 years in barrel, 100% new but with very low toast has created a wine with coffee/mocha, black cherry, pencil shavings, boysenberry … a great marriage of fruit / spice and acidity. (**** ½)
Cesari 2011 Bosan Ripasso, Italy ($34.95)
Great aromatics of Ripasso lead to a palate of cocoa, mocha, spice and black cherry. (****)
Poggio al Tesoro 2010 Dedicato A Walter, Italy ($104.95)
7th release if this 10 barrel selection, special offering which is dedicated to the owner’s brother: herbal and olive aromas (trees are planted every 9 rows in the vineyard) great spice, tobacco and mineral – lovely. (****)
Castello di Querceto 2009 Romantic, Italy ($199.95)
A three grape blend of Petit Verdot (50%), Merlot (30%) and Syrah (20%) aged for 24 months (Merlot and Syrah) and 36 months (Petit Verdot) – meaty, gamey, cassis, white pepper with nice tannin grit and some anise seed on the mid-palate. Only 3000 Bottles produced. (****)
Farnese 2012 Edizone 14, Italy ($40.95)
Deep, rich dark fruit, smoky-mocha, plum and vanilla with hints of coffee on the lengthy finish. (****+)
Velenosi 2010 Roggio del Filare, Italy ($38.95)
Name of the wine means “Fire” and is made up of 70% Montepulciano and 30% Sangiovese from 45 year old vines and aged 18 months separately in 1 year old barrels: deliciously red fruited with vanilla, cherry, plum and a touch of smoke, all with a licorice finish. (**** ½)
Velenosi 2011 Ludi, Italy ($52.95)
Made with Montepulciano, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot from 38 year old vines, aged 24 months in oak: mocha, chocolate, spice, blackberry and cassis … quite delicious. (****+)
La Gerla 2014 Poggio Degli Angeli, Italy ($23.95)
Sour cherry, raspberry, light and easy fruit with a touch of something herbal. (*** ½+)
Juan Gil 2014 Bodegas Ateca Honoro Vera, Spain ($15.95)
A light and easy Grenache aged only 2 months in oak from 50+ year old vines: fresh, lively and truly delightful – red fruit, deep rich and gorgeous, what the real draw here is the boat-load of cherry fruit on the mid-palate to the finish. (****)
Juan Gil 2014 Bodgeas Atalaya Laya Red, Spain ($14.95)
70% Garnacha and Tinto Rera with another 30% Monastrell aged 4 months in oak: mocha, cherry, strawberry, vanilla and a hint of white pepper. (****)
Juan Gil Bodegas Tridente Entresuelos, Spain ($17.95)
100% Tempranillo with herbal, tobacco and a little raspberry and smoke on the finish. (*** ½+)
Juan Gil 2013 Bodegas Ateca Atteca Old Vines Grenache, Spain ($24.95)
80+ year old Grenache aged 10 months, this is a true delight: rich dark fruit, plum, vanilla, and white smoke; the deep rich fruit caresses the tongue with flavour. (**** ½)
Renwood 2012 Zinfandel, Fiddletown, California ($24.95)
Plum, cherry, mocha-chocolate, cola all with a little sweetness but quite nicely balanced by the acidity. (****)
World’s End 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Crossfire, California ($166.95)
Rich cherry, plum, blackberry, black cherry and vanilla – very sweet fruited. (****)
Chappellet 2013 Mountain Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California ($54.95)
It says Cabernet blend on the label, but Merlot dominates at 43% with Cabernet Sauvignon being only 34% and even with the addition of Cab Franc (5%) it’s still only 39% in total … and don’t forget the Petit Verdot and Malbec in here as well – all aged 17 months in oak; smoky, cassis, hint of vanilla, plum, blackberry all with an elegant spiced finish. (****)
Miner 2011 Chardonnay, Wild Yeast, California ($51.95)
I’m a sucker for wild yeast and here’s a Chardonnay with 12 months in oak (30% new) both barrel fermented and aged and has gone through 100% malolactic fermentation: peach pit, apricot, pear, vanilla, yellow plum with creamed pineapple and butterscotch on the finish. (****)
Miner 2012 Pinot Noir, Garys’ Vineyard, California ($59.95)
Light and delicate in colour with raspberry and strawberry, hints of tart cranberry and a white pepper on the finish – it’s clean and delicate with refreshing acidity. (****+)
Peter Franus 2013 Zinfandel, Brandlin Vineyard, California ($59.95)
Vineyard was planted in 1920: 90% Zinfandel with Mourvedre, Carignan and Charbono rounding out the rest of the grapes; it’s also dry farmed which (amongst other things) helps to concentrates the aromas and flavours in the finished wine. Layers of flavour including plum, black cherry, vanilla-cola, mocha and a mid-palate minerality that’s just “wow”-good, it closes off with a luxurious finish. (****+)
J. Lohr 2013 Petite Sirah, Tower Road, California ($37.95)
There’s also 3% Syrah in this wine, it’s bold and fruity: blueberry, black cherry, vanilla, all with a nice red fruit middle and a dry black fruit finish. (****)
J. Lohr 2013 Pinot Noir, Falcon’s Perch, California ($28.95)
Fruit for this wine comes from the cooler region of Monterey and 17% of the wine sees 3rd fill barrels to keep things fresh and fruit forward: lots of cherry yet really very delicate – it’s one of those by-itself Pinots you would happily just sit and sip on. (*** ½+)
Young Inglewood 2012 Right Bank Blend, California ($123.95)
Winery was bought in 2007 and the first vintage was 2009 … 61% Cabernet Franc, 36% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot spent 2 months in new French oak: smoky tobacco, blueberry skin, cassis and plenty of black pepper on the finish. (****)
Long Meadow Ranch 2013 Pinot Noir, Farmstead, California ($52.95)
The first thing that grabs you is the great acid and pepper note, then there’s the cran-cherry tartness and the mineral / floral backing – good fruit and great length. (****)
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Monday, January 25, 2016
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Report from: Salud Spain - October 1, 2015
Lookie here, the LCBO put on a gorgeous tasting at the Leon's ROundhouse in downtown Toronto - and when I say "gorgeous" I mean the wines ... Spanish wines have long been a weakness of mine and when confronted with so many it's hard to pick just one, so below I have 29 good to great Spanish selections (just a warning though, most of the wines are red):
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| Descendientes de J. Palacios 2012 Villa de Corullon ($59.00 - #154435) Made from the 60-90 year old Mencia grapes grown at 600-900 meters above sea level; this is a 8 hectare plot, single vineyard wine mineral / stony with great acidity full of black fruit and chocolate ****+ |
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| Descendientes de J. Palacios 2013 Petalos ($25.00 - #675207) Made from the 30-35 year old Mencia grapes grown at 200-250 meters above sea level fresh and fruity with mineral and some cherry / acidity on the finish *** 1/2+ |
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| Dominio de Tares 2009 Bembibre ($47.00 - #433680) creamy black fruit, smoky and toasty with a burnt toast-coffee finish *** 1/2+ |
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| Bodegas Alto Moncayo 2012 Garnacha ($49.00 - #396358) blackberry, black cherry, chocolate all with a spicy finish **** |
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| Bodegas Alto Moncayo 2012 Veraton ($32.95 - #173211) incredibly juicy with lots of cherry, both red and black *** 1/2+ |
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| Corona de Aragon 2012 Anayon Garnacha ($30.95 - #424424) mocha, black cherry and pepper; a real full and robust wine **** |
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| Corona de Aragon 2012 Anayon Carinena ($32.00 - #432047) aromas are heavy on the red berries while the palate is cherry, chocolate, cassis and blackberry *** 1/2+ |
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| Emilio Lustau Solera Reserva Moscatel Sherry ($36.00 - #433052) a rarity to see Moscatel made into a stand alone sherry excellent floral notes with good acidity and balancing sweetness refreshes instead of overly sweet, pleasant spice to the finish **** |
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| Bodegas Alceno 2012 Seleccion Crianza ($21.00 - #433334) 75% Monastrell with Tempranillo and Syrah aged 8 months in oak easy drinking with red fruit and depth of cocoa and white pepper **** |
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| Bodegas Alceno 2010 Monastrell Dulce ($32.00/375ml - #433334) a sweet yet pretty dessert wine with violet, cherry, sweet blackberry and spice - wild fermented to 16% *** 1/2+ |
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| Dominio Dostares 2012 Estay Prieto Picudo ($17.00 - #393140) made from the Prieto Picudo (dark and pointed) because of the cone shape of the bunch there are only 300 hectares of this grape planted in the area lots of dark fruit, spice, cocoa and tannins after only 6 months in oak *** 1/2+ |
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| Dominio de Punctum 2014 Viento Aliseo Viognier ($15.95 - #424713) fresh and fruity with peach, pineapple and a lemon pith finish *** 1/2 |
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| Dominio de Punctum 2012 Viento Aliseo Graciano/Cabernet Sauvignon ($17.00 - #432021) a 50/50 blend of the grapes: sandlewood, cassis and black cherry, very silky **** |
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| Bodegas Toro Albala 1986 Don PX Gran Reserva ($53.00 - #434068) thick and raisiny with good mid-palate acidity bottled in 2014 **** |
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| Bodegas Toro Albala 1962 Don PX Reserva Especial ($205.00 - #424085) thick, hedonistic and unctuous; gorgeous bottle of sweet almond, hazelnut, dates, figs, raisins, yet such great acidity for balance and length of finish Outstanding: **** 1/2+ |
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| Chivite 2011 Finca de Villatuerta Syrah ($25.00 - #432005) single vineyard Syrah that's smooth and silky with black fruit, nice acidity and gentle spice ****+ |
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| Torres 2010 Mas La Plana Cabernet Sauvignon ($59.00 - #129676) nice mocha/chocolate, herbal, cassis, blackberry with smoky and spice finish ****+ |
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| Torres 2012 Salmos ($31.00 - #60772) a blend of Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah red fruit, nicely spiced, silky smooth and a juicy finish **** |
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| Bodegas Valdemar 2012 Fincas Valdemar Crianza ($27.00 - #432781) a Tempranillo based wine aged 12 months in oak chocolate and white pepper with the delicacy of black cherry, blackberry, and a short mocha finish with a hint of vanilla - still quite smooth *** 1/2 |
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| Baron de Ley 2007 7 Vinas Reserva ($46.00 - #91983) cocoa/mocha with red and black cherry, white pepper and an herbed finish **** |
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| Bodegas Palacios Remondo 2012 La Montesa Crianza ($21.95 - #674572) fruity, earthy and spicy with an herbal finish *** 1/2+ |
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| Bodegas Valdemar 2005 Inspiracion Valdemar Graciano ($34.95 - #423525) smoky-meaty, dried blackberry and mocha **** |
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| Gonzlez Byass 2011 Beronia III AC ($80.00 - #433326) coffee/latte, wood smoke, vanilla, blueberry and spice; long oaky finish *** 1/2+ |
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| Luis Canas 2007 Hiru 3 Racimos ($157.00 - #434746) juicy blackberry, cassis, mocha, cherry, spice; big, thick, juicy and spicy - there's also a long licorice-smoky finish ****+ |
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| Principe de Viana 2011 Rioja Vega 9 Barricas ($37.95 - #433706) licorice, smoke, cassis, choke cherry and pepper with big tannins but so elegant. ****+ |
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| Bodegas Coral Duero 2006 Rompesedas ($19.95 - #425868) 100% new oak: 60/40 French/American split for 18 months mouth-filling with spice, tannins and acidity - a real food wine: dark fruit lingers in the background waiting to pounce **** |
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| Vintae 2012 Matsu el Recio ($19.95 - #424408) 90 year old vines aged 14 months in oak the fruit is subtle with spice alongside, the balance is lovely **** |
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| Muga 2011 Reserva ($23.95 - #177345) blackberry, herbal/smoky and pencil shavings *** 1/2+ |
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| Compania de Vinos del Atlantico 2012 Gordo Tinto ($18.00 - #432435) Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon blend (70/30) raspberry, strawberries and licorice with a nice long berry finish; very pretty |
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Report from: Primium Familiae Vini Lunch - April 23, 2015
Is there any possible way to put into words the amazing wines and breadth of history that packed the room on this day, as the Primium Familiae Vini (PFV) came to Toronto to wine, dine and ... for lack of a good rhyming word ... impress the hell out of all in attendance.
These are all names you'd recognize, no matter what level of wine drinker you happen to be. Names like Pol Roger, Drouhin, Muller, Torres, Antinori, Perrin, Rothschild and more: 11 in total, and the experience and history was enough to put one in awe. So instead of waxing poetic about the what and who let's take a simultaneous look at the lunch (held at the Four Seasons Hotel) and the wines (one from each family).
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| You know it's gonna be a good party when this is the appetizer wine: -------------------- Pol Roger 2002 Sir Winston Churchill biscuity, sour apple, almondine along with notes of toffee and butterscotch **** 1/2 |
The Look of Lunch ...
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| Foie Gras Brioche, Laroda Plum, Lamb's Lettuce |
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| Scallops Kumquat, Baby Leek, Caviar |
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| Cavatelli Pasta Rabbit Confit, Preserved Tomato, Olives |
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| Braised Bison Short Rib Spring Carrots, Pommes Dauphines |
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| Stilton Cheese Fig, Walnut Crostini, Red Watercress |
Wine a Little - Cause there's a lot of them ...
Many of the wines we tried today are no longer in the market place for purchase so no score will be given.
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| Famille Hugel 2010 Riesling Jubilee wine made from top Crus quite lovely with hints of elegant petrol |
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| Joseph Drouhin 2012 Chablis Grand Cru 'Les Clos' made from a 1.3 hectare parcel in Chablis creamy texture, apricot, peach, nice minerality with a hint of oxidation |
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| Egon Muller Scharzhof 1994 Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett the house of Muller dates back to 1797 stunningly young in both colour and freshness |
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| Torres 2010 Mas La Plana represented here today by Miguel Torres - 5th Generation 100% Cabernet Sauvignon - started making this wine in the late 60's lots of dark fruit and spice; great complexity with power and heft |
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| Tenuta San Guido 2009 Sassicaia young by comparison, the winery was established in 1941 earthy, sour cherry, cassis - has the acidity of Sangiovese yet the fruit and force of Bordeaux |
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| Famille Perrin 2005 Chateau Beaucastel dark fruit and spice; a real delicious endeavour |
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| Antinori 2007 Solaia name meaning "looking at the sun" - label started in 1978 this wine has an incredible power in the glass with a long life ahead |
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| Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2005 Pauillac Julien Beaumarchais de Rothschild had plenty of quoteable moments: "wedding between great family and terroir" "way beyond business puposes, it's about the soul" As for the wine: menthol, dark fruit with oak and cassis |
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| Vega-Sicilia 2004 Unico "close to a perfect vintage" - 90% Tempranillo / 10% Cabernet Sauvignon this wine is only produced in the 'great years' a pure delight on the palate and perfect match with the short ribs - but this one was also a wonderful wine on its own |
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| Symington Family - Graham's 1977 Vintage Port if there is a God and he drinks port regularly he's got a few cases of this in his cellar |
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