Sunday, December 21, 2008

Wines of Spain

Common Grape Varieties in Spanish Wines

In the last few years we have enjoyed many wines from Spain that represent high quality wines and exceptional values. Here is a compilation of the most common grapes we have encountered and the qualities they bring to the wine. Spain has more acres of vineyards than any other country in the world and modern winemakers are using old vines to produce world class wines at every price point.

Albariño
White. Native to Galicia, with small, very sweet glyceric berries which produce high quality wines. It is the basic grape of Rías Baixas DO. There has been a dramatic increase in the area planted with this grape over the last few years.

Cariñena
Red. Produces robust, balanced wines. An excellent complement to Garnacha, it is widely planted in Catalonia and La Rioja, where it is known as "Mazuela". It is also considered a main variety in Calatayud, Costers del Segre, Penedés, Tarragona and Terra Alta DOs.

Garnacha Tinta
Red Garnacha. A high-yielding grape that produces vigorous wines. This is the most widely grown red grape in Spain, especially in La Rioja, Madrid, Navarre, Tarragona, Teruel, Toledo and Zaragoza. It is considered a main variety in the following DOs: Ampurdán-Costa Brava, Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena, Costers del Segre, La Mancha, Méntrida, Penedés, Priorato, Somontano, Tarragona, Terra Alta, Utiel-Requena, Valdeorras and Vinos de Madrid.

Graciano
Red grape with a low yield, which produces highly prized wines. Young Graciano wines are very tannic, rough and tart, but develop superbly during ageing, both in cask and bottle. For this reason, these grapes are present in Gran Reservas from La Rioja and Navarre. The Graciano grape is not very abundant due to its low yields and can often be found mixed with other grapes in the same vineyard.

Malvasía
White. Originally from Greece, this grape produces very aromatic and distinctive wines. It is mainly found in Valencia, Zamora and the Canary Islands, and is classified as a main variety in Calatayud DO. There also is a variety known as Malvasía Riojana, widely used in Rioja white wines. In Catalonia, it is known as Subirat Parent.

Mencía
Red. According to recent studies, this grape is very similar to Cabernet Franc. It produces high quality wines and is most widely planted in León (68%), Zamora, Lugo and Orense provinces. It is considered a main variety in Valdeorras and Bierzo DOs.

Monastrell
A red, very sweet and productive grape. It produces wines with a deep colour and considerable alcoholic content. It is mainly found in Murcia (52%), Alicante, Albacete and Valencia and it is considered a main variety in DOs such as Alicante, Almansa, Costers del Segre, Jumilla, Penedés, Valencia and Yecla.

Tempranillo
Red. Superb quality and very aromatic, the star of Spanish grapes. It is called Ull de Llebre in Catalonia, Cencibel in Castile-La Mancha and Madrid, and Tinto Fino and Tinto del Pais in Castile and Leon. It flourishes in Burgos, La Rioja, Alava, Cuenca and Ciudad Real. It is considered a main variety in the following DOs: Calatayud, Cigales, Conca de Barbera, Costers del Segre, La Mancha, Penedes, Ribera del Duero, Rioja, Somontano, Utiel-Requena, Valdepenas, and Vinos de Madrid.

Torrontés
White. Originally from Galicia, it produces wines of little body and good acidity, with considerable personality and an intense bouquet. It can be found throughout Galicia and in Córdoba.

(From Vinos de España)

Juan Gil, 2005

Juan Gil, 2005

The 2005 Juan Gil is 100% Monastrell aged for 12 months in French and American oak. It was sourced from estate vineyards with 45 year old vines. Bodegas Juan Gil is located in the Jumilla region of Spain. This region is known for having a harsh, arid climate with shallow, chalky soils on a bed of limestone and rock. These conditions challenge the vines and produce very low yields. This wine has a dark red color with purple tones. On the nose it has powerful aromas of red berries, blueberry, leather and smoke. This is a medium bodied wine with ripe blackberry and cranberry notes with sweet tannins and moderate acidity and minerality. The palate is very rich with an elegant balance between fruit, earthiness, spice and oak. This is more “new-world”, than old. This is another great value from Spain that can be found in the Seattle area for about $13. This wine will pair well with any hearty meal, aged cheese or quality chocolate. The 2006 vintage will be in stores shortly.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Rosemount Mountain Blue Shiraz Cabernet, 2001

Rosemount Mountain Blue Shiraz Cabernet, 2001


Mountain Blue is the jewel in the crown of Rosemount's vineyard estate in Mudgee, on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales Australia. This wine has a deep purple/ruby color. The nose is packed with black fruit, licorice and spice. This is a rich and elegant wine with flavors of ripe black cherry, blueberry jam, current, licorice and pepper. There is a nice gentle cloak of toasty oak along with pleasant sweet tannins that add to the lingering, harmonious finish. This is a lovely wine from Rosemount Estates that was a great compliment to last night’s “snow storm” dinner.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Mano a Mano, 2006

Mano a Mano, 2006

Mano a Mano is 100% Tempranillo from the La Mancha region of Spain. This is another fine wine from the Jorge Ordonez Selection that is imported by Elliot Bay Distributing of Seattle. The grapes are hand picked from vineyards located at an elevation of about 2000 ft. and the wine is aged in French oak for 6 months. This wine is another example of the amazing values coming from Spain. The color is a lovely dark purple that is almost opaque. On the nose is the aromas of blackberry and black cherry with some tobacco and coffee. This is a big wine that delivers a broad mouthfeel of black fruit, licorice and dark chocolate. There is a gentle acidity cloaked with fine grained tannins that keep this wine well balanced. The finish is long and chewy. This wine can be found for under $10 in the greater Seattle area. If you want to enjoy a “big” Tempranillo at a “small” price, search out some Mano a Mano.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Bodegas Ateca Garnacha de Fuego, 2007

Bodegas Ateca Garnacha de Fuego, 2007

This Garnacha from the Calatayud region of Spain represents another great value wine that proves you can get interesting and delicious wines on a tight budget. The Garnacha grapes are from old vines that really excel in the high elevation and gravely soil vineyards of Bobegas Ateca. This is another fine wine from the Jorge Ordonez Selection. This is a medium bodied wine with a deep red color and a nose of fresh raspberry and citrus peel. On the palate there is ripe red raspberry, cranberry sauce and some spicy pepper. There are supple tannins that highlight the fruit driven style. This wine shows a zesty, focused personality that will pair well with any spicy dish. We enjoyed this with my Albóndigas with Tomatoes and Peas.

Albóndigas with Tomatoes and Peas

Albóndigas with Tomatoes and Peas

All over the world you will find meatballs, but these Albóndiga of Spain have a Moorish origin with a generous use of delicious spice. These are great for a tapas wine party and will pair well with a fruit forward spicy Spanish Garnacha.

Meatballs (Albóndigas)

1 ½ lbs. ground Turkey
1 egg
3/4 cup dried bread crumbs
½ cup milk
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground marjoram
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground coriander
½ tsp. ground nutmeg
½ tsp. smoked paprika
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil

Combine all ingredients above (for meatballs) in a mixing bowl. Form mixture into golf ball size meatballs and place on a large sheet pan coated with olive oil. Place in 400 degree oven and bake for about 8-10 minutes until firmed and slightly brown.

Tomato Sauce

1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 cup white wine
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 pinch of saffron
3 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup fresh of frozen peas

In a large ovenproof pot, add the olive oil, onion and garlic and stir, over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the remaining sauce ingredients to the pot and simmer on low for about 10 minutes. Add the meatballs to the sauce, cover pot and place in 325 degree oven for 45 minutes. Serve warm as part of a Spanish tapas party or as an entree with some basmati rice and an interesting green salad.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Fontanafredda Torremora Dolcetto, 2006

Fontanafredda Torremora Dolcetto, 2006

Dolcetto is one of the great grape varieties in Piedmont, but often takes the back seat to the better known Nebbiolo and Barbera. Fontannafredda is a large producer in this area crafting Barolo and Barbaresco DOCGs plus everyday wines from Barbera and Dolcetto and Nebbiolo. The grapes in this Torremora are sourced from vineyards around Alba and La Morra. This wine is fermented in stainless steel and stored in large stainless steel vats until bottled. This wine has a clear, ruby-red color with violet highlights. It has an alluring nose of spicy cherry and raspberry with slight minerality. In the mouth this is a medium bodied wine with pleasant flavors of crushed berries, cherries, almonds and spice. There are abundant smooth tannins that keep this wine quite dry and persistent. This is a relatively simple, but well made wine that represents a nice value and alternative to more pricey wines from the area. If you haven’t tried some Dolcetto, you should! We bought this wine at Esquin, in Seattle, for about $14.

Tormaresca Neprica, 2007 and Yo Pauly's Pizza

Tormaresca Neprica, 2007 and Yo Pauly's Pizza

After Thanksgiving and three days of turkey in all forms, it was time to move on to “Pizza and Wine Night”. We were down in Scottsdale and stopped by our favorite New York Style Pizza Place, Yo Pauly’s. We picked up an 18 inch “Wiseguy’s Choice” with fresh mushrooms, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and sausage. Earlier in the day we bought a bottle of Tormaresca Neprica, 2007 at the Scottsdale Costco. Neprica is a blend of 40% Negroamaro, 30% Primitivo and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon (hence the name Ne Pri Ca). This is a wine, from Puglia, Italy and is part of the Antinori family of wines that is imported and distributed by Ste Michelle Wine Estates. This wine has a deep ruby red color with a nose of red fruits and cassis. This is a medium to full bodied wine with a rich mouth feel loaded with black fruit, cola and licorice. This is an un-oaked wine with smooth tannins and just enough acidity to pair well with our pizza. The long, chewy finish was impressive for a wine at this price point. This is a nice alternative to a standard Sangiovese or Nero d’Avola. This wine can be found for about $8-9 and represents another excellent value from Southern Italy.