Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, June 20, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

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Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, and within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions.  We fondly remember our trip to Spain 3 years ago and the many wines that eased our way across the countryside.  One of our favorite stops was at the Sandeman Bodega, a great Sherry house, in Jerez.  Perhaps one day this fall we will have a Sherry tasting event exploring all vinification styles from fino to cream Sherry, including Amontillado Palo Cortado and Olorosso.  This being summer, we will pursue a lighter fare with sparklers, roses and easy drinking reds.  To heighten the sense of enlightenment, we’ll finish with an Amontilado.

Codorníu Cava, Sparkling Wine
Regular price 9.99; our price 8.99
Cava is the Spanish designation for the traditional method (Méthode Champenoise) of producing sparkling using the French techniques of Champagne.  Cavas employ the same method by allowing the second fermentation to take place in the bottle.  In addition, this wine was aged an additional 9 months or more to round out the wine before release.  This is hands-on work and the remarkable thing about these wines is the low price, given the quality level.  The blend in this bottling is of varietals Xarello, Macabeo and Parellada.  The wine is fresh and fruity and proceeds to a dry finish.

Codorníu Cave Pinot Noir Rosé Sparkling Wine
Regular price 18.00; our price 14.99
With a history stretching back to 1872, Codorníu is one of the world’s oldest and most successful brands of Cava. It shows excellent color in its beautiful bottle and is 100% Pinot Noir.  Lots of tight bubbles come of the glass enhancing its appeal.  The wine is not sweet, just juicy, with raspberry and cherry flavors on the nose and mouth.  It is not a complex wine but has nice balance and flavor with a crisp finish.

2007 Gran Feudo Rosé
Regular price 9.99; our price 7.99
This rosé is an outstanding example of the “fruity” style, made solely from Garnacha grapes, the ideal variety for rosé wines.  Picking takes place when the grapes have the ideal balance between acidity and ripeness.  This wine is made by the saignée method.  After the skins have been left in contact with the must for a short time, the juice is drawn off by gravity, without any pressing taking place.  It shows excellent balance between fruit and acidity.  It is fresh, soft and long on the palate, fruity and clean, with floral reminiscences.

2004 Portico del Castillo Monastrell, Yecla
Regular price 7.50; our price 5.99
This Monastrell (Mourvedre) hails from Yecla, a small and rather obscure wine region in Southeastern Spain, near Jumilla.  The aromas are all earthy Mourvedre: ripe black fruit accented by characteristic varietal accents of leather.  The wine is big and full on the palate, with juicy black fruit gaining structure from crisp acidity and gentle warmth from substantial 14 percent alcohol.

2006 Valcantara Garnacha, Old Vine, Cariñena Aragón
Regular price 11.50; our price 8.99
The Valcantara is made of Grenache from vineyards of more than 40 years old.  Flavors of berries, cherries and leather carry from the nose to the palate.  The wine is medium bodied, lush, full, spicy and fruity, with rounded tannins.  It is ideal with any roasted or highly flavored meat dish, as well as a variety of tapas.

Domecq Viña 25 Cream Sherry, Jerez
Regular price 11.99; our price 9.99
Most Sherries are made from the Palomino Fino grape; that is, until you get to the Cream Sherries.  Here, the Pedro Ximénez Grape reigns supreme.  It is a rich, aromatic wine, dark mahogany in color with a beautiful amber rim.  Made from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes, its voluptuous nose strikes an aromatic balance between raisins and nutty tones.  On the palate, Viña 25 is dense, mellow, velvety and generous with a lingering finish.  Solera aging softens the sweetness of this sherry, making it a perfect match for creamy blue cheeses. It is also delicious with coffee, or ice cream, or both.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 18th, 2009 at 7:10 pm and is filed under spain, wine knowledge, wine party. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.