Hondarrabi Beltza is a rare red grape from northern Spain that we do not see all too often. So when we had the chance to pick up a bottle from Doniene Gorrondona, we knew we had to give it a try.
As it turns out, this red wine was quite intense and reminded us a lot of a Cabernet Franc!
Every so often we get a wine that is so fascinating it is hard to properly describe. Sometimes these are good, sometimes they are bad, but no matter what they leave us talking for a long time to come.
4kilo Motor Blanc made from the grape Prensal Blanc from the Balearic Islands of Spain was one such bottle. While we thought this one could've used a bit more in the acidity and length department, it was one we still find ourselves talking about over and over again.
Normally when we open a bottle of Txakoli from northern Spain, we expect an exceptionally high acid, low ABV, light and fruity wine that goes down quickly on a hot summer day.
Txakoli Primo Zarautz was not this bottle. Instead, this one felt like it had warmer characteristics all around- namely riper fruit flavors, higher ABV, and lower acidity than Txakoli we were used to.
We are here for it, because this wine was quite delicious despite catching us by surprise!
Please note: We did not include a vintage label on this one because we could not find any listed on the bottle. There was what appeared to be a label stamp showing 2021, but that does not say whether the vintage was 2020 or 2021. Unfortunately, this is the best we can guess in terms of vintage.
When studying for my WSET Diploma D4 exam in sparkling wines, I had to buy a number of bottles well beyond my normal drinking habits.
While I do enjoy a good Cava, I often find myself trending to artisan producers over some of the larger companies. But for studying purposes, I knew I had to go for some name-brand bottles to increase my tasting experience, which is exactly how I ended up with a bottle of Freixenet Cordon Negro Gran Seleccion.
While studying for my WSET Diploma, I found myself enrolled in the fortified class (D5) and studying all things sherry, port, Madeira, and VDN to name a few.
Historically, I have to admit not being too fond of sherries as the traditionally lower acidity and unique flavors from maturation (in particular the biologically aged fino style) never quite matched up to my palate.
The sweet wines, however, are an exception that I am coming to appreciate.
These wines sweeten the traditionally dry sherries with grape must or Pedro Ximenez, and convert what normally is only alright styles of wine to me to something I quite enjoy.
Mil Pesetas Cream Sherry was one such wine as this had all the hallmarks of a traditional Oloroso- but sweet!
Pedro Ximenez is an interesting dessert wine from Spain (although it is sometimes made into a dry wine as well). Typically, the grapes are allowed to dry out to effectively become raisins prior to fermentation, and the result is an intensely sweet wine that is subsequently fortified into a sherry.
A sweet, sweet, almost syrupy-like sherry.
Naturally, it is hard not to like this one if you have a sweet tooth, and Pedro Rodriguez e Hijos Mil Pesetas Pedro Ximenez NV was no different for us!
Normally when we think of the grape Macabeo, it is in the context of Cava. Even there, this grape is often used for blending purposes and can be a small percentage of the overall makeup of any given glass of sparkling.
Since our quest here is to try every grape variety in the world as close to we can get as pure, single varietal expressions, you know we had to pick up a bottle of Frontonio “Microcosmico” Macabeo when we saw it.
This single varietal grape stands on its own with this rather delicious bottle (with bonus points for being six years old, too)!
Muga Rioja Reserva is an aged Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain, that has an intense and wonderfully complex aroma and flavor profile.
Unfortunately, this one was pretty strong in the vegetal and earthy department which, for me at least, was a bit too much for my palate.
Tintilla de Rota is found in the Jerez region of Spain, and El Triangulo's bottle checks a lot of boxes for us- a nice medium intensity, well-balanced flavor profile, and more.
An easy drinker all around!
If you like high acid, low tannin reds that have some delicious red fruit notes that open up to darker fruit (especially with meat-based dishes), you definitely should give the Els Vineryons Saltamarti a try.
This Tempranillo and Garnacha blend will have what you seek in an easy-drinking format.
