I want to thank Lenn for bringing back WBW. I have truly missed it. Thank you Gabriella and Ryan Opaz of Catavino for hosting.
I know a few of my wine blogging friends have been in Spain last month. Yes I am jealous, but this past November I did have the opportunity to attend a “Wine of Spain” hosted by Cornwall Wines and Spirits and Ole Imports. It’s fitting as I am writing this I am drinking a Paza De Galegos 2009 Albarino. Unfortunately, I am not writing about that wine(but it’s goof), but the two reds I tasted.
The first wine on the table is a 2009 Ludovicus. This wine was made with grapes from the high elevation region of Terra Alta, located south of Barcelona. The soil is clay, brown limestone, grown in hot days and moderate evening temps in a Mediterranean climate. The wine is a blend of 35% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo, 25% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
The nose is a smoky cigar giving way to berry and candied strawberry. On the palate I found ripe berry, strawberry and blackberry. It didn’t have a notable finish.
The next wine on the table was a 2009 Vizcarra Roble. This is a young Tempranillo and I think will get better as it ages within the next 5 years. It is grown the Ribera del Duero region of Spain, which is located in central Spain. The Tempranillo grape in this region is called Tinta del Pais. It is bright cherry in color with a nose of mineral and berry. The palate was had a little dry herbs, leading way to black raspberry and a long black pepper finish.
The evening of the dinner we got to sample 6 wines both red and white as well as a dessert wine. The wines tasted today were wines I purchased from Cornwall wines after the dinner.