Catalan Wine Scene - a series of tastings in Catalonia (not necessarily Catalan wines) as well as more in-depth information about the province itself and its 12 Denominacions d'origen.
Alella
Catalonia
Cava
Conca de Barberà
Costers del Segre
Empordà
Montsant
Penedès
Plà de Bages
Priorat
Tarragona
Terra Alta
Empordà
Friday, November 14, 2008
Valduero crianza 2003 D.O. Ribera del Duero
Tasting date - 13/11/08
Dark red/chestnut. Obvious legs.
Good bouquet of leather, spice with red fruits in the background.
Exactly the same on the palate with a really good finish. Just a little too warm on the finish to be ideal.
Still intact and drinking really well now.
Dark red/chestnut. Obvious legs.
Good bouquet of leather, spice with red fruits in the background.
Exactly the same on the palate with a really good finish. Just a little too warm on the finish to be ideal.
Still intact and drinking really well now.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Mas d'en Gil tasting
6 October 2008
Coma Alta 2007
70% Garnatxa blanca
30% Viognier
V. floral with the 5 months in oak cask not particularly apparent, but some hint of minerals.
Good balance between weight and acidity, both quite present.
Citric with beautiful weight and fruit.
Truly delicious, complex, but accessible wine.
Coma Blanca 2006
Garnatxa blanca 50%
Macabeu 50%
V. woody nose - 6 months in oak casks and 1 year in bottle.
Plenty of minerals as well with floral and citric hints.
Amazing weight, glyceric. Impressive acidity.
A bit closed and not as impressive as the 2005.
Coma Vella 2005
Still quite purple.
Beautiful red fruit and not too woody on the nose.
Great bramble fruit. Fresh. Maybe slightly bitter on the finish, but rich without being too heavy.
Some tannins, but velvety. Liquorice.
Clos Fontà 2005
Darker than Coma Vella. Great nose - toffee and cabernet sauvignon coming through.
V. serious weight and tannins. Alcoholic and almost luscious on the finish.
Oodles of minerals.
Coma Alta 2007
70% Garnatxa blanca
30% Viognier
V. floral with the 5 months in oak cask not particularly apparent, but some hint of minerals.
Good balance between weight and acidity, both quite present.
Citric with beautiful weight and fruit.
Truly delicious, complex, but accessible wine.
Coma Blanca 2006
Garnatxa blanca 50%
Macabeu 50%
V. woody nose - 6 months in oak casks and 1 year in bottle.
Plenty of minerals as well with floral and citric hints.
Amazing weight, glyceric. Impressive acidity.
A bit closed and not as impressive as the 2005.
Coma Vella 2005
Still quite purple.
Beautiful red fruit and not too woody on the nose.
Great bramble fruit. Fresh. Maybe slightly bitter on the finish, but rich without being too heavy.
Some tannins, but velvety. Liquorice.
Clos Fontà 2005
Darker than Coma Vella. Great nose - toffee and cabernet sauvignon coming through.
V. serious weight and tannins. Alcoholic and almost luscious on the finish.
Oodles of minerals.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Conde de Salceda 2008
Tasting 2 October 2008
Conde de Salceda Reserva 1998 D.O. Rioja
Tasted to see whether still in good enough condition to sell.
Beautiful, brick colour with a wonderful bouquet of leather, spice and red fruit.
Rich and ripe, perhaps too ripe, on the palate with a lingering full-bodied finish. Finally lacking great acidity for a refreshing finish, but still intact and almost a modern style while showing those traditional woody, spicy Rioja characteristics at the same time.
More than acceptable
Conde de Salceda Reserva 1998 D.O. Rioja
Tasted to see whether still in good enough condition to sell.
Beautiful, brick colour with a wonderful bouquet of leather, spice and red fruit.
Rich and ripe, perhaps too ripe, on the palate with a lingering full-bodied finish. Finally lacking great acidity for a refreshing finish, but still intact and almost a modern style while showing those traditional woody, spicy Rioja characteristics at the same time.
More than acceptable
Monday, September 29, 2008
Roda 1 Vertical Tasting 1992-2004
Interesting tasting held in Barcelona on 16th September 2008 at la Fundació Foto Colectania just on the north side of the Diagonal.
It was led by winemaker Agustín Santolya, who for almost an hour guided us through the Roda vineyards with the help of his powerpoint. Still at a disadvantage not always understanding Spanish word for word, for me he spoke clearly and beautifully about his work, whilst avoiding the purple prose that some fall into. The wines had been poured just before we were allowed to take to our seats, so they'd all had time to open up ready for tasting.
1992 Wet year and rain at harvest
Not surprisingly quite advanced. Dry and quite tannic, but with a good finish. Warm, vanilla, spicy and rich.
1994 Only year with Garnacha. Fabulous vintage since dry and the grapes in good health.
Still youthful looking, but a very closed nose. V. good fruit with high acidity and firm tannins.Slightly austere and minerally. Chocolate as well.
1995 Another good year, but the fermentation was difficult because of high temperatures.
Paler and more advanced colour than the '94. Much more luscious with good tannins, but still with a high mineral content. Lots of wood.
1996 A good year with reasonable rainfall, but well dispersed.
Darker and duller. Very distinct animal nose and quite profound. Floral and really very different. Really good, but completely different from other vintages - like mature French wine.
1997 Atlantic influence with a cold and wet summer. Good September and October.
Over ripe and maybe not 100% clean. Very acidic and not much fruit. Vanilla.
1998 Mediterranean year with hot and dry summer. September wet, but October dry.
Dark and purple. Closed and very woody. Heavy on the tannins. Hard and not very complex.
1999 Atlantic year. Low yield. Exorbitant prices for grapes.
Lighter and quite pale. Light nose. Luscious, though hard tannins and obvious wood. Great finish. Really good.
2000 Med year. Winter very wet, normal spring followed by a very dry summer.
Very dark and dense. Very ripe nose. Luscious and not quite as tough as other years.
2001 Good year.
Quite purple and deep in colour. Great nose, fruit and spice in alcohol. Chocolates and lots of alcohol.
2002 Difficult year with Atlantic ie wet influence. Wet harvest.
Deep and dark. Not much of a nose. Fine, but disappointing next to the others since just not complex.
2003 Med
Dark and cherry like. Ripe and liquorice. Really disappointing. Dull and alcoholic.
2004 Very dry and good year. Warm days and cool nights. Perfect growing conditions.
Still quite purple. Closed nose. Animal and lovely tannins. Minerals and chocolate. Really very good.
It was led by winemaker Agustín Santolya, who for almost an hour guided us through the Roda vineyards with the help of his powerpoint. Still at a disadvantage not always understanding Spanish word for word, for me he spoke clearly and beautifully about his work, whilst avoiding the purple prose that some fall into. The wines had been poured just before we were allowed to take to our seats, so they'd all had time to open up ready for tasting.
1992 Wet year and rain at harvest
Not surprisingly quite advanced. Dry and quite tannic, but with a good finish. Warm, vanilla, spicy and rich.
1994 Only year with Garnacha. Fabulous vintage since dry and the grapes in good health.
Still youthful looking, but a very closed nose. V. good fruit with high acidity and firm tannins.Slightly austere and minerally. Chocolate as well.
1995 Another good year, but the fermentation was difficult because of high temperatures.
Paler and more advanced colour than the '94. Much more luscious with good tannins, but still with a high mineral content. Lots of wood.
1996 A good year with reasonable rainfall, but well dispersed.
Darker and duller. Very distinct animal nose and quite profound. Floral and really very different. Really good, but completely different from other vintages - like mature French wine.
1997 Atlantic influence with a cold and wet summer. Good September and October.
Over ripe and maybe not 100% clean. Very acidic and not much fruit. Vanilla.
1998 Mediterranean year with hot and dry summer. September wet, but October dry.
Dark and purple. Closed and very woody. Heavy on the tannins. Hard and not very complex.
1999 Atlantic year. Low yield. Exorbitant prices for grapes.
Lighter and quite pale. Light nose. Luscious, though hard tannins and obvious wood. Great finish. Really good.
2000 Med year. Winter very wet, normal spring followed by a very dry summer.
Very dark and dense. Very ripe nose. Luscious and not quite as tough as other years.
2001 Good year.
Quite purple and deep in colour. Great nose, fruit and spice in alcohol. Chocolates and lots of alcohol.
2002 Difficult year with Atlantic ie wet influence. Wet harvest.
Deep and dark. Not much of a nose. Fine, but disappointing next to the others since just not complex.
2003 Med
Dark and cherry like. Ripe and liquorice. Really disappointing. Dull and alcoholic.
2004 Very dry and good year. Warm days and cool nights. Perfect growing conditions.
Still quite purple. Closed nose. Animal and lovely tannins. Minerals and chocolate. Really very good.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Celler Lavinyeta Mollet de Perelada D.O. Empordà
A two year old project that's already catching people's attention. Set in what seems like the middle of nowhere with the Pyrenees behind and the coast in the far distance and yet with Figueres just fifteen minutes away.
22 hectares of old Carinyena and Garnatxa vines with the more recent inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and experimental varieties such as Marsellan which is a Garnatxa/Cab Sauv cross. According to Josep Serra, the young owner, winemaker and general dogsbody the estate was allowed to run down for many years until his family who have made money in the pig business (typically Catalan) took it on some six years ago. The local pensioners were concerned that the old olive trees were being sacrificed to make way for the new vines, but they were assured that these trees were part of the overall project. Unfortunately, olive oil production is still very limited and the fosc brand of 100% argudell is currently sold out.
The wines on the market as of July 2008 are Heus white, rosé and red, all from the 2007 and Llavors a red aged in oak casks. These weren't tasted on the visit, since already familiar with them, but Marsellan ageing in French oak was ripe with interesting fresh fruit unlike so many of its overripe, syrupy neighbours. Other wine tasted whose name is still a secret was from a stainless steel tank. 15 months of oak ageing was too apparent for my taste, but good fruit nonetheless. Available for the Christmas campaign sometime in October.
22 hectares of old Carinyena and Garnatxa vines with the more recent inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and experimental varieties such as Marsellan which is a Garnatxa/Cab Sauv cross. According to Josep Serra, the young owner, winemaker and general dogsbody the estate was allowed to run down for many years until his family who have made money in the pig business (typically Catalan) took it on some six years ago. The local pensioners were concerned that the old olive trees were being sacrificed to make way for the new vines, but they were assured that these trees were part of the overall project. Unfortunately, olive oil production is still very limited and the fosc brand of 100% argudell is currently sold out.
The wines on the market as of July 2008 are Heus white, rosé and red, all from the 2007 and Llavors a red aged in oak casks. These weren't tasted on the visit, since already familiar with them, but Marsellan ageing in French oak was ripe with interesting fresh fruit unlike so many of its overripe, syrupy neighbours. Other wine tasted whose name is still a secret was from a stainless steel tank. 15 months of oak ageing was too apparent for my taste, but good fruit nonetheless. Available for the Christmas campaign sometime in October.
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