2004 Viñedos y Bodegas Pablo Gran Viu Finca Santiaga

Happy Saturday!  And since this is the first Saturday of a new month (and new year) it's Cellar Saturday!  Tonight, I've raided the cellar and opened a bottle that I just bought a week or so ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2004 Viñedos y Bodegas Pablo Gran Viu Finca Santiaga is a red blend from the Aragon region of Spain containing Grenache (60%), Cariñena (20%) and Vidadillo (20%).  So, let's see how this wine has developed over the past two decades!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, much more reminiscent of a Merlot than a Grenache heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, black currant and licorice with undertones of earthy graphite.  The first sip is remarkably fresh with a rush of blueberry, tart cherry and currant that ease into some notes of tar and dark chocolate.  The tannins are voluptuous, providing for an ideal base for the lingering dry finish that just leaves you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's the most impressive Grenache blend I've had the pleasure of drinking.  This wine would pair with a wide range of dishes beyond the traditional Spanish paella, anything from hearty steaks to pasta to roast leg of lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared prime center cut ribeye, with sautéed mushrooms and onions, steamed green beans and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

2014 Honoro Vera Garnacha

Well, today I've decided to open a bottle that's been sitting in my kitchen for a while, I can't recall where I got it but I put it on my counter behind the coffee and it's sat there ever since, the 2014 Honoro Vera Garnacha from the Catalayud region of Spain, which is well known for its Grenache.  And of course another advantage of Spanish wines is that like this wine they are usually good values for the price.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, a bit darker than some Grenache wines from France.  The nose presents aromas of ripe cherry, plum and currant amid spicy notes of white pepper and earthy green grass.  The taste is classic Spanish Garnacha, with a rush of ripe, lush fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that transition effortlessly to some notes of fresh herbs and white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing a wonderfully velvety, long and very dry finish that beckons you to have another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a classic Grenache from this region of Spain.  This is also a very food friendly wine, perfect for summer as it would complement a broad range of patio dinners, from burgers and steaks to barbecued ribs and fresh caprese salad.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic dinner of chorizo and bean tacos with all the trimmings, the wonderful fruit in the wine really plays well against the spice of the chorizo.  Cheers!

2010 Genium Celler Priorat

You know, it's been a while since I've enjoyed a nice Spanish wine, so tonight I've opened a bottle I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2010 Genium Celler Priorat, a blend of Garnacha (45%), Syrah (20%), Merlot (20%), Carinena (10%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%).  I've often viewed Priorat and similar wines from Spain as the poor cousins of Chateauneuf du Pape and the classic GSM blends of France, but in reality, these wines are in a style and class of their own.  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep purple in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a blend of earthy aromas, leather, oak and spice box intermingled with some soft fruit notes and hints of floral undertones.  The taste is a rush of black fruit, cherry, blackberry and plum that transition to some notes of anise and peppery spice midpalate.  The chalky tannins can be somewhat of a challenge, but in this wine they work, providing nice balance to the rich fruit and setting up the long, very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's pleasant to drink, but also somewhat versatile when it comes to food pairings.  I rely on Spanish reds for more challenging dishes to pair, like my dinner tonight, an Indian spiced oven roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.  The rich fruit and balanced spice on the finish make a nice pairing with the herb spice of the chicken, a protein that can be a challenge with red wine.  Cheers!

2006 Mancuso Vino de la Tierra Valdejalon

Hooray, it's the first Saturday of August, and we know that means it's Cellar Saturday, that lovely day when I open a bottle of wine that's at least a decade removed from its vintage.  Tonight I am opening a rather recent addition to the cellar, one which was last month's office wine club selection, the 2006 Mancuso Vino de la Tierra Valdejalon, a wonderful old vine Garnacha from Spain!  I've decanted this wine for about 90 minutes, so it should be ready to enjoy!

The wine is a bright garnet color in the glass, classic for the varietal.  The nose is wonderfully herbal, with notes of fresh cut grass and a hint of mint over blackberry and currant aromas.  The taste is fruit forward, with flavors of black cherry, plum and cassis that transitions nicely to some mineral notes of dusty limestone and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are mature and nicely structured, providing a nice backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a great example of a fine Spanish Garnacha and it was a terrific bargain as I bought this from Wines Till Sold Out for $20!  This wine practically screams to be paired with paella, but alas I'm stuck with a rare grilled Angus bone-in ribeye along with some haricots verts almondine and a baked potato with sour cream and chives.  The lovely fruit and acidity of this wine cut perfectly through the fat of the ribeye, cheers!

2006 Laurona Montsant

Happy Sunday!  Time for a homemade Sunday dinner of comfort food, but always a question on what wine to serve with it.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2006 Laurona Montsant red blend from Spain.  This is a new wine for me, as Montsant is a region in Catalonia that produces red blends with many of the traditional Spanish varietals.  This particular wine is primarily Garnacha and Carinena with a bit of Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon to balance things out.

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents lovely aromas of black currant, anise and black cherry along with some Asian spice notes.  The taste is very fruit forward, with a rush of black cherry, currant and some blackberry that transitions nicely to some lovely notes of vanilla and cinnamon midpalate.  The finish is very nice, much bigger than your typical Spanish wine based on Garnacha or Tempranillo, as the tannins are robust, offering a lingering dry finish that evolves as the wine opens up.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely, well structures wine and a solid value (I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $19).  It's ideal for rustic dishes from the Mediterranean (think paella) or some classic American comfort food.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with my Sunday dinner of stuffed cabbage!  The fruit and spice notes really pair well with the richness of the meat stuffing and spice of the tomato reduction.  Cheers!

2005 Cerro Anon Rioja Reserva

Tonight I am venturing to Spain for some wonderful Rioja, a wine I've really developed a fancy for over the past year or so.  This wine was an office wine club selection, and it a lovely blend of Tempranillo (80%), Garnacha (5%) with the balance made up of Mazuelo and Graciano.  I think what I like so much about the Spanish reds is how food friendly they are, the wines are just so balanced that you could pair them with a wide variety of dishes and still at the end of the meal you just feel satisfied.

This wine has a lovely bright ruby color, with limited opacity.  The nose is quite nice, with notes of red currant, anise, tar and a good bit of minerality swirling around.  The taste is a sophisticated blend of ripe red fruit, but without the sweetness you might expect, the rich dark fruit is wonderfully balanced with acidity that just gives this wine a vibrant pop midpalate.  The lush mouthfeel and smooth tannins make for a balanced, but long finish that leaves you asking for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I think it's a great example of the greatness of Spanish reds, but at a spectacular value - this wine was available from Wines Till Sold Out for $12.99!  To demonstrate the versatility, tonight I am enjoying this wine with some poached salmon with honey dijon reduction, some steamed rice and broccoli, the tartness and structure of the wine is the perfect counterbalance to the sweetness of the salmon, cheers!

2010 Borsao Garnacha

So tonight I had the pleasure of dining out at the Spain Restaurant in Tampa and overall it was a wonderful dinner along with a few glasses of 2010 Borsao Garnacha!

 

The wine was quite nice, very fruit forward with aromas of leather, ripe berries and tar. The taste was quite nice, with plenty of fruit up front, but the tight tannins made for a wonderful finish.

On the recommendation of Pablo, my Ecuadorian server, I enjoyed this wine with the Bistecca Santiago, a lovely braised beef tenderloin with chorizo, peppers, onions, mushrooms and a delicious sauce that really balanced the fruit of the wine. I would rate this one a solid 7.5 if not for the wine for the evening as a whole!