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!

2012 Pulchrum Crespiello

Happy Friday!  I am ready for the weekend, though my tree guy came by today to review the branches that will need to be cut back this fall and he was nice enough to point out some patches of poison ivy that I'll now need to address this weekend...ugh.  But before that fiasco commences, I figure I have time for a nice bottle of wine with dinner, and tonight it's a new wine and a new varietal.  I got an e-mail from Wines Till Sold Out a month or so ago highlighting a wine made from a a nearly extinct varietal and they had me!  The 2012 Pulchrum Crespiello (aka Vidadillo) is a wine from Carinena in northwest Spain grown on vines planted in 1900 (so this is old vine for sure!).  This varietal was well known in the 12th century, but not always known for quality (comparisons to vinegar are common) thought winemaking techniques have advanced in the past 900 years.  Vidadillo is somewhat similar to Garnacha, but with larger darker berries with thicker skins, the wines from this varietal are often darker and more tannic than a typical Garnacha.  So let's see how this wine tastes!

The wine is certainly darker than a Garnacha, appearing more like a Cabernet or Merlot in the glass.  The nose is a pleasant combination of black currant, floral notes and a hint of balsamic (hello vinegar!) that doesn't give you brain much to go on for taste expectations.  The taste thought is quite an experience, with a brief rush of ripe blackberry and currant that transitions nicely to some wonderful caramel and spice notes midpalate before an edge of balsamic just before the finish.  The tannins are robust but well structured, providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a really interesting wine from a varietal I've not tried before.  This is the sort of wine that would pair well with a variety of hard to pair dishes, like Indian or Moroccan food, but it would also pair well with pasta, roasts or game and of course, steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled chuckeye steak along with some glazed baby carrots and potato puree.  Cheers!