Wines of Espana: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

The Wines of Espana
April 21st 6:30pm
Third Third Thursday Tasting for 2005 at Vintage Wines of San Diego. This one written up as: One of the hottest wine regions right now not only for great values, but also for some outstanding and highly rated wines. Come try 8 from the 2001 and 2002 Vintages.

The wines were served single blind, and as is my usual practice I did not look at the list. The wines are listed in the order they were tasted. Identities were revealed at the end of the tasting.

Capcanes Cabrida Monstant 2001 $49.99USD
100% Grenache
Cherry red with a slight brown tint. Somewhat closed with a note of barnyard. Developed a resinous character underlying aromas of spices and cola. Medium weight with good acidity and a pronounced core of astringency. Flavors carry well onto the palate. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.0 = 17.9/20, 90/100 (RP93) 14.5% alcohol.

Guzman Aldazabal Exaltacion Rioja 2001 ~$90USD
95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano (Aged in new French and Russian oak)
Dense cherry red. Very open with rich chocolate and dark fruits. Medium weight with pronounced acidity and drying tannins on the finish. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.5 = 17.7/20, 88/100 (RP93) 14.25% alcohol

Artadi Pagos Viejos Rioja 2001 $99.99USD
Tempranillo
Dense cherry red with distinct barnyard aroma and some pepper. Medium weight with sharp acidity and considerable astringency dominating the palate. Flavors carry well. 2, 2, 3.7, 9.4 = 17.1/20, 86/100 (RP97) 13.5% alcohol

Astrales Ribera del Duero 2001 $41.99USD
Tempranillo
Dense cherry red with red edge. Initially very closed with just a hint of dusty oak. Opened to smoky oak and layered richness, and an unusual note of walnuts. A wine with a considerable depth to its structure. Full bodied and well balanced with a solid core of tannins and clean acidity. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.3 = 18.4/20, 92/100 (RP93) 14.0% alcohol

JC Conde NEO Ribera del Duero 2001 $49.99USD
Cherry red with a slight orange tint. The farmyard of the night. Also a note of ink. Medium weight with firm tannins and good acidity. Flavors carry well across the palate for a lengthy finish. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.8 = 17.6/20, 88/100 (RP95) 13.5% alcohol

Cesca Vincent Abat Domenech Priorat 2000 $49.99USD
50% Grenche 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Cherry red with a slight orange tint. Rich, ripe and sweet with notes of quince and blueberries. Developed aroma of tea leaves. Light to medium bodied with some sweetness to the palate that is supported by firm tannins. Flavors carry extremely well, providing a lengthy finish. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.8 = 18.0/20, 90/100 (RP 93) 14.5% alcohol

Clos Mogador Priorat 2002 $69.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Christmas cake spices, mint and sweet oak. Medium bodied with a solid core of astringency. Flavors carry extremely well onto the palate which finishes with sharp but not unpleasant acidity. A powerful wine that shows all of its attributes including its alcohol. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.0 = 18.3/20, 91/100 14.5% alcohol

Numanthia Toro 2002 $44.99USD
Dense cherry red. Smoky oak with vanilla and chocolate. Medium weight with flavors carrying well onto a palate that lacks a little depth at its middle. Another wine with pronounced acidity and tannin and evident alcohol. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.8 = 17.9, 89/100 14.5% alcohol

This is my first experience of Spanish wines, certainly of this quality. Its fair to say that there is nothing shy about any of this line-up. They are clearly New World in style. The unmistakable pronounced acidity and mouth drying tannins reminds me of Super Italians. But these are very young wines and most need a decade or more to settle.