WINESTONE
"Speaking
Spanish"
Saturday,
March 6th, 2010
Notes
by Yoko
2008
Bodegas Pedro Escudero,
Fuente Milano,
Verdejo-Viura
$11
Where: Castilla y Leon,
Spain
Grape: Blend of 50%
Verdejo and 50% Viura
Along
the Duero River
northwest of Madrid is
the historic Spanish
wine region of Rueda. Up
until 1970's, the region
was known for
sherry-style oxidized
wine made from Palomino
grape. However, things
changed in 1972, when
Rioja-based Marques de
Riscal and a renowned
enologist Emile Peynaud
saw the potential to
produce fresh white wine
from Verdejo, Viura and
Sauvignon Blanc. The
region's chalky soil and
continental climate with
cool summer nights help
the grape to develop
aromatic flavors while
retaining acidity.
Located in the heart of
Rueda, Bodegas Pedro
Escudero produces this
delightful wine from
Verdejo and Viura.
Featuring lively fruit
of grapefruit, green
apple and lemon
complemented by bright
acidity, this is a
wonderful alternative
for those who like white
wine without any oak.
2009 Crios de
Susana Balbo, Torrontes
$15
Where: Cafayate,
Argentina
Grape: Torrontes
Originally
thought to be a variety
brought from Northern
Spain, Torrontes's true
being is most likely a
result of a crossing
created long ago from
Muscat of Alexandria and
Criolla China (or
Mission grape of
California) according to
the recent DNA research.
"Crios" means
offspring as in children
and the three hands on
the label represent
Argentina's famous
female winemaker Susana
Balbo and her children.
After two decades in
winemaking, she has a
strong sense of what she
wants from her wines and
compares making great
wine to raising a child.
This Torrontes displays
intriguing aromas of
peach, pear, with hints
of honeysuckle and
orange blossom, along
with ruby grapefruit
acidity. This bottle of
"Crios" would
love to put arms around
grilled seafood, smoked
meat and spicy Mexican
and Thai food.
2007 Bodegas
Catena Zapata, Catena
Chardonnay
$20
Where: Mendoza,
Argentina
Since the soils
and microclimates
greatly affect the
resulting wine, Catena
family conducted
extensive research of
their vineyards in the
foothills of the Andes
Mountain. As a result,
they found that at
different altitudes,
wines express different
flavor profiles. La
Piramide Vineyards at
3,100 elevations
provides ripe tropical
fruit with rich texture,
Domingo Vineyards at
3,700 elevations show
white stone fruit and
citrus notes, and
Adrianna Vineyards at
5,000 elevations
contribute notes of
floral and mineral, plus
excellent acidity.
Made from Chardonnay
from 3 different
vineyards at different
elevation level, this
wine offers balance,
concentration and
varietal identity.
Californian Chardonnay
Lovers, this wine proves
that Argentina can also
make smooth and lush
Chardonnays like the
ones you usually enjoy.
2008 Bodegas
Esmeralda "Tilia"
Malbec
$10
Where: Mendoza,
Argentina
Grape: Malbec
Tilia is the
Latin name for Linden,
which is a traditional
tree widely grown in
Argentina and that is
what you see on the
label of this wine. The
flowers of Tilia have
been consumed as an
herbal tea by the
vineyard workers after a
hard day of work for
generations and the
Bodegas chose the name
"Tilia" to
honor this wine country
tradition. Produced by
Bodegas Esmeralda, which
is part of Catena family
winery, Tilia line was
created for the value
segment of the Argentine
domestic market. Fruit
for this Malbec comes
from the eastern and
southern regions of
Mendoza and the wine
shows ripe and lush
fruit of cherry and
cassis, complemented by
a touch of chocolate,
warm spices and silky
tannins on the palate.
Generous fruit, easy to
open screw top, and $10
price point of this wine
makes it a great crowd
pleaser.
2008 Gouguenheim
Cabernet Sauvignon
$12
Where: Mendoza,
Argentina
Valle Escondido means
"Hidden
Valley" and that is
where this bottle of
hidden gem is from. The
Valley is located in the
shadows of the Andes in
Mendoza, Argentina.
Although it hardly ever
rains here with
guaranteed 300 or more
days of sunshine a year,
water supply is not a
problem since the snow
melt from the Andes is
used for the irrigation
of the vineyards.
A lot of sunshine during
the day and coolness of
the nighttime help the
grape to develop flavors
while retaining its
acidity to produce
well-balanced wine.
Layers of rich and juicy
black cherry and plum
fruit of this wine are
complemented by notes of
vanilla and tobacco,
followed by supple
tannins and acidity.
From the country with
the highest beef
consumption in the
world, this bottle would
be delicious with many
of hearty meat dishes.
2006 Bodegas
Carrau, Tannat de
Reserva
$13
Grape: Tannat
Where: Las Violetas,
Uruguay
Uruguay is a
pie-shaped country about
a size of Washington
State, tucked between
Brazil and Argentina in
South America, owing its
cultural and linguistic
heritage to Spain.
Brought by a French
Basque immigrant from
Madiran, Southwest
France in 1870's,
distinctive, tough, deep
black berried Tannat is
the leading grape
variety here.
Tannat is locally called
Harriague after Pascual
Harriague, who was one
of Uruguay's winemaking
pioneers. It is used for
production of fortified
wines, sweet roses and
full-bodied dry reds.
Aged in new French oak
for 18 months, this wine
displays classic cedar
on the nose along with
raspberry and plum fruit
on the palate with
structural tannins. Who
knew Uruguay is capable
of crafting a
high-quality wine like
this for $13!