WINESTONE
September
11th,
2010
Notes
by
Yoko
NV
Conde
de
Subirats
Cava
Brut
Rose
$13
Where:
Penedes
Grape:
Blend
of
90%
Trepat
and
10%
Pinot
Noir
Don
Jose
Raventos
was
a
traveling
salesman
of
red
and
white
wines
throughout
Europe
during
the
1860’s.
While
making
a
stop
in
Champagne,
he
was
fascinated
by
its
local
sparkling
wines
and
decided
to
make
his
own.
Back
home
in
Spain,
he
used
imported
Champagne
equipment
and
three
local
white
grapes
to
create
Spain’s
first
traditional
method
sparkler
in
1872.
Conde
de
Subirats
is
from
the
birthplace
of
Cava,
which
is
an
area
called
Sant
Sadurni
d’Anoia,
in
the
region
of
Penedes
in
Catalunya.
Made
from
a
blend
of
Trepat
and
Pinot
Noir,
this
bubbly
shows
outgoing
fruit
of
strawberry,
cherry,
pomegranate,
hints
of
pepper
spiciness
complemented
by
balanced
acidity
and
tiny
bubbles.
With
$13
price
tag,
who
said
popping
a
cork
is
only
for
special
occasions!
2008
Paco
&
Lola,
Albarino
$16
Where:
Rias
Baixas
Grape:
Albarino
Rias
Baixas
is
a
wine
region
located
in
the
northwest
Spain.
The
native
Albarino
grape
represents
90%
of
the
vineyards
here
and
according
to
the
legend,
Benedictine
monks
introduced
the
grape
from
central
Europe
in
the
12th
century.
Depending
on
climate,
geography
and
soils,
Albarino
grape
is
capable
of
producing
remarkable
styles
of
wine.
This
Paco
&
Lola
Albarino
is
from
the
Salnes
Valley,
which
was
inhabited
for
thousands
of
years
by
the
‘wine
aficionados’
of
Celts,
Phoenicians
and
Romans.
Fanned
by
cool
Atlantic
breezes,
this
wine
exhibits
aromatic
bouquet
of
pear,
peach
and
apple,
with
hints
of
basil
and
a
touch
of
floral
notes.
Fresh
fruit
flavor
on
the
palate
is
partnered
by
lively
acidity.
This
Spanish
“bianco”
would
be
delicious
with
seafood
(especially
scallops),
white
meats
and
paella.
Salud!
2009
Valde
Lainos
Rueda
Verdejo
$15
Where:
Rueda
Grape:
Verdejo
Perfect
red
lipstick
worn
by
flamenco
dancers,
color
of
tomato
and
red
pepper
that
are
essential
to
the
Spanish
cuisine
and
let's
not
forget
the
color
of
the
small
cape
(muleta)
used
in
the
famous
bullfighting
(corrida
=
today's
tasting
theme),
red
is
the
color
of
Spain!
And
of
course,
that
color
red
also
refers
to
the
wines
of
Spain.
However,
Spain
also
makes
wonderful
white
wines.
Located
southwest
of
Ribera
del
Duero,
Rueda
is
one
of
the
most
important
white
wine-producing
regions
in
the
country.
A
native
Rueda
grape,
Verdejo
is
capable
of
making
fresh,
clean
and
crisp
white,
reminiscent
of
Sauvignon
Blanc.
Offering
fragrant
aromas
of
citrus
and
tropical
fruit
along
with
lime
zest
and
grassiness,
this
wine's
vibrant
acidity
pairs
wonderfully
with
garlicky
shrimp,
salt
cod
fritter
with
aioli
or
other
fried
seafood
dishes.
2006
Cepas
del
Zorro
Monastrell
$9
Where:
Bullas
Grape:
Monastrell
(=Mourvedre)
Bullas
is
a
red
wine
region
located
in
the
southeast
Spain
near
Jumilla
and
Alicante.
Although
I’ve
never
heard
or
tasted
wines
of
Bullas
until
we
started
to
carry
this
wine
at
the
store,
there
is
an
evidence
of
viticulture
in
this
area
since
the
Roman
Times.
Vineyards
here
are
located
at
an
extreme
altitude
with
cold
winter,
long
and
hot
summer
with
low
rainfall.
80%
of
cultivation
is
devoted
to
Monastrell
(or
Mourvedre)
but
there
are
a
number
of
good
white
and
rose
wines
also
made
from
Tempranillo,
Macabeo,
Airen,
joined
by
international
varieties
of
Cabernet
Sauvignon,
Merlot
and
Syrah.
Since
wine-making
has
been
such
a
tradition
of
the
area,
there
is
even
a
Bullas
Wine
Museum,
where
visitors
can
enjoy
the
exhibition
of
the
ancient
wineries,
monumental
and
scenic
resources.
Made
by
100%
Monastrell,
this
wine
is
meduiem-bodied
with
unique
combination
of
ripe
fruit
and
earthy
note
of
dried
herbs
and
spices.
2001
Montecillo
Rioja
Gran
Reserva
$30
Where:
Rioja
Grape:
Tempranillo
Often
referred
to
as
Spain’s
Bordeaux,
Rioja
has
been
considered
country’s
greatest
wine
region
known
for
red
wine
made
from
Tempranillo
grape.
Rioja
is
divided
into
3
sub-regions
of
Alavesa,
Alta
and
Baja
with
distinctive
soils
and
climate
reflecting
the
styles
of
wines
made.
Crianza,
Reserva
and
Gran
Reserva
seen
on
the
wine
label
indicate
the
length
of
ageing.
Only
made
in
exceptional
years
from
the
very
best
vineyard
site,
Gran
Reserva
wines
must
be
aged
at
least
5
years
(2
of
which
must
be
in
oak
barrels)
before
the
release.
Bodegas
Montecillo
was
founded
in
1874
and
is
one
of
the
pioneers
to
adopt
Bordeaux
winemaking
techniques
in
Spain.
Simple
grilled
meat
dishes
and
hard
cheeses
can
let
this
elegant
wine
reveal
its
complexity
developed
by
long
ageing
period.
2007
Bodegas
Pago
de
San
Gabriel
Pradomayor
de
Zubiola
$16
Where:
Navarra
Grape:
Blend
of
80%
Cabernet
Sauvignon
and
20%
Merlot
Located
on
the
other
side
of
the
Ebro
River
across
the
Rioja,
the
region
of
Navarra
had
been
known
for
rose
for
quite
sometime.
This
region
began
its
new
life
with
an
establishment
of
EVENA
(=Navarra
Viticulture
and
Oenological
Research
Station).
The
research
and
training
of
EVENA
has
contributed
to
the
evolution
of
the
region
with
plantings
of
new
varieties
as
well
as
the
improvement
in
the
cellar,
hence
the
quality
improvement
in
the
wines
coming
from
here.
Today
traditional
Garnacha
(32%)
and
Tempranillo
(36%)
still
dominate
the
total
plantings
but
French
varieties
of
Caberbernet
Sauvignon
(13%)
and
Merlot
(11%)
are
also
catching
up.
To
show
you
how
these
French
varieties
do
in
this
Spanish
region,
here
is
one
for
you
to
taste.
What
do
you
think
about
this
cross-cultural
wine?