Jun 2011 wine tasting party

Really excited about today's wine tasting party, the theme is Spain and I have selected 7 wines (2 white, 4 red and 1 sweet). I picked the wines from different regions and trying different varietals as well. In fact I should include a Cava to make this more complete...

Thanks Grace and Cyrix for hosting this party and all the wonderful food prepared by different people. I am sorry I was late and missed part of the fun and the Champagne. Really look forward to our next gathering in Jul!

1. Inigo Blanco 2008, Bodegas Amezola de la Mora, Rioja (score: 87)

Lemon color with slightly developing aromas of lemon, grapefruit, walnut and cream. Refreshing acidity and medium body exhibiting grapefruit, citrus, lees, cream, walnut characters with hints of bitterness from minerals. Overall an acceptable quality Rioja white with reasonable complexity and length though falling short a bit on intensity. Ready to drink now and can be maintained for another 1-2 years.

2. Terra Firme Albarino 2009, Bodegas Agnusdei, Rias Baixas (score: 86)

Lemon colour with youthful aromas comprising of apricot, peach, grapefruit and lemon. Refreshing acidity and a light body showing similar fruity flavors. An acceptable quality Albarino with well-defined fruit on both nose and palate, as well as reasonable intensity and length. Ready to drink now and can be maintained for another 1-2 years.

3. San Roman 2006, Bodegas y Vinedos Maurodos, Toro (score: 92)

Opaque purple in colour, with an intense and developing nose of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, smoke, vanilla, violet and chocolate. Lively acidity and smooth tannin, even with a high alcohol level the wine did not feel heady, the wine shows finesse with full body and intense palate of blackberry, raspberry, coffee, smoke and oak. Overall a good quality Tempranillo with an intense and complex nose and palate, fully exhibiting the ripeness of the grapes, with a good balance between the fruit and new oak used to mature the wine, further reinforced by a good length and aftertaste. Ready to drink and can be further developed for another 3-5 years.

4. Santa Cruz de Artazu 2007, Bodegas y Vinedos Artazu, Navarra (score: 90)

Deep purple in colour, with an intense and developing nose of raspberry, red cherry, vanilla, mint and sweet spice. Lively acidity and smooth tannin, with a high alcohol level showing the ripeness of the grapes upon harvest. Full body and reasonable intensity palate of red cherry, raspberry, mint, sweet spice and vanilla. Overall a good quality Garnacha with a good nose of ripe fruit, a reasonable complexity and a long length. Definitely a value for money buy. Ready to drink now but can further develop for another 2-3 years.

5. Vina Tondonia Reserva 2000, R. Lopez de Heredia, Rioja (score: 88)

Intense garnet colour with a strong oxidative and developing nose of red fruit, prune, sherry aromas and vanilla. High acidity with smooth and dissolved light tannin, of medium body and reasonable intensity palate of prune, sherry aromas, red fruit, vanilla, coffee and cigar box. Overall an acceptable quality Rioja with a strong oxidative nose and palate, reasonable length but relatively simple characters. Though still got some fruit the wine is approaching its maturity. Ready to drink now but can further develop for another 1-2 years maximum.

6. Pesquera Janus 1994, Bodgeas Alejandro Fernandez Tinto Pesquera, Ribera del Duero (score: 94)

Deep garnet colour showing its maturity, with an intense and developing aromas of prune, taro, savory, leather, mushroom, coffee and tea leaves. Reasonable acidity makes the wine fresh, with also a rounded tannin and medium body. Intense palate with flavors of taro, mushroom, leather, savory, coffee and prune. Overall excellent quality Tempranillo with really complex nose and palate, particularly the taro character, as well as good length. Ready to drink now but the wine should be consumed in 1-2 years.

7. MR Mountain Wine 2007, Telmo Rodriguez, Malaga (score: 88)

Light lemon-green colour with intense and developing nose of muscat, grapey, apricot, pineapple and honey. Medium-sweet balanced with a low acidity, the wine exhibits full body and intense flavors of the same tropical fruit characters. Overall an acceptable quality Malaga sweet wine with intense nose and palate plus a good length, though lacking the complexity to make this wine a higher quality candidate. Ready to drink now but can further develop for another 3-5 years.