Category Archives: Spain

La Cartuja 2011

PRIORAT | SPAIN | $18
Bright cherry on the nose yields to more subtle flavors of mature dark plum, blackberry and black currant fruit with notes of rhubarb, earth, cedar, sage and black tea. Complex yet easy drinking, medium bodies with a dry tannin pucker on the finish. Oh, the adolescent — comes on with a flurry of fire, wreaks mischief and secures attention, but tiring easily. This one, fortunately, has just enough stamina to politely bid a pleasant goodby. 70% Garnacha (Grenache), 30% Carinena. A very good wine. (reviewed 2/2/13)

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Filed under $20 and less, Spain, Spanish Varietals, Syrah/Shiraz | Grenache | Mourvedre

San Leopardo Rosso Colli Maceratesi 2006

MARCHES | SPAIN | $25

Lean blackberry, sour cherry and watermelon fruit. Complex with hints of peach, nectarine, cloves, nutmeg, orange peel, pine needles and sage. Well structured, silky tannins, calcium minerality and a slight acidity on the finish. An excellent wine. (Reviewed 7/20/11)

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Filed under $21 to $50, Spain, Spanish Varietals

Black Slate Porrera Vi de la Vila 2008

PRIOAT | SPAIN | $19

Dark berry and prune with cocoa, cola, cardamom, cedar and graphite. Tightly wound tannins and overt acidity open up and soften with hours of decanting. The result, a velvety quaff. Given time to open up, this is a very good wine; impatience, however, will be handed a far lesser wine. Grenache. (Reviewed 9/7/11)

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Filed under $20 and less, Spain, Spanish Varietals, Syrah/Shiraz | Grenache | Mourvedre