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)
Category Archives: Spanish Varietals
La Cartuja 2011
Justin Tempranillo Reserve 2007
PASO ROBLES | CALIFORNIA | $47
Fruit forward with black cherry and dark berry balanced with undertones of soil, graphite, cedar and woody spice, then a hint of sour cherry on the finish. It’s rather a big juice but well proportioned with ample structure to carry the weight. This girl, nearly as wide as she is tall, possesses some stout legs to which she owes her balance. All in all, a very good wine. (Reviewed 5/15/11)
Filed under $21 to $50, California, Spanish Varietals
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)
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)
