SPANISH CASTLE MAGIC (VINO ESPANA CONTINUES)

Thursday, the Spanish theme continued with my Heidelberg rep Wendy coming by with Lynn from Quality Wines of Spain. It was something like Spain Overkill with 13 wines on the barrel. Madre mia!

Pampano Blanco Rueda 2007. Grade=Outstanding. While slightly old, it no doubt was still showing lots of bright lemon and gooseberry fruit with some guava and kiwi notes as well. Looking forward to the 2009.

Orballo Albarino Rias Biaxas 2009. Grade=Outstanding. A brand new wine fro QWS, this light-bodied white has lots of pears, melon and even some blanched almond notes. Well-balanced acidity too.

Vina Alarba Tinto Catalayud 2007. Grade=Average. This is a decent red wine, quaffable, with some simple red berry notes. For $5 a bottle, it’s a great one for parties when quantity is more important.

Vina Alarba Old Vine Garnacha Catalayud 2008. Grade=Outstanding. I have always liked this wine; very classic style of Grenache, with some white pepper, red berry and earth notes. Great QPR too!

Merum Grenache-Syrah Madrid 2006. Grade=Outstanding. Eerily like a Cotes-du-Rhone, this dusty presentation of red berries, white pepper, rhubarb and blueberry compote is a standout value.

Merum Monastrell Jumilla 2006. Grade=Outstanding. Somewhat drier than some of the other Monastrell I tasted today, this is nonetheless a lip-smacking good red wine, with medium body, medium tannins, and well-balanced acidity.

Legado Munoz Tempranillo Tierra del Castillo 2008. Grade=Outstanding. An easy, light-bodied Tempranillo that displays some tart cherry and red raspberry fruit flavors with hints of pomegranate and acai berry as well. Some mineral and earth tones give it depth.

Callejo Tempranillo Ribera del Duero 2008. Grade=Outstanding. Tart, crisp, slightly tinny in the middle, this medium-bodied red shows off some Bing cherries, tobacco, and hickory smoke. Very nice.

Callejo Crianza Ribera del Duero 2007. Grade=Outstanding. Incredible grip and gushing with red and black fruit, this medium-to-full-bodied beast is sensuous and enthralling. Smoky plum, cigar box, tar, dark roasted coffee beans and anise create a very complex presence on the palate.

Legon Roble Ribera del Duero 2008. Grade=Outstanding. Some noticeable blackberry, vanilla and spice box notes intermingle with nice, dry tannins, and some rose petal and violets in the nose. Finishes long.

Murtia Monastrell Jumilla 2009. Grade=Amazing. I like this new number from QWS; smoky blueberry and vanilla plum character with some cinnamon stick, nutmeg, cedar and mocha. It is probably my favorite of this lineup.

Onix Priorat 2008. Grade=Amazing. This has always been the best introduction to a very pricey wine region. The Onix is a tank-fermented blend of Grenache and Carignan, making it very fruit-forward, showing off spicy red berry characters and some mineral and white truffle notes as well.

Vinito Sangria NV. Grade=Outstanding. Man, call me crazy, but I could see myself knocking back a bottle or two of this stuff with the wife on a hot summer day, grilling out some bison steaks and making some sort of saffron-seasoned veggies and yellow rice. It’s fruity, it’s fun, and it goes down easy. No wine snobbery here!