Spain

• Alicante
• Andalusia
• Campo de Borja
• Castilla y Leon
  • Bierzo
• Catalonia
• Jerez
• Jumilla
• Madrid
• La Mancha
• Manchuela
• Méntrida
• Montsant
• Navarra
• Pais Vasco (Basque)
• Priorat
• Rias Baixas
• Ribera Del Duero
• Ribera del Guadiana
• Rioja
• Rueda
• Terra Alta
• Toro
• Valdeorras
• Valdepeñas
• Valencia
• Yecla

Purchased at Foxcroft Wine Bar in Charlotte, NC.  This is 100% Garnacha (Grenache) from old wines in the mountains just west of Madrid.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, pomegranate, spice and wild herbs.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, some cherries and spice.  There is some depth.  Long finish.  Tasty.  This is young but drinking nicely.  Good on its own or with food.  It would work well with Baked Ham.  

This is drinking well and seems to be at or possibly just pack peak.  It is a pretty modern take on Tempranillo but with some bottle age it shows traditionally.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cherries with spice and slight smoke.  Nice finish.  This is ageing gracefully and doesn't seem almost twenty years old.  That said, these should be drunk up at this point.  Nice on its own but better with food.  It would work well

Made from Tinta del Pais, this offers a lovely combination of huckleberry, green tea, blueberry, plum, light vanilla and charred wood notes. It was aged for a year in both French and some American oak. There is a lovely integration with the oak (vanilla) and the black fruit compote. The tannins support the structure of the wine and the acidity, though mild, reinforces the overall harmony. This is a very lovely wine, nothing dominates, but is seamlessly balanced. ORIGIN: Ribera del Duero, Spain. ALCOHOL: 14.5%

Bought on release and well stored.  On release, this was a very modern take on Tempranillo.  At age 22, it still drinks that way although it has calmed down and matured quite a bit since then.  Still drinking youthfully.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries with an earthy notes.  With air, more barnyard emerges (Brettanomyces) although not strong.  Full bodied.  Tannins are resolved.  On the palate, raspberries with black cherries and some kirsch.  A bit of char as well.  Long, slightly drying finish.  Complex and deep, this won't get better but shou

This cava is a blend of 35% Chardonnay, 35% Xarel·lo, 15% Macabeo, and 15% Parellada.  Light golden in color, clear and bright with a nice mousse of medium sized bubbles.  The nose has seltzer, slight diesel notes (which blew off with air), almonds and green apples.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has  a nice complexity to it.  Lemons, grapefruit, yeast and slight minerals.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Hard to beat this for value in sparkling wine.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  Paella would be an obvious choice.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is a lighter, but traditional, Rioja.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is a bit earthy with fresh cherries and a whiff of tobacco.  Light to medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, flavors of cherries with a bit of char.  Anise on the finish.  This drinks easily and should for the next five to seven years.  Nice on its own, this would be a great mid week meatloaf or pizza wine.  

This is a Rosé from Spain that is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha.  It is Salmon pink/copper in color, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with a slight orange/citrus note along with cherries, strawberries and a very slight vanilla note.  (As an aside, both this and the Blanco had a vanilla note, but it does not appear the wines so oak, so where does it come from?).  Medium bodied with a slightly oily texture.  On the palate, lots of fresh cherries, some cranberries and slight red currants.  A bitter almond note on the finish.  This is refreshing and a lovely wine to serv

This is a blend of 93% Viura, 4% Sauvignon Blanc, and 3% Verdejo grapes from the Rioja region of Spain.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with sea air/salinity, Limes, and slight vanilla note.  Light bodied with a slightly viscous texture.  12% abv.  On the palate, this is very refreshing.  Limes with underlying minerality.  Good acidity.  This will work well with lighter foods.  Tuna or Chicken salad would work well.  drink over the next couple of years.  Great Value!

This is the big, modern style of Spanish wine.  It is a blend of 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is intense with black cherries, black raspberries, blueberries along with char and spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Juicy, velvety texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Black cherries and cassis notes with spice and underlying char.  Enough acidity to handle the fruit.  Long finish.  Of course, this is young and will develop and mellow a bit as the tannins and fruit integrate, but this is not a shy wine not will it be in twent