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

This was another crowd pleaser.  People kept asking to know more Albarino and how to say Rias Baixas.  I was able to help with the former, but they were on their own with the later.  Silvery green gold in color.  The nose is nice if not ebullient.  Slightly saline with crushed shells and slight pears.  On the palate, this has a nice slightly oily texture.  The palate is all about minerality.  The finishes turns tart green apples in a good and refreshing way.  Quite food friendly for all but the heartiest of dishes.  This is a bit more full bodied than most Albarino's from Spain.  That is ne

Seems like a pretty modern take on Rioja.  Ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, slight dust, and a bit of black cherries.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Cherries, black cherries with medium tannins.  Nice finish.  Easy drinking but also a bit of depth.  This will please with or without food.  This retails for around $20 which is a great value.  

This is an inexpensive Spanish Garnacha (Grenache) from Spain.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has dusty black cherries.  Sweet and slightly candied on the palate with black cherry fruit as well.  Clean.  This sells for around $20.  It will work with heartier foods.  This should be consumed in the next few years.  A fun wine that should be a hit among non-wine geeks.  

This is 100% Mencia from the Bierzo region in Northwest Spain.  It is a young wine and meant to be consumed in the first few years.  Ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries and some raspberries.  On the palate, there are some tannins.  Black cherry and cherry fruit.  Some underlying earthiness.  Good acidity.  This wine is really all about the fresh fruit though.  Easy to drink and delicious.  Some depth.  Good finish.  This will work on its own or with a wide variety of foods.  

This is a Garnacha from near the city of Toledo in Spain.  Ruby in color.  The nose has some cherries with an herbal quality and some anise.  On the palate, this is light bodied with good acidity.  Some tannins though give it a bit of extra weight.  Cherries and slight bitter cherries on the nose with just a bit of earthiness.  Good finish.  This should be very food friendly for a wide range of foods.  Drinking well now and should be for 5 years.  

Ruby in color.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  On the palate, this has cherries turning to bitter cherry on the finish.  No tannins.  Easy to drink.  Nothing complex here, but for 12 bucks, this is a food friendly wine that will work for a variety of foods that are not too light or heavy.  Great for parties or cookouts.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

This is 100% Godello from mostly older vines in northwest Spain.  Light silvery gold in color.  The nose is about minerals and crushed shells.  On the palate, this has nice acidity.  Not a big wine but steely/clean.  Lots of minerality.  Slightly oily texture.  Nice finish.  Will work great with sea food.  Made for early drinking.  $18 retail is fair.  

This is a young wine from Rioja using Sauvignon Blanc grapes.  It is a bit of a different take on both white Rioja and Sauvignon Blanc.  Light silvery gold in color.  The nose is very nice.  There is some grapefruit but mostly this has a refreshing clean aroma to it with some underlying minerals.  On the palate, this is again, about the minerality.  A very round wine and easy to drink.  Some citrus and acidity but not dominant.  Works fine on its own bout will work with lighter foods.  Retails for around $15 which is a nice value.  

This is from the Basque region of Spain.  It is a bit richer and more elegant than most Txacolis.  Also no spritz.  Light golden in color.  The nose has some citrus and minerals.  On the palate, this is tart but also rich bodied.  Some citrusy notes.  Good finish.  This is very food friendly but needs light and medium bodied foods.  Retails for $20 which is fair.  Made from the Hondarrabi Zuri grape.  

Light silvery gold in color.  A fair amount of medium sized bubbles.  The nose is clean with slight citrus and minerals.  Also a bit of a burnt note.  On the palate, this is slightly bitter.  Easy drinking.  Not a lot of depth but would be a perfect mix for mimosas or other sparkling mixed drinks.