WTN: dos blancos españoles

[Mark S]

Viñedos Nieva, Rueda, Verdejo Pie Franco, 2010
From really old vines, comes this pale colored white wine from Spain with a spicy floral nose, light-to-medium bodied, with dried floral flavors and a slightly bitter green almond finish. It's good, but can I taste old vines? Eh... B+

Bodegas Marañones, Vinos de Madrid, 'Picarana', 2010
100% Albillo. Medium-light gold. Smoky muskmelon nose, with a slight hint of flint. Smoky melon on the palate, with a honeysuckle blossom finish. Similar in some ways to a marsanne/roussane blend, but with more brightness to the palate and lacking the dull ending finish many of those have. Worth the $19 price tag. B+ [Alcohol note: the importer (LDM) has this labeled as "13%" on their back label, but it feels closer to the "14.5%" as labeled on the winery label. Somebody is surely not telling the truth.]