I was planning to go to this Spanish importer's tasting today but am frustrated by the fact that Belgian roads are clogged up with traffic jams due to the railways being on strike
. I can, however, replay my notes from last year (minus Rioja, Priorat and Ribera del Duero). These show a lot of variety all round Spain with some outstandingly individual wines coming out of Catalunya (especially from Gramona) as well as the cool climate wines from the North West which have been the subject of a lot of the posts here and the excellent results from higher altitudes in warmer and drier areas (see Jiménez Landi).
The white table (no growers)
Penedès Selecció Blanc 2008 – Jané Ventura (€8), from Xarel.lo 65%, Moscatel 15%, Chardonnay 15%, Malvasia de Sitges 5%, was aromatic, flowery and very fresh with citrus and grapey notes on the palate; 15.5/20
QPR!Rueda Verdejo 2008 – José Pariente (€11), Verdejo 100%, was refreshingly crisp and quite Sauvignon-like with grapefruit and floral notes; 15/20++.
Malaga Ariyanas Moscatel Seco – Bodegas Bentomiz (€16), Moscatel de Alejandría 100%, was deliciously crisp as well as being highly aromatic and spicy; 15.5/20+++.
The red tables (no growers)
Bierzo, Ultreia de St. Jacques 2008 – Viñedos de Raúl Pérez (organic) (€10), Mencía 100%. I loved this for its purity and aromas of tangy, spicy sweet cherry and generous body and mouth-fill combined with freshness; 16/20+
QPR!! (see also my more detailed recent TN in this thread).
Pià I Llevant (Mallorca) negre 2006 – Jaume Mesquida (€10), from Callet 40%, Mantonegro 30%, CabSauv 30%, was more conventional in its rich fragrant fruit with grilled meat but also caramel touches; 14.5/20.
Monterrei (Galicia) Alanda Tinto 2006 – Quinta da Muradella (organic) (€15), from Mencía, Bastardo and Arauxa, was described as uncommercial but I liked its unusual flavours of steely and tangy cherry with a lively medicinal hint; 15.5/20.
Navarra Artazu 2006 – Santa Cruz de Artado (€22), from 100% Garnacha old vines, showed dark fruity aromas and concentrated substance with complexity and good acid balance; 16/20+
Bierzo Corullón 2006 – Descendientes de J.Palacios (biodynamic) (€36), from Mencía 100%, was my wine of the day. Its aromas were subdued but fragrant with notes of sour cherry, violets and a touch of raspberry and its body was ample and long with fine fruit, minerals and considerable finesse and elegance; the 100% new wood was already well integrated; 17.5/20 (see also my more detailed recent note in this thread).
Rafael Palacios, DO ValdeorrasLouro 2008 (€15), from Godello 92% and Treixadura 8%, was typically round, creamy and mineral; 15.5/20++.
As Sortes (organic) (€30), 100% Godello, was sadly sold out and no longer on show.
Gramona, DO PenedèsThe Cavas from this estate are a revelation. The still whites are pretty good too.
Cava Imperial Gran Reserva Brut 2005 (€20), from Xarel.lo 50%, Macabeu 40% and Chardonnay 10%, had rich aromas with a liqueur touch and round rich body with a pleasing oily touch and great moutn-fill; 16/20.
Cava III Lustros Reserva Brut Nature 2001 (€29), from Xarel.lo 70% and Macbeu 30%, was in a different league of finesse with the profile of the previous considerably refined and a more linear palate and longer finish; 16.5/20++; one of my handful of memorable bubblies from outside Champagne.
Gessamí 2008 (€11), from Moscatel Alejandría and Frontignan 30% each and Sauvignon 40%, was a successful combination of the spicy Muscat aromatics and the bright citrus freshness of Sauvignon; 15.5/20
QPR.
Xarel.lo Font Jui 2004 (W) (€19), from Xael.lo 100%, was fascinating different with an attractive oily spiciness allied to fresh acidity and good mouth-fill; 16/20.
Jiménez Landi, DO Méntrida (near Toledo)
This estate is biodynamic. Altitude of about 400m tempers the torrid summer heat of the Castilian plateau and gives cool nights.
Bajondillo 2008 (€8), from Garnacha 80% and Syrah, CabSauv and Merlot, was a joy with its purity, generous sweet fruit, spicy aromatics and tangy finish; 15.5/20+
QPR!!Sottorondero 2007 (€15), from Syrah 90% and Granacha 10%, was deep dark and polished with sweet cherry notes, minerals and good length and none of those ripe blackberry notes which diminish (for me) a lot of warm climate Syrah/Shiraz; 16/20+++
QPR.
Anima Negra, Vino de la Tierra de MallorcaQuibía 2008 (W) (€12), from Premsal 60%, Callet à jus blanc 40%), was attractively fleshy with attractive saltiness and mild bitterness towards the finish; 15/20+.
AN/2 2006 (€17), from Callet 65%, Syrah 15% and the rest Mantonegro/Fogoneu, was deep and dark with toasty dark fruit; 15/20.
Anima Nera 2005 (€34), from Callet 95%, rest Mantonegro/Fogoneu, showed greater depth, roundness and richness with a smooth mouth-feel than the previous and some presence of wood; 15.5/20 now with +++ if the wood recedes.
Celler Joan d’Anguera, DO Montsant (NB This area almost completely surrounds the more famous Priorat on slightly less steep sites.)
Planella 2007 (€12), from Carinyena, Syrah, CabSauv, Garnatxa, showed full and tangy sweet fruit with some sweat saddle and touches of liquorice; style quite Southern Rhône; 15.5/20++
QPR.
El Bugader 2005(€38), from Syrah 90%, Garnatxa 10%, showed complex red and dark fruit with some strawberry and “bonbon” notes together with wet leather and liquorice, depth of body and firm ripe tannins; 16/20+++.