Archive
Spanish Selections
You should buy the 2012 Celler Jordi Llorens, Blankeforti. It is certainly different and is a bit prickly from carbon dioxide, perhaps due to low sulphur, so you could give it a good shake as it warms if that bothers you. Williams Corner Wines continue to deliver interesting wines. Note, Jenn preferred the 2011 Perez, Guimaro over this wine. The 2010 Navaherreros, Garnacha de Bernabeleva is the most powerful, young wine of those featured in this post. It has good flavor so try it now if you are prepared but it is best to cellar it a few years. A better idea might be to drink the young 2005 LAN, Gran Reserva. I must admit I like drinking the 2009 Torres, Gran Coronas, Reserva. One bottle was perfect after an hour of air, a second was less interesting. I would be curious to see how the 2009 Alonso del Yerro develops. It has the components for aging but I must admit I was a little distracted by the heat. Most of these wines were purchased at MacArthur Beverages. The Navaherreros and Perez were purchased at Chambers Street Wines.
2012 Celler Jordi Llorens, Blankeforti, Conca de Barbera – $23
Imported by Williams Corner Wines. This wine is a blend of Garnatxa Negra and Cabernet Sauvignon. Alcohol 15%. The aromatic nose steps out of the glass, spritely aromas with a citrus backing. The mouth is a little sparkly at first with flavors of ripe citrus, red fruit, and orange peel. This different wine was compelling, eventually leaving lipstick notes and ripe strawberry flavors on the lips. The wine remains nervous on the tongue tip with a balsamic note. It is not gritty. *** Now-2015.
2006 Bodegas Olarra, Anares, Reserva, Rioja – $15
Imported by Classic Wines. Alcohol 13.5%. The nose was tight and a little textured. In the mouth were bright black and red fruit which was both firm and young. The acidity was almost puckering then became salivating in the finish. The tannins were present. With air the wine became firmer, clean, and modern. ** 2015-2020.
2005 LAN, Gran Reserva, Rioja – $22
Imported by Monsieur Touton. Alcohol 14%. There was a fine wood scent mixing with the black fruit aromas. In the mouth there was already good complexity with focused ripe, black fruit and an ethereal flavor which continued into the aftertaste. This was a tasty wine, still early in development, and should age well. The structure was very fine with a concentrated ripeness. *** Now-2023.
2009 Torres, Gran Coronas, Reserva, Penedes – $18
Imported by Dreyfus Ashby & Co. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. Alcohol 14%. There was a dark, inviting nature to the red and black fruit. It developed with an hour of air. A wood note mixed nicely with the unobtrusive structure and integrated acidity. It is probably best to wait one year. ** Now-2018.
2009 Alonso del Yerro, Ribera del Duero – $22
Imported by Monsieur Touton. This wine is 100% Tempranillo. Alcohol 14.7%. The light nose revealed complex bitters-like aromas. There were similar flavors in the mouth with dry and firm black fruit. The wine was very drying with spicy tannins. It eventually took on some initial weight, a slightly sweet ripeness, along with purple/black fruit mixed with violets. There were very focused flavors and minerals. There were good upfront flavors, a racy and minerally aspect, but the wine builds up to show a spirity nature. **(*) 2016-2025.
2011 Bodegas Mas Alta, La Vilella Alta, Black Slate, Priorat – $20
Imported by European Cellars. This wine is a blend of Grenache, Carignan, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Alcohol 14.5%. The nose was light and low-lying. In the mouth were intense flavors of spicy blackberry supported by structure and acidity. There was spicy cinnamon notes in the finish with Jenn finding “chocolate coffee.” This was a big wine, not firm nor tight, but framed with a dry finish, salivating acidity, and a roughness towards the end. ** Now-2015.
2010 Navaherreros, Garnacha de Bernabeleva, Vinos de Madrid – $22
Imported by The Rare Wine Company. This wine is 100% Grenache fermented in a mixed if wood, stainless steel, and concrete. Alcohol 15.5%. This remained a young wine despite extensive air. The flavors revolved around a focused core of fruit with the structure rising with air, leaving a dose of fine, drying tannins. It took on cherry flavors in the middle. *** Now-2025.
2011 Pedro M. Rodriguez Perez, Guimaro, Ribeira Sacra – $18
A Jose Pastor Selection imported by Vinos & Gourmet. This wine is 100% Mencia from vines averaging 40 years of age. It is unoaked. Alcohol 14.5%. The nose revealed floral berries and remained a bit subtle but good. This was an acidity driven wine with tart black and red fruit that took on a little weight. With air the tart black fruit mixed with a little ripe and drying tannins. There was some salivating acidity as the flavors firmed up in the finish. ** Now-2015.
Trepat, Fer Servadou, and Pinotage
Here are three more notes which have been languishing. The most interesting wine was from Domaine Plageoles in Gaillac. It is made from the South West varietal Fer Servadou which I also encountered in the 2008 Domaine du Cros, Marcillac. My notes on these two wines show similarities so I suggest you try either bottle. The Domaine Foraster is of interest because it is made from Trepat which is typically used in sparkling wine production. Lastly, the Kanonkop is a decant Bordeaux blend with a South African Pinotage twist. Make sure you decant it ahead of time or you will be disappointed. These wines were purchased at Chambers Street Wines and MacArthur Beverages.
2010 Domaine Plageoles, Braucol, Gaillac – around $22
Imported by Jenny & Francois. This wine is 100% Fer Servadou sourced from vines planted in the 1990s. Alcohol 13%. The nose is of light pepper and red fruit. In the mouth the red fruit and pepper have a gentle weight before the flavors become tart and end with some ripeness. The acidity is watering. There is, perhaps, a greenhouse note. A good, complete wine. *** Now.
2010 Mas Foraster, Josep Foraster, Trepat, Conca de Barbera – around $20
Imported by T. Edwards Wine. This wine is 100% Trepat which is aged for five months in French oak. Alcohol 13%. The color was a very light cherry garnet. The light nose was lifted with aromas of grapefruit and pepper. In the mouth the bright red fruit was clean with peppery fruit, lots of acidity then a powdery perfumed aftertaste. This light bodied wine is for drinking now. ** Now.
2010 Kanonkop, Kadette, Stellenbosch – $13
Imported by Cape Classics. This wine is a blend of 44% Pinotage, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc sourced from 5-30 year old vines. It fermented in concrete vats then aged for 12 months in used French oak barrels. Alcohol 14%. The light to medium nose reveals smoky meat. In the mouth there is bright tart fruit which mixes with smoky red fruit. The tart, young fruit puts on some weight with air and takes on blacker, red fruit in the finish. There is a greenhouse note and a tiny bit of juicy acidity. This South African claret blend needs an hour of air to show its forward side. ** Now-2018.
Recent Posts
Top Posts & Pages
- Bastardo & Moscatel: The Tasting 1927 - 1830
- Wine glasses and pitchers in the Friendship Album of Moyses Walens
- The Wine Bottles of Colonial Williamsburg
- "a classic cabernet with great potential": Tasting mature Californian wines by the fireplace
- Wine Related Dutch Paintings of the 17th Century
- Fine, Rare, and Capital Old Wine
- I try my first bottle of Fumin from Valle d'Aosta
- Mature Middle Mosel Riesling
- "old wine of Lafitte": George Washington's order of 1786 Chateau Lafite
- The Dutch Wine Glasses of Pieter Claesz
History of Wine
Archives
- December 2021
- October 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- October 2010
- March 2010
- September 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- February 2009
- December 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- April 1993
- March 1993
- February 1993
- December 1992
- November 1992
- October 1992
Copyright
All original writings and all original images are copyrighted 1992-2021 by Aaron Nix-Gomez (Hogsheadwine).
Tasting notes may be reproduced for commercial reasons, as ‘fair use’, provided suitable credit to Aaron Nix-Gomez or the Hogsheadwine website URL (www.hogsheadwine.com) is given. Otherwise all rights are reserved, and no other part of this web site may be reproduced, stored or transmitted by any means, electronic or otherwise, without the prior permission of Aaron Nix-Gomez.