| | Canapé - Jamon Croqueta - 2021 Bendito Destino Albillo Mayor Ribera del Duero - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero (7/28/2023)
Due to a delay in getting the fizz delivered this was served first. Very pale color. Lip smacking acid with a bit of spice on the nose, and real length. Lovely stuff, probably my wine of the flight.
- 2013 Mas Candi Corpinnat Indomable Brut Nature - Spain, Catalunya, Corpinnat (7/28/2023)
At the risk of both damning with faint praise, and exposing the limits of my palate, i felt this really could have passed for decent rose champagne. Evidently made from Xarel-lo and Sumoll (pronounced soo-moy) grapes, the nose was vibrant, there was real breadth on the palate, a kind of apple crisp note (or at least - something appley but neither green apple nor over ripe apple). Will plan to get a few of these.
Hake, octopus and sardine vinaigrette Good grief this was excellent. Not tasted anything like this before at La T. Wow. As a fellow diner commented - just amazing to get the intensity of the sardine flavour without it being overpowering - just really well done. - N.V. Quinta dos Carvalhais Dão Branco Especial - Portugal, Beiras, Dão (7/28/2023)
On the nose - someone said "aussie Semillon" and I agree. On the palate - there was some discussion at the table as to whether this was oxidative but to my mind it surely was - if you didn't have any Tondonia Blanco or Musar Blanc to hand, you might well reach for this. I'd love to try this again as I don't think I gave it enough attention but even so - jolly nice.
- 2021 Tamerán Vijariego Blanco - Spain, Canary Islands, Gran Canaria (7/28/2023)
Evidently this is made from grapes grown on a formerly derelict vineyard on Gran Canaria. On the nose - a lovely delicate almost oyster shell note to it. The palate tells a different story - almost sauvignon blanc feel in the mouth (with no cats piss). Some discussion at the table as to whether this was really just too young at this stage - I can certainly see that.
- 2017 Can Ràfols dels Caus Xarel·lo Pairal - Spain, Catalunya, Penedès (7/29/2023)
An appley nose and a real old church palate. A bit disjointed on its own - perked up greatly with the food.
Quail, morcilla, celeriac, apple and mustard Another victory for the kitchen - I loved the morcilla but all of the components were excellent individually and together. - 2019 Envinate Albahra - Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Almansa (7/29/2023)
The nose is big, boozy and plush while the palate is more tannic and even maybe a touch bitter. I'd be interested to try again when I can pay more attention.
- 2016 Casal Figueira Tinto Adiado - Portugal, Lisboa, Vinho Regional Lisboa (7/29/2023)
Real earthiness here, a bit of spritz. Some discussion of brett - conclusion was no brett, but some other kind of secondary biological process going on - reminded me of the funkier end of German Spätburgunder. My favourite wine of this flight and along with the fizz, the one i'd be most likely to pick up at current market prices.
Iberico pork chop, coco de paimpol, chorizo and mojo verde I have to admit i was a little intimidated by the scale of the pork chop, and ended up not finishing it. Again, just super food coming out of the kitchen at La T just now. - 2001 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva Especial - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (7/29/2023)
My handwritten notes say "standard" but I have to say that while I really enjoyed this, I get the sense it's not one of the best bottles. It's all there but slightly disjointed - some good discussion at the table about how wine aged under American vs French Oak age - there is a sense in which the American oak never fully integrates, it's always there as a separate harmonic. A generously shared sip of the 904 from the same vintage was a clear step up.
- 1989 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja (7/29/2023)
Fully mature - wonderful deep nose, still some acidity there. Not sure though that I would have pegged this as Rioja - put me in mind of the recent South Africa dinner when the two Bordeaux Blends could have been Riojas, this was almost the opposite - if someone had told me this was a South African Bordeaux Blend from 1989 I could well have believed it.
- 2001 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (7/29/2023)
Generously pulled from the reserves bench. No decanting poured straight from the bottle - and it shone. Real density here, salinity, this is drinking great just now. Clear wine of the flight for me - interestingly I also tasted it alongside the Ardanza a few years ago and on that occasion I preferred the Ardanza. Not sure if this is a case of a flawless bottle of the Tondo vs a slightly funky Ardanza but this was great.
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