Assorted Spanish Wines

• NV Dibon Cava Brut Réserve

  Spain, Cava

  Straw colored. Light, limpid, and mineral with low dosage. Good.

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• 2009 Uriondo Bizkaiko Txakolina Malieta Mahasti

  Spain, País Vasco, Bizkaiko Txakolina

  Light yellow. Mineral, lemon nose is a Muscadet "smell alike". Bigger, riper, and denser than most Muscadet, but similarly intense saline finish. This is excellent and a cut above the run of the mill Txakoli.

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• 2008 Luis Anxo Rodriguez Vazquez Ribeiro Viña de Martin Os Pasás

  Spain, Galicia, Ribeiro

  Medium yellow, smells like Chablis. Medium weight. Its combination of some tropical fruit and earthiness reminds me of Savennieres. Idiosyncratic and once again, good.

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• 2009 Bodegas y Vinedos Shaya Rueda Old Vines

  Spain, Castilla y León, Rueda

  Light straw with aromatics that call to mind Sancerre! Grassy with grapefruit and orange zest. Some viscosity. Interesting and enjoyable.

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• 2005 Zuazo Gaston Rioja Crianza

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Pale with very light edge. Floral and quite aromatic. Light weight but good intensity of blackberry and other earthy elements for complexity. Lively acid, some wood that is held in check and not too pungent. This seems mid-way between traditional and modern in style, but in any case, excellent for current drinking and a pretty astounding value. Should go on for 3-5 more years.

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• 2008 Bodegas La Cartuja Priorat

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Moderately dark. Sweeter berry/licorice profile. Really very fragrant. For its weight, intense, spicy, penetrating black cherry flavors with vibrant supporting acidity. OK, maybe one could ask for more complexity, but this is really good for the low tariff.

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• 2009 Bodegas Carchelo (Agapito Rico) Jumilla Carchelo "C"

  Spain, Murcia, Jumilla

  Dark color. Syrupy blackberries. Woody base, much less shapely than most of the other wines because of lower acidity, but good, earthy finish. Another steal for the price.

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• 2007 Dominio Pingus Ribera del Duero Flor de Pingus

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Fairly inky looking. Big, very oaky wine with pine notes. Some graphite but mostly subtly sweet blue and black fruit. Lower acid, much too much wood, little sense of place.

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A really interesting and diverse small sample of wines. As you can see, I viewed the whites through a French lens to provide myself with some reference point for varietals with which I have little experience. For the price, these were impressive. Amongst the reds, there were also some incredible bargains, and the wood treatment of most of these wines was not as offputting as it can be with some Spanish wines. I can see that I should have a more open mind about these wines, particularly since there are some fantastic values out there.