Monthly Tasting Group: Spain and Portugal

Seventeen of us gathered at a new tapas restaurant, Rincon 38, in Minneapolis. The theme was Spain and Portugal. There was a very interesting mix of wines, and the food was spectacular.

• 2011 Jorge Ordoñez & Co. Moscatel Seco Botani 91 Points

  Spain, Andalucía, Sierras de Málaga

  Pale gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Very nice, tropical, very flavorful, mango, pineapple, slightly floral,. Good body, medium finish. Dang, this is very refreshing.

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• 2011 Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina 88 Points

  Spain, País Vasco, Getariako Txakolina

  Pale gold with a spritz. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Light body , citrus, mineral, lime. Pleasant, a little short on the finish.

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• 2010 Benaza Monterrei 88 Points

  Spain, Galicia, Monterrei

  Lemon, light grapefruit, light body, mineral. Nice.

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• 2010 Do Ferreiro Albariño Rías Baixas Cepas Vellas 91 Points

  Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas

  Light gold color. Drank1 glass over 30 minutes. Very good stuff, citrus, lemon, lifted, floral, nice finish.

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• 1993 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia 94 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Medium deep gold color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. This was just fantastic, extremely complex nose and palate showing a distinct earthy character, lemon, waxy, herbs, smoked nuts. The palate has incredible vitality at 20 years old, slightly oxidative, but with plenty of fruit, citrus and some tropicals, nutty, creamy and full with a very long energetic finish. This was getting better through the evening too. Very impressive and my WOTN.

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• 2001 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva Especial 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Very dark red color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes plus. This was pretty nice, cherry, spice, oak. The palate is medium bodied, cherry, firm tannins, oak, and some anise.Medium finish. 89-90pts.

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• 1994 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 Flawed

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  This bottle was unfortunately off. The cork was noticeable on the palate and became progressively stronger with aeration both on the palate and nose.

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• 2003 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia 92 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Very dark red color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. PNP, Black cherry, firm tannins, tart, medium body, nice, soft mouth feel, earth, cherry, medium plus finish. 92+pts.

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• 2004 Bodegas Pintia Toro Pintia 90 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Toro

  Very dark purple red color. Drank 1 glass over an hour plus. PNP. I didn't get many notes on this, but it was somewhat unimpressive given its pedigree. Very big, deeply concentrated with lots of oak, black fruits, more oak, licorice, grippy tannins. 89-90

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• 2004 Bodegas y Viñedos San Roman Toro Viña San Román 92 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Toro

  Dark purple red color. Decanted for 45 minutes. Drank 1 glass over 1.5hrs. Nose has blackberry, black cherry, floral, tobacco, spices, cedar. The palate is deep and rich, with black and blue fruits, blackberry, plum, black cherry, a bit of licorice, lots of wonderful tobacco, oak, medium grained tannins, long finish. Its been awhile since i had this, and I almost think it was best right after PNP, but either way it was very good. 92+pts.

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• 2004 Cellers Can Blau Montsant Mas de Can Blau 89 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Montsant

  Unfortunately didn't get any significant notes on this one. Earthy, and....But it was pretty good.

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• 2005 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero 93 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Very dark red color. Drank 1 glass over 60 minutes. This was excellent, nose filled with dark fruits of blackberry, black cherry, sauvage, smoke. The palate is richly layered with blackberry, dark cherries, glycerin, graphite,and smoke. Powerful, but restarined, with balance and elegance. Outstanding.

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• 2007 Bodegas Los Astrales Ribera del Duero Astrales 92 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Very dark red color. This had around a 2 hour decant. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Didn't take detailed notes on this, but it was drinking surprisingly well given its youth. Dark fruits, full body, spices, graphite, not too much oak. This deserves more attention in the future.

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• NV Alvear Pedro Ximénez Montilla-Moriles Solera 1927 94 Points

  Spain, Andalucía, Montilla-Moriles

  Deep amber color. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. Man was this good. Nose shows sweet raisins, creme brule, caramelized pecans, vanilla. The palate has a nice concentration with sweet raisiny fruit, creme brule, molasses, caramel, unctuous. Long tantalizing finish that begs for another sip.

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• 1995 Smith Woodhouse Porto Vintage 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Small pour, no notes.

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• 2004 Bodegas Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero Malleolus de Sanchomartin 92 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Very dark red/purple color. PNP, small pour over 40 minutes. This was showing much better than the '04 Valderramiro. Very big, with chocolate, oak, cherry, plum, dusty, vanilla. The palate shows depth, nice texture, loam, minerals, spice in addition to the cherry, plum, chocolate, and vanilla. The tannins are fairly tame and there is a long finish. 92+pts.

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• 2004 Bodegas Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero Malleolus de Valderramiro

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  This was not showing well. Very hot and oaky. This was a PNP, and it likely needs significant air and/or cellar time. It did not improve over an hour plus though. This was not even close to a previous bottle. As it was this day, I wouldn't drink it. Score with held.

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• 2008 Ferrer Bobet Priorat Selecció Especial Vinyes Velles 89 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Just a tad here. Pretty nice, a little heat. 89-90pts.

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• 2005 Ferrer Bobet Priorat 93 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Very dark red color. Small pour. Not a lot of details written, but there is a giant circled asterisk with the words "really good" next to it. Nose has a great perfume, nice berry fruit, great fruit, long finish. 93+pts.

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• 2005 Martinez Lacuesta Rioja Reserva Ventilla 71 87 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Oak, alcohol, spice, more oak. Didn't care for it.

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• NV Equipo Navazos La Bota de Fino 15 "Macharnudo Alto"

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  Small pour. I can't say that I was loving this. Some of the comments around the table suggested that this seemed sweet for a Fino.

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My WOTN was the 1993 Lopez de Heredia Blanco Reserva Tondonia

Other highlights include the 2005 Alion, 2005 Ferrer Bobet, and the Alvear PX Solera 1927