Spanish Wine Dinner

Ola Cocina Del Mar, Marina Bay Financial Centre
Tasted Friday, January 3, 2014 by hkm520240 with 463 views

Flight 1 - Lone white to start (1 Note)

  • NV Bodegas Hidalgo Manzanilla La Gitana En Rama 89 Points

    Spain, Andalucía, Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda

    Bright golden yellow, complex nose of floral, honey, caramel, nutty, toasty character and slight hints of oxidation. Nutty and creamy palate, with almond and caramelized fruits. End with a soft drying finish. Agreed with others that the nose is better than the palate.

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Flight 2 - Aged Spanish Duo (2 Notes)

  • 1981 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Reserva 94 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Medium ruby red with light mahogany tinge showing maturity. Expressive and beautiful nose of cigar box, dusty, earthy character along with blackberry, blackcurrant and hints of toasted cedar oak.
    The palate is subtle and elegant, showing beautiful balance with secondary notes of tobacco interwoven with cherries, plums and red fruits. Nice balance acidity with ling persistent finish. This is a very enjoyable aged Spanish wine and still holding very well after more than 30 years.

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  • 1982 Bodegas y Viñedos del Contino Rioja Contino Reserva 92 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

    Medium ruby with brown red hue. Subtle bouquet but amazingly young and primary, showing dark fruits, black cherries, toasted oak and spice.
    The palate is holding amazingly well and youthful, with layers of black and red fruits. Soft and subtle mouth-feel with great sense of harmony. Some prefer this to the 1981 CVNE Viña Real Reserva and truly it was a great wine too. It has a very surprised showing and I would have guessed it 15 years younger.

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Flight 3 - 3 Gran Reserva and a late comer (4 Notes)

  • 2004 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva 94 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    I was quite excited to try this, after it was named "Wine of the Year" by WS in 2013 and I was not disappointed.
    Dark ruby with purple crimson hue, very youthful appearance for a 10 years old wine. Expressive fruity nose, with dominance toasted vanilla oak, along with black and red fruits, blackberry and spice box.
    Full and rich on entry, bright acidity gives a fresh mouth-feel, dark cherry, blackberry and powerful but integrating oak. This is lovely, intense yet elegant. Long aftertaste extend by lively acidity. This is a young and robust wine, utterly delicious at the moment but no doubt it has long life ahead. I wish I could own some but the recent award made the price unrealistic now.

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  • 2001 Bodegas Valduero Ribera del Duero Gran Reserva 91 Points

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    Dark garnet with crimson hue, subtle nose of red cherries, spice with hints of forest floor and toasted oak on background.
    Medium bodied, smooth and balance, with red cherry and developing secondary flavours. Subtle mouth-feel with good mid-palate. Soft chewy tannins with medium+ finish. This was pretty good but somehow overwhelm by the 2004 CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva tasted earlier. Both are Gran Reserva but showing completely different style.

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  • 2005 Grandes Vinos y Viñedos Cariñena Monasterio de las Viñas Gran Reserva 87 Points

    Spain, Aragón, Cariñena

    Another Gran Reserva but clearly it was in an awkward situation when it was served in this flight up against the other reds.
    Vivid ruby core with crimson hue, it has a very distinctive aromas of sour plum, chili, bell pepper and Chinese medicine. Soft and lacking flavour intensity on palate, showing dark cherry and spice. Medium finish with soft grippy tannins.
    This is pretty unimpressive, although the cost is just fraction of the other wines of this flight. 60% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo and 10% Cariñena.

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  • 2004 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Dalmau 94 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

    I was a bit late for the dinner with this bottle and Sommelier decided to place it in this flight while some wines have started serving. Surprisingly it was opened for business immediately after it was popped and poured.
    Intense dark ruby with crimson hue, fragrant nose of black sweet fruits with good ripeness, dark cherry, with toasted vanilla oak well integrated.
    It has layers of dark fruits, dark plums and dark cherries on palate. This is muscular yet balance and not overripe with seamless mid-palate through to long persistent finish with a firm grip.
    86% Tempranillo, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Graciano. This is Marqués de Murrieta's top cuvee produced in modern wine-making style, aged 21 months in new French oak barrels. A delicious wine, full and robust.

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Flight 4 - Robust Reds from Priorat and Toro (3 Notes)

  • 2009 Agnes de Cervera Priorat Kalos 93 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    Deep garnet core with purple crimson rims, showing ripe fruits, fruits cake and blueberries aromas, ripe and powerful style. Palate is full and robust, fruits driven, blueberries and ripe fruits. Strong mid-palate with lively acidity. Long persistent finish with hints of toastiness.
    Very good wine with a powerful ripe fruits core. Blend of Carignan, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

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  • 2008 Clos Mogador Priorat 92 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    2 bottles was served during the dinner. Blend of 46% Grenache, 21% Carignan, 19% Cabernet- Sauvignon and 14% Syrah. Aged 18 months in oak.
    Dark garnet with purple rims, elegant and lifted nose, dark cherry, spice box and toasty oak. Medium+ bodied, dark fruits, smoke and toasty oak on palate with high acidity. Long lingering finish with chewy tannins.
    This is actually drinking very well now, very good wine too but a bit overshadow by excellent performance put up by Kalos.

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  • 2008 Chano Suarez Toro Quinola Garagewine 92 Points

    Spain, Castilla y León, Toro

    Dark inky black, fresh aromas of dark fruits, dark cherry, toasted oak, nice fragrant nose.
    Powerful entry, along with ripe fruits, blackberry, black plum and vanillin oak. It has a nice balance. Finishes with grippy tannins. Another full and robust wine.

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