Important Update From the Founder

Spanish Wine Tasting and Dinner at BDV

1855 and Bistro du Vin

Tasted September 13, 2013 by Derek Darth Taster with 394 views

Introduction

Tasting of 2 Reservas and 2 Crianzas followed by a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. Ended off with dinner at Bistro du Vin. Excellent food and paired with 2 elegantly aged Reds.

Flight 1 - Spanish Wine Tasting (4 notes)

2 Rioja Riservas V.S. 2 Crianzas from Ribera del Duero.
2008 Bodegas Muga Rioja Gran Reserva was the crowd favourite. However, M and I differed and felt that 2008 Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero Crianza was the best.

Red

2007 Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

Fresh fragrant minty nose. Freshness continues on the palate, serving up notes of blackberries and hints of peppers. Medium-bodied and smooth.

Comments (1)

Red

2008 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

Strong sweet nose. On the palate, dark fruits, blackberries, and cassis. Firm tannins and full-bodied. Will go well with food.

Comment

Red

2010 Torres Ribera del Duero Céleste Crianza Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

Fresh and smooth, but thin and uneventful on the palate. Easy drinking wine bordering on boring.

Comment

Red

2008 Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero Crianza Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

I was surprised that this Crianza turned out to be my favourite in the Spanish Wine Tasting. Poured through Vinturi into glass.
Fragrant perfumed nose. Sweetness continues onto entry and palate. Ripe, plush, decadent berries bursting with flavour in the mouth. Fresh and fruit-forward, may further integrate in another 2 years.

Comment

Flight 2 - Enjoying the comfort wine (1 note)

Back to my favourite taste of Italian Brunello.

Red

2004 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

92 points

Aired in decanter and kept chilled for 4 hours before tasting.
Nose opened up with pleasant earthy dark fruits. Sweet entry, with blackberries, leather, and the typical sour cherries on the palate. All textbook Brunello flavours. Big wine. Nice dusty chewy tannins which I suspect would not have been so approachable had we not instructed to decant 4 hours prior. Long finish. This Brunello Riserva would do well with many more years on it.

Comment

Flight 3 - Dinner at Bistro du Vin (2 notes)

Opened with an interesting sparkling Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley. I unfortunately forgot to take down the details of that. Fragrant nose distinctly different from champagne.
I had Coq Au Vin. Yummy.
Both aged reds were great. A generous treat from Mr H.

Red

1989 Château Léoville Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

93 points

Nose of interesting green peppers and also some kind of creamy aroma.
Smooth and sweet on the entry and elegant on the palate. Oak just nice. Some minerality. Overall softness, but some slight spice on the mid-palate made it interesting. Overall, very good balance. Medium finish. In a good place, but may possibly get better with a few more years.

Comment

Red

1987 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

95 points

Very light ruby colour with some brown at the edges.
I loved the refined nose of liquorice and mint. Oak mild.
Tannins soft and nicely settled. Sour plums, raisins, ripe berries on the palate. Excellent mouth-feel, with the flavours seemingly hitting all corners of the mouth. Medium finish. Elegance was amazing. I am glad another buddy has 2 bottles of this.

1 person found this helpful Comments (2)

Closing

Wonderful wine night. Spanish wine FOR THE WIN. The 1987 Rioja Reserva totally defeated everything else that came before it.

Spanish Wine Tasting and Dinner at BDV

1855 and Bistro du Vin

Introduction

Flight 1 - Spanish Wine Tasting (4 notes)

Flight 2 - Enjoying the comfort wine (1 note)

Flight 3 - Dinner at Bistro du Vin (2 notes)

Closing

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