Spanish Inquisition & Pizza at Brad England's House

Out at the lake, we did an impromptu gathering of friends in Minneapolis to eat some pizza. There was some Squire's chatter about underperforming Vega cuvees, which inspired Brad to unearth the veracity of these "questionable" claims. Brad is an admitted Vega lover. The first time I met him we drank his '68 Vega Unico mag. Ah, memories. Dave Dalluge volunteered his services to the Vega cause, and like the true friend I am I would not let the two of them go it alone. In four hours we had six people lined up for the next night. Attendees: Brad and Diane England, Dave Dalluge, Steve Sigmond (aka Siggy), Jeff Samuelson, Brad's Personal Trainer (who made us all look fat), and myself.

These wines were served both at the beginning and at the end of the tasting for reference. Fortunately for the '98 and unfortunately for the '95 they showed very similarly at the end of the tasting as they did in the beginning. Stick this group together in a room and you get great conversation, and tonight was no different.

• 1995 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5° 88 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Bretty to begin with, but this settles down into a nose of flowers, resin, an array of herbs (Dave said some celery, which is accurate). The wie is quite tame in the mouth with low tannins and slightly high acid. Any wine with vegetables in the nose is a questionable wine.

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• 1998 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5° 93 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Dark purple in the glass. One smell of this wine and you know it is going to be better than the '95. Scents of tobacco, smoke, dark red fruits jump from the glass. Light and bright on the pallet for a red of this stature, with the tell-tale texture of an excellent wine. This is a 93+, it will get better as time goes on.

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• 2003 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio 92 Points

  Spain, Murcia, Jumilla

  Inky purple in the glass with strong scents of ripe fruits and vanilla. A baby still, with primary tastes of fully ripe fruit, vanilla, and brawny tannin that is buried underneath the fruit. In a few years this wine will become tamer and will merit a higher score.

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• 2001 Bodegas Mauro Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León Vendimia Seleccionada 93 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León

  Smells of anise, tobacco, and bright red fruit show nicely in the glass. The plush texture leads into a long moderately tannic finish of smoked fruit. Although I suspect this wine will last for many more years I don't know if it will improve. Drink over the next eight years. This wine was an immediate success at the table and I quickly consumed my glass.

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