Iberian Dinner (w/ Clos Erasmus) @ Home

CT
Tasted Saturday, June 4, 2011 by mdefreitas with 755 views

Flight 1 - APERITIF (1 Note)

Chourico Assado.

  • NV Ferreira Porto Branco / White 84 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    My first time trying this. While it was OK, with nice tropical notes, I did find it a bit syrupy and sweet, even after pouring over ice. I think this would be better served with some seltzer water to cut the sweetness a bit. Not bad, but I prefer other examples of white port.

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Flight 2 - SOUP (2 Notes)

Portuguese Creme de Camarao.

Flight 3 - MIDDLE COURSE (2 Notes)

Spanish Paella.

  • NV Juvé y Camps Cava Gran Brut 93 Points

    Spain, Cava

    Like no cava I've had before. There is a complexity and depth I have not experienced before in these wines. This had a creamy mouthfilling texture while still retaining a sense of precision about it. This had hints of cream, yeast, old wood, leather, spice and granite. Generous in the mouth and lengthy in the finish. The best cava I ever had.

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  • NV Segura Viudas Cava Brut Reserva Heredad 91 Points

    Spain, Cava

    I've had the regular brut reserva many times and found it to be a nice, cheap, go-to sparking wine when nothing special is needed. This "Heredad" shows a bit more refinement and a sleeker mouth feel. Very clean and chiseled, but the price is a bit high at three times the price of the regular reserva, even with the cool looking bottle.

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Flight 4 - MAIN COURSE (10 Notes)

Roasted Leg of Lamb w/ a Clos Erasmus vertical (and a ringer).

  • 2000 Clos Erasmus Priorat 94 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    A fine wine to open up the vertical. Deep red in color. Youthful, fresh cherry fruit, mixed with hints of iron and stones. The structure seems to be weight more with acids than tannins, providing a bit more of a tangy, zingy palate. A bit less vibrant on day two, but still impressive.

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  • 1996 Clos Erasmus Priorat 89 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    Ruby, almost strawberry in color. Somewhat light in body. Nice mineral laced red fruits. Some hints of iron. Not as much smoke and fire pit as I tasted in the past. Slightly hollow in the middle; short length. I read my notes from 2000 where I noted the opaque color and port-like fruit... my how this wine has changed.

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  • 1997 Clos Erasmus Priorat 93 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    This has taken on some secondary notes from age. A bit of leather, earth and tobacco leaf. A hint of caramel (from the oak?), but not intrusive. Pretty well integrated and in a nice"drinking window". I did sample this on day two, and the caramel did become a bit too much. Drink up on day 1.

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  • 2006 Alban Vineyards Grenache Alban Estate Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

    Very ripe, oaky and alcoholic. Quite fruity on day 1, but this got medicinal (cough syrup) and chemically on the successive days. A bit of varnish seemed to creep in. Don't know if this is flawed or if (gasp) it was meant to taste like this. Not rated.

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  • 1995 Clos Erasmus Priorat Flawed

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    There was some discussion as to whether this was actually corked or perhaps flawed in some other way. I vote TCA.

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  • 1993 Clos Erasmus Priorat 93 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    My how this wine has changed. My last sample was 14 years ago, and the oak was quite prevalent back then (along with copious fruit). Well, it looks like the fruit has absorbed the oak quite nicely. The fruit tastes "mature" with some secondary nuances. The structure is still holding on and this even seems like it could hold for a while longer. Aromatic on the nose and silky on the palate.

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  • 1994 Clos Erasmus Priorat Flawed

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    Although corked (Uggh! Why the 1994!), you can get some hints at the quality of the fruit. I bought two bottles of this wine in 1997; I drank the other bottle in 2007 and it was corked as well.

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  • 1998 Clos Erasmus Priorat 95 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    Vigorous, youthful, rugged and holding more in reserve. Blue fruits, plums, charcoal, stones and iron shavings. Good length and still quite tannic; leaves a slightly drying impression in the mouth. I would opt to hold onto this for a bit longer.

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  • 2001 Clos Erasmus Priorat

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    Not sure if this was a representative bottle, as it seemed flat, dull and somewhat one dimensional. Hints of wet wool? This showed more fruit on day 2, but overall a disappointment. Not rated.

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  • 1999 Clos Erasmus Priorat 96 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    The wine of the night for me. Not as vigorous as the 1998, but showing more class. Bright, spicy and stony. Balanced, complex, lengthy and still seemingly able to age.

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Flight 5 - CHEESE (1 Note)

Various Spanish cheeses.

  • 1983 Dow Porto Vintage 94 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    A wonderful showing for this wine; I've consumed this port three times this year and this was the best showing yet. This was decanted for about nine hours. Luscious, freshly mashed berries, violets and spice. Although quite youthful, this is drinking quite well, if perhaps not showing the complexities that will emerge with age. Balancing stucture (which is very fine-grained) keeps the sweetness in check. Really dances on the palate. Lengthy finish. A wine I would love to get more of.

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Flight 6 - DESSERT (1 Note)

  • NV Henriques & Henriques Madeira Malvazia (acquired 1906) 91 Points

    Portugal, Madeira

    Acquired by Henriques+Henriques as "old wine" in 1906, which would probably date this in the mid to late 1800s. Originally bottled in 1927; rebottled in 1955, 1969 and 1991. Decanted for five days. Upon opening, lots of butterscotch, prunes and raisins. A bit soft on the palate with a slight earthy/stinky note. This probably needs air; I will let this rest a bit. A bit better on day two, the prune flavors are turning more "figgy". After about five days of air this cleaned up quite a bit. Noticeable sweetness, caramel, figs and praline; definitely in the dessert wine category... BUT, what defines great Madeira is the acidity, and while I enjoyed this particular wine, this definitely lacked the electric zing of acids to push it into the "great" category. Nice drink, but at the end of the day, a tad too soft for me.

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