Offbeat Spanish Wines

Always fun to taste varietals you've never heard of from appellations you've never heard of.

• 2013 Bodegas Ordoñez Rueda Old Vines Nisia

  Spain, Castilla y León, Rueda

  Medium yellow. Forward orange blossom aromas. Light, excellent acidity and minerality, crisp fruit. Snappy, refreshing wine and great value.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2013 Pazo de Señoráns Albariño Rías Baixas

  Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas

  Yellow. Serious scents and flavors of nuts, citrus, and leesy richness. Textural but enlivened by strong acidity with a kernel of bitterness on the finish. Also very good.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2013 Alfredo Maestro Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León Lovamor

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

  Full yellow, cloudy. Nutty, oxidative, and funky like a Jura white. Weighty, screechy acidity, nuts and creamy with some low pitched citrus. Unique and interesting if not to my taste.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2012 Guimaro Mencía Ribeira Sacra

  Spain, Galicia, Ribeira Sacra

  Medium ruby center. Powerful nose of licorice and soil. Light to medium body, very high acidity, tart red fruit. Ultimately tastes thin, herbal, and earthy.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2013 Vinos La Zorra Sierra de Salamanca Teso

  Spain, Castilla y León, Sierra de Salamanca

  Light red. High toned camphor. Nice medium weight and feel. Red and black fruit, anise, excellent acidity, moderate finish. Pretty perky little red.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2012 Joan D'Anguera Montsant Altaroses

  Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Montsant

  Light red. Oaky nose. Bright red berry fruit that is quickly overrun by an overly oaky foundation that runs through the wine and is the lingering flavor. No.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2013 Torrelongares Tinto Garnacha TLG

  Spain, Aragón, Cariñena

  Medium center. All pine resin on the nose. Pleasantly lush with nice volume of fruit, good acidity and cedary wood that is most evident on the finish. It does show some alcohol.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2011 Señorio de Barahonda Barahonda Barrica

  Spain, Murcia, Yecla

  Deep ruby. Pretty violets and licorice. Smoky, lush entry. Both black and blue fruit, penetrating palate presence and excellent minerality. Lowish tannins. For me, this was the red of the tasting and a pretty amazing wine for $15. It would be fun to throw it into a Rhone tasting.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

The first 2 whites were tremendous for the price, and amongst the reds, the Barahonda left an extremely positive impression.