SOBER Spanish tasting

My notes are rather poor this night. But Drew put together a nice tasting with some excellent food. I'm very late writing it up, so my memory is hazy; alas my notes are not much better.

• 1998 Charles Ellner Champagne Brut Millésimé 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Slightly yeasty on the nose. On the palate, just sweet enough to be juicy. Lovely, rounded, with nuts and a touch of brioche. Really lovely and tasty.

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• 1995 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia 88 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Slightly sweet, with melon notes (honeydew). Kind of flat and simple but otherwise nice.

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• 2006 Bodega Pirineos Somontano Mesache Blanco 90 Points

  Spain, Aragón, Somontano

  Slight sharp but full nose. Modestly complex and slightly sweet, with a bit of lychee, melon, and a tiny touch of lemon rind. Very nice.

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• 2003 Rotllan Torra Priorat Amadis 90 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Dark and sweet nose. On the palate, this is a dark wine, with chocolate, cassis, and loads of coffee. WOTF. Nice not great.

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• 2004 Mas Doix Priorat Salanques 90 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Compared to the Amadis, this is lighter and kind of simple initially, then it fills out a bit. Quite nice with the garlic aioli.

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• 2003 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla El Nido 89 Points

  Spain, Murcia, Jumilla

  Nose of alcohol. Dark and silky smooth, with coffee notes. Opens up some in the glass.

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• 2003 Bodega Numanthia Toro Termes

  Spain, Castilla y León, Toro

  Tasty, cocoa notes, slightly sweet. My notes got slim here.

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• 2004 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia

  Spain, Castilla y León, Toro

  A bit of cocoa, with nice dark fruits and blackberries. My notes are vague here.

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• 2004 Dominio de Atauta Ribera del Duero

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  A bit more elegant. Dark and lovely, still somewhat sweet. Again, notes vague

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• 2000 Artadi Rioja Pagos Viejos 93 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Nose of dark fruit. On the palate, this is spicy, acidic, and has lovely fruit. Like a dark chocolate-covered strawberry. WOTF by a good margin.

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• 1999 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Acidic, somewhat tannic, and darker fruit.

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• 1996 Marqués de Tomares Rioja Gran Reserva 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Dark blackberry fruit, quite acidic and tannic.

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• 1994 Marqués de Tomares Rioja Reserva de la Familia Flawed

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Unfortunately, this was every so slightly corked.

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• NV Sánchez Romate Hnos. Pedro Ximénez Jerez-Xérès-Sherry La Sacristia de Romate

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  A very nice sherry

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