Gramona + Roda Spanish Wine Dinner

With Jean Claude Terdjemane, export manager of Gramona and Bodegas Roda.

• 2011 Gramona Cava Imperial Gran Reserva 88 Points

  Spain, Cava

  Appearance is clear, pale intensity, lemon colour. Legs. Fine persistent bubbles.
  Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of sweet citrus lemon peel, stony minerals, light toasted bread. Youthful.
  Onthe palate, dry, high acidity, medium- alcohol (12%), medium body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of citrus lemon peel, lime, stony minerality, bready yeast. Rounded sweet cream mouth-feel. Medium finish.
  Very good quality Cava. Enjoy young and fresh.
  50% Xarel-lo, 40% Macabeo, 10% Chardonnay.

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• 2011 Bodegas Roda Rioja Roda Reserva 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purplish ruby colour. Legs.
  Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of vanilla milk chocolate, red plums, concentrated red berries, hints of earth. Developing.
  on the palate, dry, medium acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), very soft silky medium tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of red plums, concentrated red berries, sweet spice, vanilla, milk chocolate. Medium finish.
  Very good quality. Lovely soft silky texture that makes this so approachable now, though it can develop a bit more earthy notes and oak slightly more integrated in another 3-4 years.
  One for lovers of, not haters of vanilla oak. For me, I just rate it objectively. This is indeed a well-made modern style Rioja.

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• 2009 Bodegas Roda Rioja Roda I Reserva 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, Rioja

  Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
  Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of vanilla milk chocolate, woody spice, perfumed sweet spice, violets, black cherries, blackberries. Developing.
  on the palate, dry, medium acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), super smooth medium tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of black cherries, blackberries, black plums, dark red plums, cinnamon spice, integrating vanilla oak. Long finish.
  Very good quality. Already drinking nicely now, and can still improve slightly over the next 4-5 years. Comparing with the 2011 Roda Reserva, the concentrated black fruit here seems to support the vanilla oak much better, and the oak seems a bit more integrated, also thanks to the extra 2 years bottle age for this 2009 vintage.

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• 2011 Bodegas La Horra Ribera del Duero Corimbo I 92 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  From magnum bottle.
  Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purplish ruby colour. Legs.
  Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of perfumed dark red flowers, smoky toasted oak, slight vanilla, black fruits, diesel exhaust. Developing.
  On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), fine yet firm high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of smokey tobacco, blackberries, black cherries, black plums, licorice. Long finish.
  Very good quality. Complexity to be unlocked. Lots of structure. One for the future.

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• 2011 Gramona Gewürztraminer Penedès Vi de Glass 87 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Penedès

  Appearance is clear, pale intensity, lemon colour. Thin legs.
  Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of floral spice, lychee, sweet cream. Youthful.
  On the palate, medium sweet, medium acidity, low alcohol (9.5%), medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of lychee, floral spice, sweet honey cream, some citrus lemon. Short abrupt finish.
  Acceptable quality. Very simple easy drinking dessert wine. Almost forgettable.

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