Solymer Asia Spanish Dinner

I was extended an invitation for an intimate Spanish dinner along with Spanish wines at Umberto's home. His compay, Solymer Asia, is a major importer of Spanish products into Singapore. It was a great evening of food, wine, laughs and a beautiful dog.

I did not really take formal notes but wrote some words as a text message on my phone.

No formal notes but overall my favourite was a tie between the Baron de Valle and the Finca La Estacada Seleccion Varietal. The San Roman was the most awesome but still very closed, it's potential was tremulous.

• NV U més U fan Tres Cava Brut Nature 1+1=3 "Xarel-lo"

  Spain, Cava

  No formal notes for this. 85% Xarel-lo 15%Chardonnay
  Started off with this as an aperitif. Very fresh, crisp, balanced with good acidity and lovely bubbles. A nutty nose. Almonds, minerality and slight floral notes on palate for this dry cava. Drinkingly wonderfully.

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• 2007 A Coroa Godello Valdeorras Blanco

  Spain, Galicia, Valdeorras

  No formal notes for this.
  A native varietal of Valedorras, Godello is indeed an interesting grape. Lovely mouthfeel and weight, slight peaches and mild cirtus. Decent minerality, hints of integrated wood and meatiness. A slightly herbaceous mid-palate which makes this a very unique tasting wine. For a split second this felt a little like a Sauvignon Blanc but that took a very different direction very quickly

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• 2006 Bodegas y Viñedos Escudero Rueda Fuente Elvira

  Spain, Castilla y León, Rueda

  No formal notes for this.
  Lemon peel and molasses on the nose,very pretty. Gentle well integrated oak, creaminess, minerality, a little rubber glove, slight gaminess. Liked the flavours of the taste but would have preferred a little more weight.

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• 2006 La Casa de las Vides Valencia Aculius

  Spain, Valencia

  No formal notes for this.
  A nose of very pure dark fruit, gaminess, toast, cream and nuttiness. On the palate the pure fruit carried over with some licorice. Good tannins, could have a waited a year or two to get into the drinking window. Not the most complex wine of the bunch but very well balanced and the quality of fruit is really something I enjoyed.

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• 2004 Viña Solorca Ribera del Duero Baron del Valle Crianza

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  No formal notes for this.
  100% Tempranillo. Wonderful nose of blueberries, raspberries, milk chocolate and strawberries. As it opened up in the glass a little ‘cheese’ nose developed. I really enjoyed this wine being a lover of Tempranillo. Good firm tannins which was a shame because this should have been decanted for an hour or so to really open up. I would hold this for another 3 years before drinking it. A full bodied, well balanced between the terrior, oak and pure fruit. Had a wonderful rustic feel to it.

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• 2005 Finca La Estacada Vino de la Tierra de Castilla seleccion varietal

  Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla

  No formal notes for this.
  A very elegant and clean nose of mink, spice, black peppers and black currant. The freshness carried over to the palate making this wine incredibly elegant and clean. The purest of fruit for that evening. I recalled this being beautifully complex and would loved to see how this develops over the next few years as the potential is enormous.

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• 2006 Finca La Estacada Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Secua

  Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla

  No formal notes for this.
  A wonderful late harvest Chardonnay. A good viscous oily mouthfeel, not syrupy sweet but restrained and had a ‘warmness’ about it. Lovely crème brulee type of taste. Had a rustic freshness about it. Wonderful tropical fruits of apricots, and fuji apples balanced with good acidity.

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• 2001 Bodegas y Viñedos San Roman Toro Viña San Román

  Spain, Castilla y León, Toro

  No formal notes for this.
  Essentially a Gran Reserva, spending 22 months in French and American oak. The host said that it was still too early for this wine and I have to agree, still tightly wound and should have been opened at least 5-6 years later. But it was still awesome. Nose of pepper, spicy piquillo peppers among some very pure blackberry notes and tar. Beautifully rustic. The tannins were there, but they were not bitter. They formed a tight structure throughout the wine, nevertheless it was a wonderful experience of complex dark fruit and the terrior. At the same time it was not a fruit bomb but rather a very restrained wine showing finesse. This wine will kill in a couple of years.

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