Spanish Current Releases

I am not a big fan, or buyer, of Spanish wines. I have a few favorites--Lopez de Heredia, Ygay, Unico, Janus, Alenza and Torre Muga--and I keep trying things from new producers, especially Priorat and Ribera del Duero, that receive big scores, but am rarely impressed enough to buy. Saturday's tasting of new releases at Beltramo's was therefor typical for me, with the added disappointment that Torre Muga's latest offering tastes like an over oaked attempt to compete with Priorat producers rather than the usual balanced wine I expect from Torre Muga. The best of this tasting for me was the '04 Closa Batllet Gratallops. The best values, at about $10 and $13 respectively, were the '08 Bielsa Garnacha and '08 Benaza Godello.

• 2008 Uriondo Bizkaiko Txakolina Malieta Mahasti 88 Points

  Spain, País Vasco, Bizkaiko Txakolina

  Very pale, virtually clear color; green pear, faintly oily nose; tangy, minerally, tart green pear, green fruit, tart orange palate with light oily texture; short-medium finish

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• 2008 Benaza Monterrei 89 Points

  Spain, Galicia, Monterrei

  Very light canary yellow color; banana, green melon nose; poised, creamy textured, mineral, tart lime and green fruit palate; short-medium finish

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• 2008 Bodegas y Vinedos Shaya Rueda Old Vines 88 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Rueda

  Light yellow color; tart gooseberry, mineral, light oily nose; tasty, light oily texture, tart gooseberry, mineral and lime palate with depth and medium acidity; medium finish 88+ pts.

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• 2008 Masia del Bielsa Campo de Borja 88 Points

  Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja

  Dark cherry red color; clove, white pepper, red plum nose; light bodied, tart red plum, spice, clove and white pepper palate; medium finish 88+ pts.

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• 2007 D. Ventura Ribeira Sacra Vina Caneiro 87 Points

  Spain, Galicia, Ribeira Sacra

  Medium dark cherry red color; tart berry, white pepper, anise nose; juicy tart berry, persimmon, with a touch of anise; medium finish

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• 2006 Descendientes de José Palacios Bierzo Corullon Moncerbal 90 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo

  Dark red violet color with pale meniscus; ripe berry, berry liqueur, raspberry liqueur, date and coconut nose; ripe, coconut, berry, fig, black fruit, cassis palate with depth and heat on medium-plus finish 90+ pts.

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• 2004 Buil & Giné Joan Giné Giné Roure Clássic 89 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Very dark red violet color; cassis, plum nose with a touch of cedar; big, tight, tart cassis, plum, berry palate with firm, sweet tannins; medium-plus finish (blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignane)

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• 2004 Celler Marc Ripoll Sans Priorat Closa Batllet 91 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  Dark red violet color; deep berry, blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and anise nose; tight blueberry, berry, anise palate with sweet tannins, depth and structure; long finish (65% Carignane, 22% Grenache, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 2% Syrah)

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• 2005 Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga 86 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Very dark red violet color; deep black fruit, cinnamon, toasty oak, berry and smoke nose; tight fig, berry, black fruit palate with tart tannins, disappointingly oaky; medium-plus finish

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