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Spanish Tapas w 2001 Vieux Telegraphe & 2004 Copain Hawks Butte Syrah

Barlata Spanish Restaurant = Oakland, CA

Tasted November 29, 2009 by tonyvelebil with 397 views

Introduction

Last night Traci, Christianne, Al and I went to Barlata in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood. Terrific tapas were consumed with a couple of very nice wines. And I think we'd all go back for a fun casual $30 pp or so dinner. Corkage was $15 per bottle and not waived for wine purchased off the list.

First we did order a 2008 Spanish white whose name I did not record...it was tasty and refreshing. A little bit of a minerally/spritzy quality, loads of white peach and a little white flower. Fun wine...we then cracked a couple of red wines.

Flight 1 (2 notes)

Red
2001 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
91 points
Al brought this and we popped and poured to accompany some Spanish Tapas.

Initially a pretty reticent nose/palate but with a little swirling and about 15-20 minutes of air it started to open up nicely. Pretty wine, well balanced with red slightly kirschy fruit, a little vanilla and white pepper and a bit of earth and minerals. Medium bodied, fairly silky texture, no hint of brett with a medium length finish. The fruit came out after about 30 minutes or so and began to sweeten up in the midpalate. I don't see any reason not to check in on these if you have them. Very nice. 91-93/100
Red
2004 Copain Syrah Hawks Butte Vineyard USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands
92 points
This also accompanied tapas and was a nice contrast to the Vieux Telegraphe. Really drinking well right now and does remind one of a northern Rhone wine. Dark fruit, iodine and grilled meat on the nose. The palate shows dark olive, dark fruit (with a little bit of that CA sweetness - not RS sweetness though), black pepper with a little bit of smokiness. A complete wine with good palate weight from front to back and a nice medium long finish. Great effort from Wells. 92-93/100
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