7/2/2017 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

Valdespino's Inocente is the last remaining Fino fermented in old oak barrels and that combined with its origin from the single vineyard of Macharnudo Alto makes this a First Growth of sorts among the noble wines of Jerez. Inocente, aromatically complex, shows manzanilla olives, toasted almonds, a touch of solvent and vanilla that comes from the American oak criadera that gives birth to this Fino. On the attack first there's burst of green olives that's replaced by a wave of mellow nuttiness ending with the savory interplay of citrus and saline notes reminiscent of ocean waves. This fuller bodied king of Finos is the benchmark for its class in the land of Sherry.

11/25/2016 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

Wines have common threads both in how they taste and what purpose they serve to wine drinkers. Côtes du Rhone, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Spanish Garnachas can all be great go to wines any day of the week for wine drinkers because of their versatility in various situations. These wines have varying degrees of generosity of fruit on the palate while all convey welcoming tastes, all have flexible structures that allow enjoyment with or without food and can serve as great introductions to old world wine styles for those looking to expand their horizons. Furthermore these wines are great value.



With confidence I put this relatively generous and simple to the point Bordeaux Superior by Chateau Grand-Portail from the great 2010 vintage with the aforementioned wines. Of course this Bordeaux lacks the pedigree of Cru Classe Bordeaux but brings the honest charm of a country cousin, not a whiff of pretension here. On the lovely nose there's dark and red berries, baking spice and violets. Continuing there are raspberries, dark cherry and cassis that show well on a creamy palate with hints of graphite and soft cherry wood. The tannins are soft and well rounded after half a dozen years in bottle and similarly the acidity is integrated and serves its purpose to help lift the delicious berry notes. Chateau Grand-Portail has made a wine that is drinking perfectly well right now and which would be a great entry level introduction to Bordeaux Superior or just perfect any night of the week for a seasoned palete.

10/23/2016 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

Herederos del Marqués de Riscal's modern offering comprised of about 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Tempranillo actually has roots in and is influenced by their Cuvée Medoc label made in the first half of the 20th century and their long tradition producing wines with French varietals. As I opened this wine a third of the cork disintegrated and fell into the wine but I was able to fish all of it out over 10 minutes and pour a proper second glass with no cork. The Chirel was dusty, red berried and smoky on the nose which also prominently shown a strong sage (maybe some rosemary as well) aromatic component. On the well structured palate first came cherry and blackberry out of which an impressively fresh acidity emerged that accented the vibrancy of the fruit. Some nuanced savory notes were there for flavor hunters like cedar, leather, ash, game and pepper. The tannins provided an elegant grip that aided in reinforcing the structure and rounding out this older Rioja.

11/22/2015 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

A Cava or more specifically a Conca Del Riu Anoia which is a new sparkling wine DO inside Penedès. Made by Pepé Raventós who leads the wave of Spanish winemakers flying the 'Conca' flag up high alongside higher standards like vintage specificity, only indigenous varietals and stricter vinification standards. This Conca comes from limestone rich soils and mostly the local grapes parellada and macabeo. Raventòs' 2012 Conca is at once elegant and stylish on the palate with some mineral but mostly green citrus flavors of lime pulp and tart green apple with just a touch of apple pie crust that adds complexity. Angular with an energetic linear forward motion, crisp and refreshing.

10/6/2015 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

For $9.00 this is a steal. It has all the hallmarks of traditional Rioja and comes from the outstanding 2005 vintage. The structure was still humming though the tannins had softened which is good. The acidity was present enough to keep the fruit red and tart and notes of smoked meat and dill blended in seamlessly. I need to go back and get whatever is left!

(I scored this an 86 because I know I have an affinity for Rioja and for my tastes it's really an 87 or 88)

10/2/2015 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

This Sancerre has some complexity while also being easy to drink. The nose is fresh with notes of citrus, mineral and freshwater petrichor. On the palate there is myer lemon and that crunchy limestone thing, it's just plain delicious in a soft citrusy kind of way. The acidity is definitely the engine here and provides good length. If one were to really push it there's also elderberry and unripened raspberries present. This wine is vinified in stainless and is an fine example of Sancerre.

9/10/2015 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

2006 Summa Reserva single vineyard (12 hectares) Rioja by Bodegas Olarra. A relatively new bodega founded in 1973 perhaps most known for it's classic Cerro Añon as well as being located in a cathedral giving it it's nickname, the Cathedral of Rioja. This reserva shows excellent balance as well as that Riojan interplay between savory and sweet with some delicious dark berries present as well. It shows proper structure and good length. It overperforms easily for 16.00 and delivers Spanish value and quality in spades.

3/19/2015 - Mario Peña wrote:

Dense but not fully open nose of spicy red fruit, meaty notes and mineral. Robust but not overpowering palate with notes of cracked pepper, white pepper, garrigue, dried berry fruit, cooked plum, ripe raspberries, dry stone and some dark floral notes. The finish is a battle between the acidity and the high alcohol (15.5) from the big Grenache styled vintage.

10/1/2014 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

Coy on the nose but there was some cherry and cinnamon. Refreshing and inviting palate with red fruits like cherry (kool aid) and faint strawberry cough drops. On the second day the tannic structure emerged to ensure proper balance. Some good leathery notes show towards the finish along with that good Sangiovese acidity.

9/27/2014 - Mario Peña wrote:

2008 Chateau Giscours, almost too young but after decanting yesterday and saving some to taste today it had opened considerably, perfume and violets with red fruits and baking spice that both return with the finish, also noteworthy a forest floor woodsy aspect, the palate is robust but the Margaux elegance is still there and will improve with age, lots of blackberries, cassis, a touch of licorice, dark fruits, glazed/spiced game plus cedar and leather, the noble tannins are medium plus with good length and intertwined with balanced acidity.

8/29/2014 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

1998 Rioja by Lopez, definitely not a typical white wine due to the 16 years of aging. Complex nose of Meyer lemon, limestone and clearly distinguishable notes of Palo Cortado. On the palate more ripe but still fresh lemons, limes, dry Sherry notes, citrus scented lanolin, petrichor and that crunchy lemon/limestone taste and sensation combination. Very young and fresh acidity that confirms it has just recently entered it's drinking window. The primary grape is Viura which is also known as Macabeo.

3/7/2014 - Mario Peña wrote:

Solid Santa Barbara County Chardonnay. Maybe just a cut above a daily drinker in my book but then again I prefer Bourgogne.

12/13/2013 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

Too young to drink but I couldn't stop the missus. I agree with the other reviewers in that it is rich, dense, robust yet still with some elegance and seems put together well. It seems as though it has a long and promising life ahead and is a great value all in all.

On the second day the half glass I saved hadn't budged and remained just as dense.

11/21/2013 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

Rich nose of berries and flowers. I get dark cherry, blueberries and spice mixed in. Similar on the palate along with grilled pork and lamb done in pepper and paprika. There are notes of leather and nutmeg. It has acidity that swells and tannins lurking in the background. This wine is almost finished assimilating and next year could be an elegant powerhouse. Lovely finish that tells you what is to come.

11/15/2013 - Mario Peña Likes this wine:

Still drinking well so do avoid the suggested drinking window. Drink this wine till 2014. The nose was moderate and dense with dark berries and earth. Brooding dark fruit on the palate. Medium plus acidity with firm tannins that on the second day show more while the acidity falls off just slightly though it's still there.

7/11/2013 - Mario Peña wrote:

Needs more time. Upon opening it seemed like a fortress. It was robust but closed off and dominated by cedar and vanilla. Saved half of the bottle for the second day and it had come around beautifully. The nose was alive and floral with baking spice. On the palate there was vibrant strawberries, chocolate, cocoa, peppercorn and some brooding blue fruit lurking. Very good acidity with some tannins exhibiting power despite the youth. Definitely decant or save some for the next day, better yet wait till 2015.

5/20/2013 - Mario Peña wrote:

Lovely nose of honeysuckle, stone fruit, white flowers and mineral. Amazing on the palate. Definitely some honeyed flavors but too me it's almost like a sugar cane type of sweetness. What really makes this sticky great is the formidable acidity (100% Chenin Blanc) that was vibrant for two weeks after I opened the bottle. Delicious finish with a lush viscous mouthfeel without being syrupy.

5/7/2013 - Mario Peña wrote:

Upon first opening the bottle I noticed a floral scent. Both the cork and the wine as I slowly poured into the decanter were dominated by the most pleasing smell of fresh cut red roses. As I tasted the porto I was completely disarmed by the nose dominated by red roses which also exhibited cinnamon stick, blueberries, dark chocolate and some aguardiente. At times I also picked up sweet glazed meat notes. On the palate there were more berries including raspberries, blackberries as well as the blueberries. There was also more dark chocolate as well as spiced cinnamon on the palate that shown through despite the fresh cut red roses that were still dominating. Simultaneously both elegant and decadent this wine exhibits good structure and a lovely finish that lasts a good while. The acidity is balanced though the tannins seem hidden so perhaps they will surface tomorrow.

4/23/2013 - Mario Peña wrote:

Great value and a very good wine as has been my experience with Monsant. Lovely red fruit, dark fruit with floral, earth and spice notes mixed in, not terribly complex but definitely not a simple. wine. I am especially a fan of the acidity that stands up to the robust tannins. On the second day the tannins were much tamer but the acidity still present kept the fruit just as tasty as the first day.

2/25/2013 - Mario Peña wrote:

The following notes are after the bottle had been opened approximately three hours. Tart cherry and raspberry dominate the nose as well as some mineral and there is something Burgundian as well. There is a floral component throughout the nose as well. The mouthfeel is sleek and purposeful and has that sun drenched earth component as well as red berry fruit and blueberry notes. With time the tannins emerge and the acidity is present like a ray from the nose to the finish. I have saved a glass for tomorrow and I am of the opinion this wine is much too young to be consumed now.

(Second day) The tannins are much more present and married to a more present acidity if possible. The wine seems less coy and a bit more transcendent. Notes of semi sweet chocolate on the nose as well more tart berry types expressed throughout the acidity that is the one constant. I am still haunted by Burgundian fruits and structure as well as a fine texture on the second day. This wine is old world acidity at its finest with structure and complexity in spades. Could be great in 4 to 6 years.

8/30/2012 - Mario Peña wrote:

Just a regular night and consumed with a 3 meat meatloaf with a red wine glaze. Great deep color, purple/ruby. Good nose that had red berries, dark berries, dark chocolate and toffee as well as espresso present notes. Also some floral notes with well positioned secondary earthy notes as well. On the palate a burst of fruit specically dark berries but then plum seems to take over but not in an overbearing fashion. Acidity is present and enough to lend itself to be a very good food wine. Five years on and the tannins are still present and balanced. This varietal on my first experience of it reminds me of an imaginary wine that has the round plummy fruit of a merlot with the structure of a cabernet sauvignon. Interesting, rare and at 13 bucks I will be getting more bottles soon.