Amigo de La Tierra 2021

Amigo de La Tierra 2021

  12:49    Stu.

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Organic Grenache and Tempranillo blend from a broader 'Wine of Spain' designation.

Dark Berry fruit with something like a balsamic edge. It's deep and showing its warmer clime origins in spite of that 13.5% alcohol.

Slick, full bodied feel, yet with a lightness across the palate at odds to that. It's dry, on a moderate length - with remnants of that boozy warmth at its conclusion. 88

Tasted on: Wednesday 23rd November
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Sample Courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Campos do Viento Tempranillo 2019

Campos do Viento Tempranillo 2019

  16:30    Stu.

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Carries the air of earth and baked raspberry - like you'd find in a baked muffin; fruit, yet not sweet. 

Feels lighter across the palate, at least initially, before a darker manifestation sets in. Suggestions of black pepper and clove, a carry of decent length. Pretty rugged, gutsy, not without conviction. 91

Tasted on: Tuesday 18th August 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Sample Courtesy of: www.singlevineyards.com

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Campos du Luz Garnacha 2019

Campos du Luz Garnacha 2019

  08:30    Stu.

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Plum and white pepper lead, guiding the drinker to a palate that then conveys more of a bitter and savoury palate. 

For all that it feels light through the middle, offering up an airy and bouncy tannin profile. 

Has a good level of carry of flavour - a good marker of quality - that tugs along that tannin and dark earth, savoury character. Hard one to judge. Serve with spicy grilled sausage, such as quality Chorizo or Luganega. 90 

Tasted on: Tuesday 25th August 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Sample Courtesy of: www.singlevineyards.com 

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Campo Vieja Rioja Gran Riserva 2012

Campo Vieja Rioja Gran Riserva 2012

  16:30    Stu.

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Needs time, air - slightly closed, reductive. The palate possesses what I love about Gran Riserva - so Gran Riserva wines require minimum 3 years aging, with at least one year in oak and six months in bottle - Tempranillo, the remnants of old oak bound up with silken tannins that latterly reveal themselves in that fine grained, silty way.

Fading hints of black fruit on show here, morphing to a palate of reasonable length of savoury flavour. Pretty incredible to be able to appreciate a 7yo on release for $30. 91 

Tasted on: Saturday 28th September, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $29.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.campoviejo.com/en-au

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Campo Viejo Cava Brut Reserva NV

Campo Viejo Cava Brut Reserva NV

  16:00    Stu.

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Reserva Cava (meaning ageing for a minimum of 15 months on lees) and Brut (maximum 12g/l residual). Unsure of specific varieties, typically though made from Chardonnay, Macabeo, Paralleda, Xarello - all listed for indexing purposes).

Green apple, hints of peach skin; soft and sensuous, textural with a depth and lusciousness of flavour. Perhaps lacking acidic drive and minerality, nonetheless a generous wine. Impressive for $20 suggested retail. 90 

Tasted on: Saturday 28th September, a Fruit to Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $25.99
Alcohol: 11.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.campoviejo.com/

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Campo Vieja Rioja Reserva 2014

Campo Vieja Rioja Reserva 2014

  20:24    Stu.

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Reserva classification, meaning it must be aged for a total of three years, with at least one year in oak barrels and at least six months in bottles.

Slightly reductive, meaty; neither of fruit or particularly savoury bent - at least aromatically.

Light of body - certainly in an Aussie context - yields to Blueberry with vanilla accents. Fine grained, almost silty tannins, mouth coating and carrying generosity. Good quality wine, particularly the $20 ask. 91 

Tasted on: Thursday 26th September, a Leaf to Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $19.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: DIAM
Website: www.campoviejo.com

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Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava Heredad

Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava Heredad

  08:30    Stu.

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Wingara was formed in 1967 and is the Parent company of brands like famed Coonawarra producer Katnook. Wingara is itself owned by Spanish producer Freixenet, the world's largest sparkling winemaker!

This Reserva - resplendent in a Gothic inspired bottle - sits on lees for two and half years, it pours a pale straw, with decent focal bead and a light mousse. Pear, citrus, autolytic character. 

Somewhat firm palate, hard minerality, dry, grapefruit acidity. Long on the finish, would perhaps look for greater finesse at the asking price. 91  

Tasted on: Wednesday 2nd November, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.wingara.com.au/

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Segura Viudas Grand Cuvee Reserva 2011

Segura Viudas Grand Cuvee Reserva 2011

  08:19    Stu.

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Hailing from Torrelavit in the Penedes region, just outside Barcelona. A blend of traditional Spanish varieties – 85% Macabeo and Parellada with 15% traditional sparkling varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Made using the Methode Traditionelle, aged on lees for 15 months, with dosage of 6 g/l.

Toast, a little stonefruit, pithy citrus. The palate deviates from that pattern, with tropical hints of kimquat, lime marmalade and segueing to a little bitter note that gives the sense of additional depth.

Good persistence of flavour, just lacks a little finesse, but there's no doubting the quality:price ratio. 90

Tasted on: Wednesday 21st October, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.seguraviudasusa.com/

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Equipo Navazos I Think Manzanilla En Rama

Equipo Navazos I Think Manzanilla En Rama

  20:26    Stu.

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You may be deceived in thinking this a sherry for the i generation. But whilst, aromatically at least, it shares something with that i-prefix everything lifestyle technology company, the "I Think" is so named after the phrase scrawled by Charles Darwin on one of the pages of the notebook that went on to inform his famous works "The Voyage of the Beagle" and "On the Origin of Species".

There is an excellent book entitled 'Manzanilla' authored by Christopher Fielden and Javier Hidalgo that discussed at length the name Manzanilla. Reference to that book, whilst a poor attempt to make me look well read, is also a vehicle for referencing two of the principal aromas leading this wine. For Manzanilla is the Spanish word for camomile, and some also suggest the diminutive form for manzana, the apple.

Beyond that rather contrived introduction, the wine carries that sea-spray on the wind and oxidative, nutty complexity.

It's dry, a touch of caramel and spice; a peaty - whisky-like slow burn on the back palate follows. Generous of length, a length somewhat masked by the food I paired with it (pan fried chorizo, prawns and chick peas - if you're wondering). Refreshing, worthy of a second glass for sure. 91

Tasted on: Thursday 25th December, a Root day 
Source: Retail, Cru Bar
Price: $25 
Alcohol: TBC
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.equiponavazos.com/en/inden.htm

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Guimaro Mencia 2012

Guimaro Mencia 2012

  08:19    Stu.

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It was a a beautiful piece on the wines of Ribeira Sacra in the first edition of alquimie that first brought the wines of Pedro Perez and Guimaro to my attention; it was a wonderful wine store in Brisbane - Craft - that allowed me the opportunity to find it on the shelf and to subsequently consume.

This is an entry level Mencia from Guimero, the single vineyard wines command much higher prices, made in the Joven style. You can get an appreciation for the level of inputs required to make the wines from the panorama above, steep terraced hillsides - reminiscent of Portugal's Douro. 

Rubber and decomposing florals soon blow off to reveal a bright floral perfume, wild strawberry over a little black forest fruit.

Medium bodied, smooth, nigh pastille-like entry; cherry, raspberry and acidic freshness complete the palate's make-up. A little savoury pitch on the back palate, a woody twist, with tannin barely noticeable. 91

Tasted on: Thursday 18th September, a Flower day
Source: Retail, Craft Red Hill
Price: $37 RRP
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.guimaro.es/
Importer: http://www.thespanishacquisition.com/

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Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva 2008

Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva 2008

  14:25    Stu.

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Rioja when on song truly enthrals. A silken slip of a wine with a curious combination of savoury elements and primary fruit. You've got to have pretty deep pockets to make it, for a Reserva - as this - has to be aged for three years prior to release and at least a year of that is in oak. So three years before you see any return.

That's pretty serious investment. Good job it tastes so good.

Enticing perfume: vanilla, cherry, blueberry, touches of cola before segueing into woody spice. Secondary notes of black fruit, red cherry and a little polish.

Enticing, yes. Intoxicating, enveloping - I could happily give myself  up to it. Beautifully weighted, glass like feel, fine tannin - carries flavour: cherry, suggestions of almond, blue fruits and coffee grounds. Finishes well, good carry of flavour - length, if not necessarily of intensity. Then subtlety here seems the calling card, guile and grace over aggression. 92

Tasted on: Sunday 25th May 
Source: Retail, Cru Bar & Cellars
Price: $50ish
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.bodegasmuga.com/

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Telmo Rodriguez Tinto Joven A1 Muvedre 2010

Telmo Rodriguez Tinto Joven A1 Muvedre 2010

  11:28    Stu.

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Opens beefy and meaty, a hint of sun baked earth and old leather. So far, so good.

Tastes tart, excessively so. Not good. Bottle meet sink, sink meet bottle. End of. Life's too short to drink this. Poor

Tasted on: Saturday 4th May, a Flower Day
Source: Retail, XO Cellars
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.telmorodriguez.com/

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Toscar Monastrell 2007

Toscar Monastrell 2007

  20:50    Stu.

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Imported by Ce Soir Wine, and hailing from Spain's central eastern coast in the Alicante DO (Denominación de Origen).  And fair good value say I.

Initially on opening it was redolent of fresh cigars, settling into dark plum and morello cherry with some meaty notes, the 'gypsy' ham you often see in delicatessen.

Spicy and savoury edged, it lacks a little complexity - can be forgiven at the price - somewhat makes up for it with dry, twiggy, herbal-edged notes.  Fine, drying and long tannin - lacks other supporting qualities on the length that would make this an even more memorable wine. 88 - Good

Source: Retail, The Wine Experience

Price: $18

Alcohol:13.5%

Closure: Screwcap

Importer Website: http://www.cesoirwine.com/

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Martin Códax Albariño 2010

Martin Códax Albariño 2010

  11:32    Stu.

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Apparently Albariño is sometimes thought of as “The Wine of the Sea”, in part due to its affinity with seafood, and also due to the moderating affect the Atlantic Ocean has on the vineyards.

Four months on lees gives this wine the palate weight and textural feel.  An excellent match for food, it's aromatically of delicate peach, white flowers, feint Citrus and a honeyed note.

The finish: phenolic, persistence, the nuttiness carried through to the wines conclusion; focus, clean and direct. I could drink a lot of this. 90 - Good

Source: BTG, Era Bistro

Price: $11

Alcohol: 13%

Closure: Screwcap

Website: http://www.martincodax.com

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Bodegas Palacio Glorioso Reserva Rioja 2005

Bodegas Palacio Glorioso Reserva Rioja 2005

  10:11    Stu.

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One issue with having limited experience of a particular variety is that you are not really familiar with a stylistic interpretation.  That said, I can only call out a particular wine as I see it.

I picked this up as a nod to a good wine drinking buddy, The Wine Punter, who had recently had returned from a sojourn around North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula with a love for the Rioja.

This 100% Tempranillo Reserva opens to a dusty, earthy nose that is a little flat rather than the expectations of fullsome fruit that I had expected.  There was a little dark fruit present with a background shroud of oak.  On the palate, the dark fruit represents itself, along with a vein of oak that was wrapped up with some smoky/ charry notes.  It was delivered with a silken finish that was further expressed with some fine tannins and a resurrection of the gentle spice.

Look, it was OK.  It wasn't overwhelming me, frying my bacon, flicking my switch -you know?.  I had to look hard for some of these notes.  My over-riding opinion was that it was just a little 'flat'.

A duff bottle perhaps?  At $30 I'm not inclined to revisit.

Source: Retail, Vintage Cellars Paddington

Price: $29.95

Closure: Cork

Website: http://www.vintagecellars.com.au/

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