V.I.P. Spanish Tasting

V.I.P. Spanish Tasting
Farpointe Cellar
Tasted Sunday, April 11, 2010

Flight 1 (11 Notes)

NV Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Unico Reserva Especial 1990 1991 1994 (Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero) - 95 Points The nose had lots of perfume, some burnt forest, minerals, spice, and black fruit. The palate was very smooth, and had blackberry and spice, burnt wood, smoke, and a finish of black currant and spice.

NV Bodegas Hidalgo Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Amontillado Viejo Pastrana (Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry) - 95 Points The nose had caramel and chocolate, nuts, and a little raisin. The palate was extremely nutty, but also had chocolate, caramel, and a little citrus on the finish.

2005 Celler Vall Llach Priorat IDUS (Spain, Catalunya, Priorat) - 92 Points The nose had tobacco and smoke, and a lot of dark fruit. The palate had a sweetness to it, with good acid and heavy dark fruit. The tannins were a little harsh, but it had a nice chocolate flavor that brought it all together.

NV Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Very Rare Oloroso Emperatriz Eugenia (Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry) - 92 Points The nose had raisin, caramel, and nuts. The palate had a load of hazel nuts, caramel, and a little raisin.

2004 Costers del Siurana Priorat Clos de L'Obac (Spain, Catalunya, Priorat) - 92 Points The nose had pencil lead and plum, black currant, and a good amount of spice. The palate was soft, with black currant and spice, graphite, and a heavy shot of vanilla on the finish.

1990 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja) - 91 Points The nose had berry and citrus, plus a little stone. The palate had lots of minerals, citrus, and a nice minty finish.

2005 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero (Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero) - 91 Points The nose had blackberry and cherry, smoke, and a lot of mushroom and earth at the end. The palate was very rich, with blackberry, cherry, funk, and a big shot of oak on the finish.

2008 Bodegas Avanthia Valdeorras Avanthia (Spain, Galicia, Valdeorras) - 90 Points The nose had citrus, peach, orange, and a little stone at the end. The palate was very fruity. It had pear, peach, citrus, stone, and a great orange finish.

2004 Fernando Remírez de Ganuza Rioja (Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja) - 90 Points The nose had cherry, spice, mocha, and a little leather. The palate had cherry, espresso, pepper, and a good earthy finish.

2005 Bodegas Muga Rioja Gran Reserva (Spain, La Rioja, Rioja) - 89 Points The nose had cedar and tobacco, cherry, earth, and just a touch of vanilla at the end. The tannins were a little harsh, but the palate did have good fruit, some minerals, and a nice earthy finish.

2005 Finca Sandoval Manchuela (Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Manchuela) - 89 Points The nose had blackberry and floral notes, dry earth, and crushed rock. The palate was very tannic, but had blackberry, oak, spice, and a nice earth finish.