2004 Toscar Monastrell Reserva

On September 3, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2004 Monastrell Reserva by Salvador Proveda from Alicante, Spain. This wine is primarily, if not 100%, Mourvèdre (Monastrell) varietal and was under $11. I’ve previously tasted the 2007 Toscar Monastrell and the 2008 Toscar Monastrell. Note that this is the Reserva version so it was aged in new oak barrels for 12 months and then probably 24 months in the bottle. So, this wine is aged more than the crianza or the regular versions of their Monastrell.

Color

In the glass the age of this wine shows with just a hint of brown at the edge of the red. It is a caramel color.

Aroma

On the nose the oak is present. It is combined with a musky soil-like component and smokey aromas. It reminds me of port and has some pine notes too.

Flavor

On the attack there is a brief flash of fruits including pomegranate, cranberry, cherry and raspberry. Then the complexity of this wine starts to take over and vanilla and meaty flavors take over the mid-palate. It strongly reminds me of a dry sherry. The finish is incredibly long and complex with more smokiness and more vanilla. This medium bodied wine absolutely takes over the palate with Old World style.

Rating

I thoroughly enjoyed this wine. It was very complex and not a fruit bomb. That being said, it is a touch heavy on the oak and a little old so it isn’t for everyone. I do recommend giving it a try and think it is fairly valued. I rate it 91 points.

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2007 Dominio de Eguren Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Protocolo

On June 8, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Protocolo Tinto from Dominio de Eguren in the Tierra de Castilla region of Spain. This bottle was purchased for under $7. This wine is 100% Tempranillo based and usually is aged in oak for 3 months. I’ve previously tried the 2007 Dominio de Eguren Tempranillo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla. So it will be interesting to see the difference with this offering.

Color

The color in the glass is a thin ruby red.

Aroma

On the nose I detect a dusty, earthy note and black cherry. There is a hint of black currant and after a while a lot of blackberry is showing. It is a good nose.

Flavor

The flavor of this wine is somewhat bland. It tastes thin just like the color hints that it might. There is some black cherry on the attack and mid-palate and blackberry on the finish, but it isn’t vibrant. The oak is present in the mid-palate and finish. There is a nice hint of the dustiness throughout the palate which is interesting.

Rating

For me this wine is not the best match to my palate. It seems a bit average. But the price is very fair. I rate it 83 points.

Have you tried it yet? Was it more to your liking? What flavors and aromas did you like or not like?

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2008 Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Campo de Borja Monte Oton

On May 27, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Monte Oton Garnacha by Bodegas Borsaoicon from the Campo de Borja region of Spain. This 100% Garnacha (Grenache) base wine was acquired for under $8. I’ve previously had the 2008 Bodegas Borsao Campo de Borja Red Wine and the 2007 Bodegas Borsao Red Wine which are blends of Garnacha and Tempranillo grapes.

Color

In the glass this wine is a nice dark garnet color.

Aroma

The first component I noticed on the nose is strawberry. There is also a woody, oak note along with a damp soil component with is nicely balanced with the fruit. An unusual pomegranate aroma is also present.

Flavor

On the attack there is a fruity character with some cherry. It transitions to a complex mid-palate with dark chocolate, chili pepper, and vegetables. There is butternut squash, tomato and eggplant. All are very minor but combine to give it a green character. The finish is herbal and shows some tannins. This is a medium bodied wine which is food friendly.

Rating

This is an interesting wine and definitely complex enough to make it a value for the money. I rate it 86 points.

Have you tried this one?

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2007 Martín Códax Rioja Ergo

On May 24, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Martin Codax Ergoicon from the Rioja region of Spain. This wine was acquired for under $10 and is primarily made of Tempranillo grapes. Bodegas Martin Codax is known more for the vineyards in Rias Baixas, so it will be interesting to try this wine from the Ebro River valley.

Color

In the glass it is a dark ruby red in color.

Aroma

On the nose this wine is showing a combination of dark and red fruit such as blackberry and strawberry. Typical of a Rioja wine there is also a component of oak and cedar. There is a hint of earthiness which is quite nice.

Flavor

The attack shows some strawberry and an unusual beet flavor. In the mid-palate there is a pleasant black cherry note and it finishes with more of the oak driven components. This is a medium-bodied wine and works well with grilled meats.

Rating

For my palate, this wine is an average match. The oak isn’t too offensive, but the flavors aren’t that noticeable either. I think there are many similar wines from Spain for around the same price point. I rate it 85 points.

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2007 Almira Los Dos

On May 12, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Almira Los Dosicon from the Campo de Borja region of Spain. This wine is 85% Grenache (Granacha) and 15% Syrah and I acquired it for under $8. Los Dos or “both” is not aged in oak and is one of the signature offerings of Almira. The other is Los Dos En Barrica which is aged in oak.

Color

In the glass, the wine is a pretty red. Not super dark, but adequate.

Aroma

This wine literally takes over the room. The nose is intense with blackberries and black currant. There is also some earth components. Wet rich soil comes through. I also get some strawberries and red cherries. This is a great nose!

Flavor

On the attack, Los Dos is full of sweet fruit, but not over the top. The strawberry and red cherry flavors are there. The mid-palate is first class with a complex combination of cherries and hints of strawberry, black pepper and raspberry. The finish is very long and fruity. The tannins are soft and sweet, so drink this now. This is a medium-bodied red wine and it will pair with most cheese and meat dishes.

Rating

I highly recommend this wine. I am very impressed by the blend and style. The fruit and terroir are at their best here without any interference from oak. Great job Almira. I rate it 92 points. It also represents very good value.

If you haven’t tried this, I suggest you try it soon. If you have, what did you think of it?

My Wines Direct 6 Wines for $79, 468x60

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2008 Toscar Monastrell

On March 4, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Toscar Monastrell by Salvador Proveda from Alicante, Spain. This wine is made from primarily, if not 100%, Mourvèdre (Monastrell) grape variety and was under $9. I have previously tasted the 2007 Toscar Monastrell over multiple days and will do the same with this vintage.

Day One

The wine has just been uncorked.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark purple color. Very pretty.

Aroma

Initially I get leather and oak components on the nose of this wine. There is also a very nice black currant aroma combined with a hint of mint. Finally I detect a little earthiness from it which reminds me of dark, rich compost soil.

Flavor

The attack is very vegetal. There is a distinctive broccoli flavor to it. In the mid-palate cherry cola starts to take over with an emphasis on the cola. Sweet tannins show up on the finish. It exhibits a very long finish. I am still getting the cherry on the finish. This is definitely an Old World style of wine and will pair really well with rich dishes particularly those grilled meats.

Rating

This is a interesting vintage for this wine. I like it and rate it 87 points.

Day Two

The wine has been recorked and and then opened again after 24 hours.

Aroma

The nose of this wine has opened up and the dark fruit is now dominating it. Rich, almost Creme de Cassis like aromas of black currants and blackberries combine with just a hint of sulfur. It is really a good nose today.

Flavor

On the attack the blackberry flavor is very prominent and transitions to black cherry in the mid-palate. The tannins are more bitter on the finish than yesterday and there is some black pepper components as well. Overall it is a lot more of a New World style wine than the first day. None of the vegetable flavors are present.

Rating

I like this wine, but it has definitely become a simpler, more New World leaning style. I rate it 88 points.

Summary

I enjoyed this wine on both days and found it really educational to watch it go from being Old World on day one to New World on day two. I recommend you try the same experiment on your own and share your findings here. It would be fascinating to determine if this wine consistently shows this pattern or if it is partly my palate changing. It also might show a strong relation to how this wine will age. Agreed?

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2007 Torres Mas Rabell

On February 22, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Torres Mas Rabell from the Catalunya region of Spain. This wine is a traditional Mediterranean blend of half Garnacha (Grenache) and half Carinena (Carignan) grapes. It was acquired for under $9 and has been aged in oak for 6 months.

Color

In the glass it is a pretty ruby red.

Aroma

On the nose this wine exhibits a mixture of strawberry and blackberry cobbler aromas. There is also some wet compost enriched soil components and a hint of the oak. Pretty strong nose.

Flavor

On the attack there is a lot of cherry. In the mid-palate I get quite a nice flavor of the tannins and it finishes acidic with sour cherry which lingers. This is a medium bodied wine which will pair well with pork and winter vegetables. I think the dryness (astringency) and tannins of the Carignan is well balanced by the Grenache.

Rating

I think this is a food friendly wine and recommend it with a meal. I rate it 87 points.

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2007 Arturo Garcia Bierzo Hacienda Sael

On February 17, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Arturo Garcia Beirzo Hacienda Sael from Spain. This bottle of 100% Mencia grape based wine was purchased for under $8. It will be interesting to taste the Sael Estate’s tintobeirzo.

Color

In the glass it is a dark ruby red in color.

Aroma

On the nose there is a earthy, barnyard component at first. It is one of the strongest aromas I’ve come across in a while and could turn off some. Even for me it is a bit challenging. It is followed by fresh mint component and cherry notes.

Flavor

On the attack there are some good black cherry and strawberry flavors. The mid-palate has nice sour cherry notes and the brief finish shows mild tannins. This is a light to medium bodied wine which pairs well with garlic chicken dishes.

Rating

This is an interesting wine and will definitely do better with food. Even so it has astonishing aromas and will not match every palate. I strongly recommend decanting it to see if the aroma changes for the better. I rate it 80 points.

I’d love to hear your tasting notes as this wine is definitely different than a lot of Spanish fruit bombs.

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2007 Dominio de Eguren Tempranillo Vino de la Tierra de Castilla

On February 3, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Tempranillo by Eguren from Spain. This Tempranillo based wine was purchased for under $8.

Color

In the glass this wine is a dark purple, but very thin.

Aroma

On the nose there is black currant and oak. There is also a licorice component and damp leaf litter from the forest floor. Not uncommon for this varietal.

Flavor

On the attack it is simple. With nothing much more that a sweet raspberry note. The mid-palate then explodes with sour cherries which hang around through the finish and are combined with smoky flavor that lingers. This is a light-bodied wine and doesn’t have many 2nd or 3rd tier flavors that bigger wines bring, but the sour cherry is very strong. It will pair well with pork and herbed chicken.

Rating

I find this wine very easy to drink and could see it working well as a food pairing during the week. I rate it 84 points.

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2007 Altovinum Calatayud Evodia

On January 20, 2010, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Altovinum Calatayud Evodia from Spain. This 100% Garnacha (Grenache) based wine was acquired for under $10 and comes in a beautifully labeled bottle.

Color

In the glass it is a dark ruby red with purple edges.

Aroma

Mint and red currant dominate the nose on this wine. There is also a cedar component. It is quite floral with lavender being prominent.

Flavor

Red currant and pomegranate on the attack. Black cherry and some black pepper on the mid-palate followed by good tannins, sour cherry, and a very strong green component. This is a pretty complex palate, but I have read that Grenache can get quite green and lose the fruit flavors when a winemaker tries to increase the tannins from the grape skin during the winemaking process. It is a delicate balance to keep the fruit and yet get some tannins. Perhaps that is what is happening with this wine. It definitely has some old world character. It will pair well with pasta and pork.

Rating

I think for the price this is a wine worth trying. If you are looking for a sweet fruit bomb it will probably not match your palate. But if you want something with lots of flavors, then it could be a good fit. I rate it 86 points.

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