2006 Castroviejo Rioja Tempranillo

On November 4, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 Castroviejo Tempranillo from Bodegas Pastor Diaz in Rioja, Spain. I am not sure I’ve gotten the name right since it is so confusing on the bottle. In fact Pastor Diaz is only present on the foil. Not the best of branding. I found this wine for under $9. I believe this wine is aged in Oak for 6 months.

Color

The color is typical of tempranillo and is deep red.

Aroma

The first thing that I noticed is the oak. It is a bit strong. There is also blackberry and plum. Not a bad nose, just a little muted.

Flavor

Again there is strong oak present. But the fruit is good. On the attack, I get mainly dark fruit such as blueberry and blackberry. The mid-palate continues with the same fruit plus some sour cherry. This wine finishes very strong with a bit of a coffee flavor. I really like the finish. This is a pretty bold flavored wine and I’d try it with some intense cheese like parmigiano.

Rating

I think this wine has potential, but wish it has less oak so the real flavors would dominate more. I rate it 87 points.

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2008 Campos Reales Tempranillo

On October 29, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Bodegas Campos Reales Tempranillo from La Manch, Spain. This Jorge Ordonez selection was available for under $7 and has a plastic cork (screw top next? fingers crossed). I assume it is 100% Tempranillo. Anyone know?

Color

This is really dark in the glass with a nice deep purple.

Aroma

Great dark fruit on the nose with blackberries and blackcurrant. There is also some green bell pepper and banana. I don’t often get banana but this wine definitely has a hint. No oak either.

Flavor

The attack has some black currant and black cherry. It is not overly sweet. The black cherry is strong on the mid-palate and there are tannins giving it some dryness. The finish is really dry and has some heat. This is a very young wine so over time it will get smoother. What it lacks though is having strong fruit or vegetable flavors. Overall it is a bit plain. It will pair well with grilled meat.

Rating

I think this wine has some things going for it, such as no oak and a nice nose. It also has some issues with the fruit. At this stage I rate it 85 points. If you like dry red wines, then it is a decent offering.

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2007 Bodegas Borsao Red Wine

On October 23, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today, I am tasting the 2007 Red Wine by Bodegas Borsao of the Campo de Borja DO in the Zaragoza province of Spain. The wine is a blend of 75% Garnacha (Grenache) and 25% Tempranillo. If you recall from my 2006 Tres Ojos Old Vines Garnacha post, Grenache is reportedly the most planted grape varietal in the world. This wine is a bargain at under $8.

Besides color, aroma, flavor, rating and price are there other aspects of a wine you’d like me to discuss?

Color

The color of this wine is a dark red with hints of brown. It is not very purple or black like some other red wines.

Aroma

The first thing I detect is black pepper and wood. I am not sure if this was aged in oak, but there is definitely some wood on the nose. Some blackberries are there too.

Flavor

This wine is unusual in that it starts flat and finishes with a bang. I detect some fruit on the attack, but it is very muted. Then the mid-palate shows some of the wood again and a little bit of cherries. The finish is vibrant with good acid and spices. I really like the ending and it lasts quite a long time.

Rating

This is an interesting wine. If you are adventurous with your palate then it is not too bad on the budget to try this out. I rate it at 86 points.

Have you tried this wine or another Grenache blend?

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2006 Quinta de Ventozelo Douro Vinzelo

On October 20, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 DOC Douro Red Wine Vinzelo from the Douro region of Portugal. Quinta de Ventozelo produces this wine as a blend of 30% Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), 30% Touriga Franca, 30% Tinta Barroca, and 10% Touriga Nacional. These are the traditional varietals used in the making of port wine (a favorite of mine). I found this wine for under $7.

Color

The color is ruby red. Not too thin, but definitely not on the black or purple side of the red wine spectrum.

Aroma

Loads of red fruit on the nose. Strawberry, raspberry and cherries. I also detect a bit of mint. The wine is nice and open.

Flavor

Very fruity with mild tannins and some acidity on the finish. There is a little bit of the dry chalkiness in it from the tannins. The fruit again seems to be mainly red fruit, such as cherries and plums. On the finish, there are some sour cherries showing up. It is an average wine which I am more inclined to drink with food and not on its own. I’d pair it with pasta and red sauce, pizza, and mild cheese.

Rating

The Douro Vinzelo reminds me of Rioja (Tempranillo from Spain) or Chianti. I think is pretty average. It is sufficient, but not thrilling. Perhaps Quinta de Ventozelo should stick to Port. I rate this wine at 85 points.

Have you tried a good wine from Portugal?

wine.com

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