WINO 101

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

We’re flying back to Spain again for the Friday flights. Why? Because it’s good! And there is tremendous value in Spain about now, as the wine industry spreads its roots. This means now it’s a good deal, but I imagine demand will push the prices up, just like Walla Walla, and even down home here in the Willamette Valley. So let’s explore while it’s cheap!

So in the past I’ve done Spanish tastings. Right, now that we have that established, as most of you already knew that, I feel that all the wines included were good, although some had very surprising (even better) results. I’ve always enjoyed the dark horse in the running: the great winning wine that pops up from nowhere. Or at least it comes from nowhere you recognize. We’re going that direction again. I’ve found a list of the official wine regions of Spain, and checked to see which ones we haven’t tasted here, yet. (Rioja, of course, was out of the running after the second week this shop was open.) We all know Rioja. Yawn. . .what else ya got. . .?

So out of the 50-or-so official wine regions in Spain, I have only served 11. That opens up a world of opportunity for this tasting. (Or at least a world the size of Spain.) It kind of hurts me to not be pouring a Ribera del Duero, as it is one of my favorite Spanish regions, but look what we get instead: The Txakoli de Guetaria region with the wine Txakoli Txomin Etxaniz 2003 Txomin Etxaniz! It’s got more eXes and Zees that a traditional Science Fiction planet name. Imagine the Scrabble score! (It’s actually a Basque wine region, and the “TX” parts of the names make a “Ch” sound.)

With the exception of the white Albarino of Rias Baixas and the aforementioned unpronounceable Basque wine (also white), most wine regions I am featuring here have the Grenache grape as one of the majority grapes. (Think of Southern Rhone). Another good point of note is that the second of the Premium Pours, is one of the highly-esteemed Priorato wines! (What Amarone is to Italy, is what Priorato is to Spain. . .in reputation, not stylistic winemaking.) It’s a monster, and I worked extra hard to get it in there, just because they’re that good. The primary grape variety is Cabernet Sauvignon in that one. Also of mention is the Domino de Tarres which was #67 on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines last year with 90 Points. With all that excitement, see what else we got!

So Friday, June 4th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Dark Horses of Spain!
Vina Nora 2002 Albarino, Rias Baixas
Domino de Aranleon 1999 Reserve, Utiel-Requena
Camparron 1999 Crianza, Toro
Domino de Tarres 2001 Mencia, Bierzo
Guelbenzu 2001 Azul, Ribera del Queiles, Navarra

The Extra-Special Premium Pours:
Txakoli Txomin Etxaniz 2003 Txomin Etxaniz, Txakoli de Guetaria
Alvaro Palacios 2001 Les Terrasses, Priorato

Next week is Mmmmm. . .Wines of the French Rhone!

M