Spanish Wine Month Sampler #2
Classic Spanish Reds
$120 Value for $88
Sampler includes 1 bottle each:
Lomas del Marques Rioja - Rioja is easily the most famous and well known Spanish winemaking region and style of wine. The red wines of Rioja are based on Tempranillo, although other grapes like Graciano, Mazuelo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Garnacha are often used minor components in the blend. Lomas del Mareuqs is medium-bodied with velvety tannins and a juicy palate. Aromas and flavors revolve around sweet red cherry, strawberry, and brambly wild berries. The finish is nice and long, introducing dried leaves, leather, and stewed fruit. It walks a pleasant line between traditional and modern expressions of Rioja.
Pinord "Marqued del Pluma" - You're probably more familiar with Rioja's name for the grape, Tempranillo, but here Ribera del Duero, the region next door to Rioja, the grape is known as Tinto Fino. Crafted from vines that are 35+ and hand harvested/sorted this is a lot of wine for less than $20. Aged in a blend of French and American oak barrels, it offers intense aromas of Bigarreau cherry, red forest berries and spice. Flavors of the fresh red fruit are complimented by touches of vanilla, leather and spice. The lingering finish is smooth, well-structured and offers a pleasant balance between the fruit and the barrel.
Sierra de Gredos "Granito del Cadalso" Garnacha - The Cooperativo del Cadalso vineyards lie at the foot of the Sierra del Grada mountains west of Madrid, Spain. Producing refreshing wines from a cool weather area with granitic sandy soil, the winemakers have helped garner fresh interest in wines from the Sierra del Grada region as an alternative to more popular hot, dry areas. This wine bursts with vibrant red berry fruit, blood orange and spice, and features a soft gentle mouthfeel.
Bodegas Ego "Goru Verde" Monastrell - Bodegas Ego is a relatively new winery, established in 2011 by husband-and-wife team Santos Ortiz and Ioana Paunescu. The operation boasts 35 hectares (86 acres) of vineyard, predominantly planted to 50+ year old, ungrafted, bush vine Monastrell. They've quickly established themselves as one of the region's top value producers, with most of their wines retailing for under $20 while garnering 90+ point scores and multiple "top 100 wine of the year" nods.
In fact, this 2020 edition of their certified organic Goru Verde Monastrell was named #47 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Values of 2022 right after release. In the last year it has only gotten better while dropping in price $2 as the new vintage is arriving soon at our distributor. Spicy plum and berry aromas come with a level of roasted wildness that's familiar to well-made Monastrell from Jumilla. This is tight and well-structured, especially for the variety. Roasted, savory black plum and blackberry flavors finish smooth and easy.
Pinord "Chateldon" Cabernet Sauvigon - It's pretty rare for us to use 2 wines from the same winery in one of our sampler packs, but both wines from Pinord are textbook examples of their varietals and fantastic values. Inky garnet to the eye, this wine has a nose of black and red berries, anisette and menthol. A framework of bold tannins supports black cherry, Mission fig, violet, dark chocolate and espresso flavors. The slightly grippy finish is laced with notes of chocolate-covered cherries.
Vinos del Viento Carinena - The vineyard is located near the Santa Bárbara hermitage in the municipality of Tabuenca, a “Mars like” terroir with a mixture of basal, siliceous sandstones of intense red color and shale on a mountain ridge at almost 900 metres above sea level. The gnarly Carignan vines are more than 50 years old, dry-farmed, bush-trained and hand-harvested. An intense and sexy nose with aromas of blackberries, red currants, clove and smoke. On the palate it has a refreshing firm acidity and concentrated juicy raspberries and blueberries with a spicy and persistent finish.
750ml x 6
