June 2010 Wine Club

SPANISH WINES!

June 10, 2010

This month was a lot of fun. It was the picnic version of wine club so we began the night outside enjoying the weather and mosquitoes (well, maybe not enjoying the bugs . . .) and then headed inside as the night wore on. And we were very classy using a decanter and aerator. Now to the recap of the evening. . .

The appetizers:

• Gazpacho
• Spanish Ham & Manchego Cheese
• Pea puree on crostini
• Pesto Popcorn
• Queso with chorizo
• Artichoke, cheese, and egg bars
• Goat Cheese

Here are some of the left over yummy apps!

Here is the wine! You'll notice 9, but we only drank 8. Blair and I both decided to bring 2 bottles each . . . not sure what we were thinking.

We didn't have Kirsten this time so I will try my best to do the Grape, Producer, Location and Vintage. But each wine does have notes from our comments. Thanks Blair for being the note taker! I think you have a permanent position. :)
In order consumed:

Grape, Producer, Location and Vintage

1) Blend (Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo), Segura Viudas, Cava, ??

• A brute reserva with 11.5% alcohol. The entire group was a fan. And it only cost $8.99

2) Vinho Verde, Espiral, Portugal, ??

• From TJs! And only $3.99. 9% alcohol. Semi sparkling and we were fans.

3) Garnacha, Terraplen, Navarra, 2009

• A rose made solely from the granacha grape which we discovered was the most common red grape in Spain. Not very sweet. Only one person liked it. 13.5% alcohol and cost $13.99.

4) Blend (Tempranillo, Granacha, and Graciano), Marques de Caceres, Rioja, 2006

• Crianza rating. 13% alcohol and it cost $13.99. Aged in oak and it had a spicy aroma and berry finish.

5) Granacha, Tapena, ??, 2007

• Spicy taste. 12.5% and it cost $11.99. It had the most fun description on the back of the night!

6) Tempranillo, Camp Viejo, Rioja, 2005

• Reserva rating. Vanilla finish and the club was a fan.

7) Tempranillo, Montecillo, Rioja, 2003

• Reserva rating. Complex flavors, very goooood. 13.5% alcohol and it cost $20.

8) Tempranillo, El Circulo, Rioja, 2006

• Crianza rating. We thought it had a butter and chocolate finish. 13.5% alcohol and cost $21.

9) Tempranillo, Darien, Rioja, 2008

• This was the one we did not get to, but the label says it has a nose of ripe red berries with a rich black cherry and blackberry fruit taste.

My favorites were the Camp Viejo and the Monticello! What were yours??