2004 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano

 

Very nice showing but still not at peak yet. A joy to drink with such delicious fruit, balanced with supple, fine grained tannins. With its pinot noir like elegance, paired well with Indian spiced Codfish with potatoes and tomatoes. 

2015 Paul Jaboulet Aine Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert

 

Subtle florals with hint of bacon fat on the nose.  Young but shows nicely with aeration. Purple fruit up front backed a super enticing minerally, mouthwatering framework of elegant tannins, followed by olive and spice notes on the finish. Damn, this is a nice vintage for the Thalabert cuvee.

Here is a bit of background on this cru...

"...The Thalabert vineyard sits on the rocky plain of Les Chassis on the left bank of the Rhone River, sandwiched between Tain l’Hermitage to the north and Pont de l’Isere to the south. In a large appellation such as Crozes, the quality of terroir is heavily varied, with preferred sites found on the stone-heavy, less clay influenced sections of Les Chassis, close to the riverbed. This area is where many of the appellations top producers grow their vines, including the famed Alain Graillot. In his book ‘The Wines of the Northern Rhone’ Jonathan Livingston Learmonth describes the soil as “a gravel couch (20-30 meters of gravelly stones), with around half a meter of alluvial stones of Alpine origin on the surface.” It is this so-called “French drain” that sets Thalabert apart as the benchmark terroir in the southern Crozes-Hermitage...

• The first ever vineyard owned by Paul Jaboulet – purchased in 1834. Also holds the distinction as the oldest vineyard of the appellation. Considered the benchmark for Crozes-Hermitages with the ability to age for decades.

• 60-80 year old vines

• Biodynamically farmed

• Vines grown on pebbly terraces that are glacial in origin, with the bedrock close to the topsoil. These small, round pebbles store heat during the day and release it at night, providing optimum and regular maturity.

• Very low yields of 25 hl/ha

• Aged in French oak, 20% new

 

2015 Bordatto Etxaldea Basa Juan

 Excellent cider from the tiny French Basque village of Jaxu, in the foothills of the Pyrenees,  inland from Biarritz.  Opened up beautifully over the course of a couple of hours...👍

Two Spanish White Wines

2016 Raventós i Blanc De La Finca Conca del Riu Anoia

50% Xarel-lo, 40% Macabeo, 10% Parellada, each varietal coming from different plots, fermented separately and then blended for aging on the lees. Vineyards are located about 35 miles inland from Barcelona.

Fresh and inviting fruit-dominated nose. Mouthwatering citrus attack followed by succulent mid-palate with saline, spicy finish.  Interesting combination of grapes that I have little experience with. Paired nicely with Jamón+Manchego croquetas and patatas brava.

2008 López de Heredia Viña Gravonia Blanco

Love this classic Rioja Blanco. Viura character on full display with piquant lemon character up front followed by marzipan and ginger on a saline finish.  Paired well with Gambas al Ajillo and Rockfish al la Plancha.

2017 Bodegas Cota 45 UBE Maina La Charanga

 

A unique and interesting effort from winemaker Ramiro Ibáñez. 100% Palomino grapes sourced from a single vineyard in Sanlucar. Albarizas de Barajuelas soils are dominated by chalk and clay.



Shy, nutty nose with hint of petrol. Bone dry palate of almonds and stone fruit. Subtle salinity and a pithy, tonic finish. Reminds me texturally of a young Trocken Riesling, but with less acidity. Showing more on day two, this has aging potential.  Paired nicely with lobster.

2019 Elena Walch Sauvignon Blanc Vigna Castel Ringberg

 My first experience with the Elena Walch wines from Alto Adige.

The Sauvignon Blanc is from from their Castel Ringberg vineyards (calcareous substrate mixed granitic glacial gravels) which are situtated above Caldaro Lake (just south of Bolzano). It is a beautiful wine at a very reasonable price.

A heady, tropically influenced nose greets you, followed by a minerally citrus palate and an elegant finish.This is a Sauvignon Blanc that could only be produced in the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains. Highly recommended.

Elena and her daughters, Karoline and Julia, also produce an excellent Chardonnay and are scheduled to introduce a Blanc de Blancs cuvee in 2022.

https://www.foodandwine.com/wine/woman-winemaker-who-reinvigorated-italys-alto-adige-region-interviewed-her-daughter#:~:text=Her%20two%20daughters%2C%20Karoline%20and,work%20under%20the%20matriarch's%20label.

 

2018 Manuel Moldes Rias Baixas Albariño Afelio

 

Beautiful salinity frames lemon and grapefruit palate. A very enjoyable Galician white paired with spicy tempura fried lobster tails.

In the Val do Salnés region of Rias Baixas, vines are traditionally trained on a wire trellis supported by granite posts called a “parra,” which allow breezes to come through and dry the grapes after the region’s frequent showers. (Similar to the rock supported pergola system in the Carema region of Italy). The sandy, granitic soils provide critical drainage in this region that is subject to heavy storms from the Atlantic Ocean.



Grapes are whole bunch pressed in basket press for thirty minutes, then the grape must is settled and racked off after 24-48 hours. Barrels have no temperature control inside, only the natural temperature in the cold cellar to regulate. (Similar to Lopez de Heredia in Rioja). Fermentation is usually ten days and the wine is racked off its gross lees. Malolactic fermentation is not desired and rarely happens.
Aged in stainless steel for eight months and two months in old French oak barrels. Fined and filtered for bottling.