TN: Spanish wines in Scarsdale

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Sounds like good food. Cubed serrano ham and gambas ajillo are two of my favorite tapas, along with a bowl of marcona almonds in olive oil. yumm.... Hard to stay away from sherry when eating them, though, especially with the direction that Spanish red wines have taken in recent years.

Interesting. I have the '94 and '96 Remelluris. I'm not encouraged by your experience with the '95.

And that leads to my question: who makes non-modern Rioja these days? Who are the remaining traditionalists?

Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton

Lopez y Heredia, Monte Real, & CVNE are the first to spring to mind. Some others are kind of mixed- Muga's Prado Enea seems pretty traditional, while the Torres and Selection Especial are more modern. I'm not really Rioja-centric, maybe someone more knowledgable can chime in (or you could ask Manuel at WT, be prepared for a rant).

Reply to
DaleW

One need not ask him: LL volunteers his opinion that "Spanish wine is dead" at periodic intervals, from which I've divined that his list includes Lopez de Heredia and no one else (he's given up on CVNE most recently). I just thought I'd get a more temperate view of the scene from someone who's palate I know and trust.

Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton

the very back of the mouth and working forward. LOTS of spice, almost chili-heat (aptly named), but enough fruit and not overpowering. A solid B, much higher on QPR if bought at store.

I had a Lolonis Zin from 1997 which was also extremely peppery - it overpowered everything except sushi with wasabi (with which it went well). I don't remember much of the in-mouth progression, but I found it so spicy (even at first) that it required a warning label. :)

Jose

Reply to
Jose

Thanks for the informed opinions, Santiago. I agree that some nostalgia doesn't take into account the decrease in flawed wines (in Spain and elsewhere).

I disagree with Manuel Camblor about many things, but I do actually like Lopez y Heredia wines - at least the reds with 20+ years, and the rosado (the whites I'm more up in the air about). And I tend to like the Prado Enea a lot. But I also did find the '99 Artadi PV and the '01 Gemurez nice wines.

Reply to
DaleW

Thanks for weighing in on this question, Santiago. Frankly, I had asked my question with the hope that I'd hear from you. The scenario you mention is similar to what occurred in Bordeaux in the '70s and '80s: many chai replaced their aged barrels and improved hygiene to make cleaner wines, but some also adopted the practice of going to 100% new oak and abandoning traditional winemaking practices. Of course, in the '90s far more started adopting new and questionable practices (RO anyone?).

In regard to Rioja, my limited experience with traditional Rioja comes from La Rioja Alta's 904 and Castillo Ygay from the '70s and '80s. I can't say that I found them at all flawed, but I have a fairly high tolerance for Brett (I like Beaucastel, after all). I can't say that I recall much in the way of VA, but perhaps I've just forgotten. My concern regarding the modernistas is that what I most appreciate in Rioja Gran Reservas is their delicacy and perfume. Will these monster tempranillos made today ever achieve that degree of grace? My experience with Sierra Cantabria and San Vicente doesn't inspire much confidence, but as you mention there are others whose wines probably will develop well.

Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton

Don't know what I was doing while I typed that, should read 01 Remirez de Ganuza

Reply to
DaleW

I concur on the CUNE. Still seems quite traditional in even the most current bottling. Monte Real 2002 was a bit thin for my tastes. Haven't had one since.

Reply to
Lawrence Leichtman

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