WINE TASTING: New Arrivals from Spain: Ribeira Sacra, Txakolina, Madrid   Sat. Oct. 10, 3-6pm Belmont

Spain is continuing to up the ante with distinctive, even unexpected, combinations of flavors and textures. Old vines thrive in these rugged, dry climates to offer wines that are both ripe and fresh, with aromatic complexity as a bonus. Just in, these remarkable wines are also excellent values!

2008 BERNABELEVA Camino de Navaherreros $15.99 (Madrid) – red
100% Garnacha. Located outside of Madrid in rugged mountainous terrain, this estate makes wine from 80-year-old Garnacha vines, farmed organically. Named for the “bear’s forest,” Bernabeleva uses its high-altitude location and micro-climate to great advantage, creating rich, ripe wines with unexpected freshness and complexity.
 
2008 EGIA ENEA Txakoli de Bizkaia $19.99 (Txakolina) – white
Located in the northern Basque country, Egia Enea is run by owner/winemaker Alfredo Egia. Their Txakolina is made from the grape “Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratia” (yes, it’s a mouthful). “The 2008 Egia Enea Txakolina is sourced from a single vineyard within the sub-zone of Biskaia. It reveals an expressive nose of mineral, lime, melon, and petrol. Smooth textured, bracing, and racy on the palate… 90 pts.“

Introducing PENAS das DONAS Almalarga & Verdes Matas from Ribeira Sacra
“Pena das Donas is a new estate in the high risk, high reward DO of Ribeira Sacra in Galicia (western Spain) where the steepness of the vineyards makes Sonoma’s Jackass Hill Vineyard look like a pool table.”( I’ve never seen Jackass Hill but I get the idea.)

2008 PENAS DAS DONAS Mencia “Verdes Matas” $19.99 (Ribeira Sacra) –
“Bright ruby. Spicy red and dark berry aromas are complicated by cherry skin, licorice, dried violet and cracked pepper. Racy and sharply focused on entry, offering tangy redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors, then opens up to show deeper, sweeter dark berries. For a tangy wine this is surprisingly lush, almost creamy, with gentle tannins and good lingering sweetness. I really like this wine’s blend of vivacity and roundness. 90 pts.” –IWA
 
2007 PENAS DAS DONAS Godello “Almalarga” $19.99 (Ribeira Sacra) – white
This first vintage of the 2007 Almalarga Godello is named for the vineyard (70- to 100-year-old vines). “Aged on its lees for four months, it offers a superb aromatic array of mineral, crushed stone, lemon-lime, white peach, and melon. This is followed by a dry, elegant, ripe, concentrated wine with outstanding balance and length. Drink it over the next four years. 90 pts.” –WA

WINE TASTING: Waiting for Columbus
Sat. Oct. 10, 2-5pm CONCORD

Eric will be “flying solo” this weekend and will have a few bottles open for an informal tasting. (If it’s busy, your patience is requested.) What’s on the agenda? A selection of new ABBAZIA di NOVACELLA white wines and 2003 Brunellos from Poggio Antico & Valdicava.
See you there!