No wine snobs here, just enthusiastic drinkers of all wines
The second wine at the Itsy Bitsy Bodegas Tasting by Devour Madrid. This white wine come from the Tierra de Leon region and uses a lesser known local grape Albarín. Apparently it was in danger of being lost in that region and the winemaker, Rafael, bought land with these vines specifically to save and cultivate … Continue reading Pardevalles Albarín 2018
The first wine at the Itsy Bitsy Bodegas tasting at Devour Madrid, is in fact a vermouth not a wine. OK I know that technically as fermented grapes they are a type of wine, but not to me. I've never been keen on Vermouth. It's an odd flavour. In fact there are only two out … Continue reading St. Petroni Vermú Rojo
Named after the winery's former president, this is one of Bodega Cuatro Rayas' most select wines. It was a surprise addition to the tasting at vinopremier.com. 100% Verdejo. It is made from the best grapes from Cuatro Rayas' oldest vines (over 100 years of age) and spends 8 months maturing in french oak. It should … Continue reading Amador Diez Cuvee 2017
In the 1980s the Spanish wine industry went through a revolution in modernising wine making techniques, introducing quality standards and perfecting which grapes grow best in their soil. Rueda is one of the most successful examples of this revolution. Prior to this time many Bodegas in the Rueda region acted as co operatives. Local farmers … Continue reading Dorado 61
The third wine from the Cuatro Rayas wine tasting at vinopremier.com. Something a little different this time, a red Tempranillo wine from the Rueda DO. I say different because Rueda is known for its white wines with Tempranillo reds more usually made in nearby Ribera del Duero. In fact it is so normal for most … Continue reading Cuatro Rayas Ecológico 2018
The second white wine from the Bodega Cuatro Rayas tasting at Vinopremier.com. Another Rueda Verdejo Wine but this time with grapes harvested from vines over 100 years old and left on the lees for about 5 months. It is made using more traditional methods and only a limited number of bottles are produced. Like the … Continue reading Cuatro Rayas Viñedos Centenarios 2018
Last month Cuatro Rayas Bodega paid a visit to Vinopremier.com to let us sample their range of wines. Reading their website Cuatro Rayas is a large winery using modern wine making methods designed for bulk. It produces some 20% of all wines from the Rueda region, about 15 million bottles annually, and exports much of … Continue reading Cuatro Rayas Verdejo 2018
This wine is an excellent example of how sometimes a Vino de Tierra is your best choice. Historically when it comes to the Spanish wine quality labelling system wines from a DO or DOCa were a guarantee of quality levels and wines representative of that region. Vinos de Tierra were considered the lesser cousin. These … Continue reading Barcolobo Verdejo
A strange wine this one. A dry wine that seems sweet. Not at all what you expect and pretty good value for the price. The Moscatel or Muscat Blanc grape is mainly associated with sweet aromatic white wines, but this is a dry wine. It has a clear yellow gold colour and a fairly pronounced … Continue reading Juan Gil Moscatel Seco
OMG! What a surprise! I've finally found a Monastrell Red from Jumilla that I like. Those of you who read my blog regularly will know that Monastrell wines are very heavy reds with high tannins and acidity. All things my poor tastebuds struggle with. However I'm nothing if not persistent, so will always try a … Continue reading Selecto Crianza 2014
