Tag Archives: Spain

Lidl, Carinena, Monte Plogar, Gran Reserva, 2016, Valencia, Spain

Posted on by
Reply
Lidl, Carinena, Monte Plogar, Gran Reserva, 2016, Valencia, Spain

Lidl, Carinena, Monte Plogar, Gran Reserva, 2016, Valencia, Spain

 

It’s been a whole since I tried a good cheap red from a supermarket, but this one from Lidl is worth buying. At £6 a bottle, it was a pleasant surprise. Dry with soft tannins and decent flavours of plum, blackberry, cherry with hints of chocolate and a little oak in the background. It’s been left longer than the producer would have recommended before drinking but I think that’s helped soften it up. We had ot with a slow cooked beef joint and it was a perfect fit.

Vina Ardanza, Rioja Reserva, 2016, Spain

Posted on by
Reply
Vina Ardanza, Rioja Reserva, 2016, Spain

Vina Ardanza, Rioja Reserva, 2016, Spain

 

A standard Rioja or something super? Well this Reserva from Vina Ardanza is a cut above the usual. Dry, firm but well integrated tannins you get a pretty intense red wine with plenty of red fruit flavours, spice, cloves and liquorice all in a soft warm fizzy feeling package. Its a grown ups wine to be savoured. At £25  bottle it’s a little pricey but rather good.

 

Masia Bou, Brut Cava, NV, Spain

Posted on by
Reply
Masia Bou, Brut Cava, NV, Spain

Masia Bou, Brut Cava, NV, Spain

Cava is the new Prosecco for many in the UK Nd this Cava from Masia Bou shows why. Clean, fresh with decent aromas and flavours it delivers something a bit more than your usual Prosecco. It’s dry with high acidity. Lemon and sherbet come through but it’s light if a little tart on the back palette. At £11 a bottle it’s reasonable value too, worth a bottle for when friends pop over.

Freixenet, zero alcohol, Rosé sparkling, Spain

Posted on by
Reply
Freixenet, zero alcohol, Rosé sparkling, Spain

Freixenet, zero alcohol, Rosé sparkling, Spain

 

Low and none alcohol wines, beers and spirits have come a long way in recent years. Personally I prefer non alcohol beers. This on the other hand is not something I would drink again. On thd sweet side it has bubbles and a taste of something but nothing anyone could pin down. The best I could think of was the taste of sparking water, the taste of the carbonated process. Save the cash and go for a traditional fancy lemonade.

Martín Códax, Albariño, 2022, Spain 

Posted on by
Reply
Martín Códax, Albariño, 2022, Spain

Martín Códax, Albariño, 2022, Spain

This Albarino from Spain is a great example of the grape, dry, light with a good dope of acidity.  You get lemon, citrus and hints of peach on the flavours side. This would go very well with sea food, pasta in a white source or a zesty salad.  At £13 a bottle it’s decent value.

 

Ugalde, Rioja, Crianza, 2019, Spain

Posted on by
Reply
Ugalde, Rioja, Crianza, 2019, Spain

Ugalde, Rioja, Crianza, 2019, Spain

 

This Rioja from Ugalde is a great example of a young Rioja, age around 6 months in oak it’s dry, high in tannins and acidity, got massive amounts of black and red fruit flavours. There’s leather, chocolate, coffee notes in there with a slight earthy undertone all integrated very well.

At zbout £11 a bottle it’s excellent value and paired with a winter roast or BBQ in the summer it’s an all year round wine.

 

Cillar de Silos, La Viña de Amalio, Tempranillo, Spain

Posted on by
Reply
Cillar de Silos, La Viña de Amalio, Tempranillo, Spain

Cillar de Silos, La Viña de Amalio, Tempranillo, Spain

This tempranillo from Cillar de Silos is quite a surprise. Bold and pretty dry with medium tannins with very good length. There are plenty of flavours of blackcurrant and plum, chocolate and oak notes with licorice and mint hints in the background.

At £60 a bottle it’s a bit overpriced.  Then again when you go over £30 a bottle it probably won’t make sny difference,  the only question is, is it any good and yes this is very good. Have with red meat or a tomato pasta dish to drink out the best.