Tasting Panel: June 26-27 Spanishin Regional Wines

This time the following three regional Spanish wines were featured:

Rias Baixas Albariño, Olegario 2005 ($26.00 suggested)
From Spain's Galicia region in the northwest Atlantic coast. 100% Albariño grape. 12.5% Alcohol.

Navarra Rosado "Grand Feudo Rose Wine", Bodegas Julian Chivite 2005 ($19.00 suggested)
100% Grenache from estate-grown grapes in Navarra in north-central Spain above Rioja. 12.5% Alcohol. The grapes were macerated for 24 hours to allow the skin color to bleed prior to fermentation.

Castilla y Leon "Sardon de Duero Rivola", Abadia Retuerta 2003 ($20.00 suggested)
Made from estate-grown grapes in Sardon de Duero just outside Ribera del Duero in central Spain. 60% Tempranillo and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon aged fro 12 months in a combination of French and American oak. 13.5% Alcohol


Judgment/Comments:
Rias Baixas Albariño, Olegario 2005
Thumbs Up 88%
Thumbs Down 13%
Pros: Nice fruit, acidity but pricy, refreshing, good summer wine, good
balance, mineral finish
Cons: None

Navarra Rosado "Grand Feudo Rose Wine", Bodegas Julian Chivite 2005
Thumbs Up: 50%
Thumbs Down: 50%
Pros: Nice fruit, dry, interesting
Cons: Harsh, uninteresting, bland, tart, flat, simple

Castilla y Leon "Sardon de Duero Rivola", Abadia Retuerta 2003
Thumbs Up: 100%
Thumbs Down: 0%
Pros: Great balance, nice balance, complex. Bordeaux-like nose, easy drinking,
nice tannins, worth the price, smoky, robust, spicy, will age.
Cons: None

Conclusions:
1. The Albariño was deemed wonderful but pricey at a suggested price of $26, an average price for a California Chardonnay. Drinkers appear to have an expectation that Spanish whites should be low priced regardless of potential quality. In contrast, the same can not be said of white wines from California or France.

2. The Rosado was the least favorite, apparently suffering from being too light, too dry, and somewhat pricey.

3. The Rivola was liked by everyone.