Tag Archives: rioja

Wine of the Day: CVNE Cune Crianza 2012 Rioja 10-12-16

CVNE Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana Cune Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($14.95) Buy Now: $11.90 special

Order a glass of Crianza at a bar or restaurant in Spain, and odds are they’ll have Cune to pour. Ripe, balanced, and full of bright cherry notes, Cune is, before anything else, delicious. It also happens to go well with a variety of foods, from classic jamón and cheese, to steaks and roasts, even with fish in Spain. But that price! Una locura! At $11.90 a bottle, anyone with a taste for Spanish wine, for Tempranillo, or for a superb table red should add a bit of Cune to the bodega. Trust in its ubiquity in the land where they drink wine the way we drink bottled water.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Bodegas Roda, Rioja 8-10-16

Bodegas Roda Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($49.95) Buy Now: $39 special

Bodegas Roda ‘Roda I’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2008 750ML ($69.95) Buy Now: $49 special

Bodegas Roda Sela, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($34.95) Buy Now: $26 special

Case-12 Bodegas Roda Sela, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($399.95) Buy Now: $269 special

rodaiselaTempranillo remains a grape unmastered by anyone outside of Spain. The Ribera del Duero has become famous for its version of Iberia’s noblest grape, but the world’s finest Tempranillo still comes from La Rioja. Perfect growing conditions aside, La Rioja possesses a centuries-old tradition of Tempranillo winemaking, which usually blends in some Graciano, Mazuelo, and/or Grenache. Today, styles vary in La Rioja, and amongst the more modern wineries Bodegas Roda stands out.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2011 6-20-16

Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2011 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2011 750ML ($299.95) Buy Now: $236 special

muga2011Imagine you are sitting in the hot Spanish sierra, eating handfuls of cherries with ripe, tart and sweet frutas del bosque (berries) from a satchel that smells of spicy leather, with hints of fresh-rolled tobacco on your fingertips. A breeze carries floral notes under your nose, and suddenly you realize that you’re not in the hills at all, or even in Spain. You’re sniffing a glass of 2011 Muga Reserva, and when you take a sip its fruit-forward character unfolds alongside rounded tannins, warming the mouth and begging for a bite of cochinillo (suckling pig, a Riojan specialty) and for another sip of this classic-yet-modern Rioja red.… Read the rest

Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa 2012 – April 2016

Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa 2012 750ML ($219.95) Buy Now: $169 special

Clos Erasmus Priorat 2012Wine Advocate 98 points “After no 2011 was produced, the 2012 Clos Erasmus comes with renewed energy, a much fresher approach and a more transparent wine while keeping the slate typicity of Gratallops even in a tiny-yielding vintage. Part of the wine aged in 700-liter clay amphorae and the rest in Burgundy barrels that added a spicy patina to the nose, yet very much respected the wet slate character of the vintage. Contrary to previous vintages, the core of fruit is red rather than black; the 2013 that I tasted (not in bottle) followed pretty much this same direction. The palate shows power, elegance and a special mineral savoriness akin to licking stones.… Read the rest

Marques de Legarda Reserva de la Familia, Rioja DOCa 1995 – April 2016

Marques de Legarda RiojaBodegas de la Real Divisa Marques de Legarda Reserva de la Familia, Rioja DOCa 1995 750ML ($99.95) Buy Now: $79 special

Producer Notes “Bodegas de la Real Divisa are some of the oldest wineries in both La Rioja and Europe, belonging to a family legacy, which boasts the noble, family name of Marqués of Legarda.  Bodegas de la Real Divisa also produce highly expressive wines, created from the older vines: Draco and Marques de Legarda Reserva de la Familia. These wines are only elaborated during year, when the grapes are of optimum quality, as much so in the plant’s general health as the grapes’ organoleptic characteristics.  [The Reserva de la Familia is produced from] grapes originating exclusively from the bodega’s own vineyards. … Read the rest