Tag Archives: wine deals

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. Open another bottle, after indulging in a siesta, and continue basking in Spain’s unique cornucopia of vibrant flavors. This is a wine to enjoy regularly. – Daniel

Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2011 Reserva is mostly Tempranillo complemented with some 20% Garnacha, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. There are no stainless-steel vats at Muga, so everything is fermented in oak vats and this wine is then aged for one year in new French oak barrels and a further year in used ones (three to six years old), fined with egg white and bottled. It is a Rioja that mixes the traditional and modern character with ripe fruit and contains oak aromas that are quite spicy and have some toast and smoke that should integrate with a bit of time in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied, has clean flavors that are balanced with sweet tannins. This is easy to drink, pleasant but not banal, and delivers a lot for its price. An impressive half-million bottles are produced of this wine, which is sold as Crianza in Spain and as Reserva in the rest of the world. Year after year, one of the most reliable and affordable Reservas.” LG

Wine of the Day: Txakoli from Ameztoi 6-2-16

Txakoli, Txakoli, Txakoli!

Txakoli (cha-kol-E) comes straight off the Atlantic coast like a refreshing rain shower in summer. Produced exclusively in Spain’s Basque Country, Txakoli matches the Basque flair for seafood and pintxos (tapas), thanks to its palette of citrus fruits, its minerality, and its crisp acidity. Vineyards of Hondarribi Zuri (white) and and Hondarribi Beltza (red) sprawl across the rugged, verdant Basque coastal hills, particularly around Getaria: This little fishing village is also home to Elcano, who finished Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe. It’s no coincidence that Txakoli offers hints of a fresh ocean breeze.

Every bar and restaurant in every Spanish Basque town serves Txakoli. They carefully pour it from several feet above a straight-walled, stemless glass, to enliven the wine with some effervescence, like the sea after a wave rolls through. Since the wine tastes its most crisp and fresh with this aeration, it is best to pour only a few gulps of Txakoli at a time. But don’t worry: low in alcohol, you can drink lots!

Producers of note include Ameztoi, who makes not only a classic Txakoli, but also a rosé, Rubentis, and a red, Stimatum. Treat your senses to a Basque Coast holiday this summer. Gora txakoli!

– Daniel

Ameztoi Wines Available Here Now:

txakAmeztoi Stimatum, Getariako Txakolina 2013 750ML ($21.95) Buy Now: $18 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “(100% hondarribi beltza): Pale, bright violet. Vibrant redcurrant and cherry scents are complemented by a sexy floral quality and a hint of white pepper. Dry, nervy and precise, offering bitter cherry and blood orange flavors that pick up a subtle sweetness with air. Clean, nervy and focused on the finish, which lingers with excellent spicy intensity. Wild stuff: this would be fantastic with young cheeses, from any mammal.” JR

Ameztoi Primus Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750ML ($27.95) Buy Now: $24 special
Winery note: More intense and structured than the regular Txakoli, in part due to moderate skin contact prior to fermentation. Pale white with a touch of green with bright tone and light, spritely bubbles. Fine and sophisticated aromas reminiscent of green apples and grapes, with a minty note. Dry-tasting in the beginning, with a wide and aromatic finish.

txakAmeztoi Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Light yellow. High-pitched aromas of lime zest, jasmine, chalky minerals and green tea, with a hint of pear in the background. Fresh and sharply focused on the palate, offering bitter citrus pith and green apple flavors that spread out slowly on the back half. Shows excellent focus and lift on a long, incisive finish that emphatically echoes the lime and floral notes. I’d love to have a few bottles of this with a bunch of raw shellfish and crab.” JR

Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2015 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $20.90 special
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbon to give it a light spritz.  Fermented in stainless steel.  Tasting Notes: Candied red fruits combine with a lime infused edge makes this a wildly intriguing rosé.”