Spanish red wines are all the rage now, but don’t forget about their whites. There are some really good-value white wines coming out from the Rueda region. This Verdejo is straw-coloured with an intense, aromatic bouquet of apricots and elderberries. Medium-bodied, crisply dry wine with flavours of mandarin and lemon. The good news is the price.
Spain’s ubiquitous party punch gets an upscale treatment with Lolea No.3, a relatively dry sangria bianca in an eye-catching package that follows on the heels of the red No.1 and sweeter white No.2. Made with white wine, wild apple and elderflower, it shows aromas of flower blossom, peach, green apple and vanilla. Lightly carbonated, it’s crisp and refreshingly balanced with flavours of white peach, granny smith apple and a touch of cinnamon. Try adding mint leaves and lime to up the refreshment quotient even further.
Shows dark plummy fruit with dry astringent notes on the nose and concentrated blackberry and black plum encased in inky tannins on the palate. Finishes very dry. Pair with rich red meat casseroles and aged cheeses.
Deep ruby colour, this interesting blend has a cedar, blackcurrant and plum nose; medium-bodied, and dry, it offers forward, spicy blackcurrant and cranberry flavours with a lively spine of acidity.
Deep ruby colour; vanilla oak predominating over jammy plum aromas with a cedary note; medium to full-bodied, dry, mouth-filling plum and cherry flavours. Finishes dry with a tannic lift on the finish.
Zerran Tinto is imported by and bottled for innovative Spanish importer Jorge Ordóñez, responsible for introducing many characterful and regional Spanish wines to the USA. This savoury Montsant is mostly very old-vine Garnacha and Mazuelo (aka Carignan) with a splash of Syrah. Big and concentrated, with dense black fruit, crushed stone, black flowers, kirsch, anise and cracked pepper covering a firm, muscular structure. Fantastic value for this Priorat neighbour.
Offers aromatic developed blackcurrant fruit, fine clove and cinnamon spice and fresh herbal notes. Integrated black fruit flavours are supported by solid structure with good balance, finishing very dry. A polished wine from a regional grape that deserves to be better known. Drinking well now but can age further.