Category Archives: Tasting Notes

Notes on wines I have tasted

June 22, 2012 · 6:23 pm

Belondrade y Lurton – 22/06/2012

Quinta Clarisa Rosado 2011 (100% tempranillo, made like a white wine with the lees of Belondrade)
Nice savoury notes coupled with the freshness of strawberries and cherries. Lovely colour. Great structure, mouthfeel, good texture with some tannins and lees influence, vibrancy of red fruits, some crispness on the front, a touch of citrus notes. Nice and round, mouth-filling flavours, perfect balance between savoury and fruit sweet/freshness. Easy to drink and with great personality.

Quinta Apolonia Verdejo 2011
Lovely bright floral notes, rich ripe stone fruits and some, very delicate honey creaminess. Full expressive generous fruit, vibrant texture, some tightness and crispness on the middle of the palate, wonderfully rich and broad, nice volume and texture, quite concentrated and intense but very fresh with great lines and finesse.

Belondrade y Lurton Verdejo 2010
Amazingly complex, somewhat closed, a little salty on the nose, a touch of the seashell influence, delicate yellow and white floral notes, citrus and white peach. Quite dense and powerful for a white wine, concentration and volume. Texture weight and complex oak characteristics, nice spicy toast elements. A three-dimensional wine, perfect for ageing but very enjoyable now. Not at all over the top, a little tropical on the back.

Belondrade y Lurton Verdejo 2008
Slightly more developed nose, showing some bottle-aged characters, more lees derived notes showing through. Fuller yet finer and more precise on the palate, deeper and creamier texture, oak starting to integrate beautifully, very late slightly sweet stone fruit complementing the fresh citrus elements. As the fruit has softened the alcohol is looking a little more prominent.

Belondrade logo

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June 22, 2012 · 6:17 pm

Javier Sanz – 22/06/2012

Orden Tercera Verdejo 2011
Vibrant fresh sweaty SB style, passionfruit grapefruit. Clean fresh apples, tight acids, vibrant yet light fruit, good purity and breadth of persistent tropical fruit notes. Simple fresh easy drinking wine, a little funky on the nose.

Villa Narcisa Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Less aromatic than the Vederjo, nice minerality on the nose, fresher cleaner fruit, more closed and focused somehow. Vibrant kiwi and fig elements, slightly green and herbal, nice volume but still very clean and fresh. Some nice fruit sweet volume and viscosity.

Villa Narcisa Verdejo 2011 (50+ year old bush vines)
Closed aromatically, possibly due to age of vines or age of wine. Fuller volume, richer and more generous texture, a little more weight and intensity of fruit sweetness. Depth and concentration, more warmth too. Riper fruit characters, more orchard fruits and tight tropical elements. Bolder and more serious, with great balance and texture, and fantastic length.

V1863 Verdejo Sobre Lias 2011 (Single plot 1863 vineyards)
Creamy delicate honey notes, bright but subtle fruit. Very sneaky wine; looks very light and delicate but builds enormously on the palate as the alcohol and lees come into play. Plenty of complexity, very young at the moment, good texture and generosity of fruit, but slightly reductive now.

Villa Narcisa Fermentado en Barrica Verdejo 2008
More colour development, richer and more golden. Quite strong oak notes dominate everything aromatically, very toasted and caramelised citrus and some herbal elements as well. Very rich and intense, bold fruit and texture, ripe fruit some residual sugar, tropical and dried apricot notes, quite intense.

Rey Santos Semidulce 2011
Showing the same sweaty aromatic notes of verdejo. Nice and rich and viscous, quite sweet and fruit vibrant. Plenty of acids, but the sweatiness of the variety takes something away. Am I being too hard on the variety? Nice approachability, generous flavours and intensity, still very clean and adaptable with food.

Some of the Javier Sanz range. Check the prices.

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June 21, 2012 · 9:06 pm

Sobreno – 21/06/2012

Finca Sobreno 2010 (6 months in 4-year old barrel)
Very vibrant exuberant nose of red fruits, black cherries, raspberries, very fresh and soft. Mouth-filling generous fruit-driven, approachable juicy and broad. Plenty of jammy fruit and limited oak influence. Good start.

Organic Tempranillo 2010
More elegant and fresher, brighter acids and tighter tannins. Purer but somehow more mature. More focus through the middle of the palate. Nice balance but lacking a little personality. Not reflective of the origin.

Crianza 2008
Denser more earthy darkness, slightly leathery and dusty, cassis and blood plum fruit. Quite vibrant well balanced focused and full flavoured, good clarity of fruit, again not at all oaky, nice character. Good acids, still young and fresh, nice and tight but very drinkable.

Selecion Especial 2008
Darker more intense colour. Certainly more oak influence aromatically, chocolate coconut, black fruit sweetness. Full bold soft and sweet, creamy and textural on the palate. Quite modern and new-world (whatever that means these days). Much fuller and warmer, definitely more oak influence on the flavours and textures.

Reserva Familiar 2005
Very intense sweet new American oak nose, very caramel vanilla smoky toasty banana skin influence. Intensity of sweet fruit extends through to the palate, very aggressive tannins, no finesse at all, too oaky and fruit sweet, inelegant wine. Prefer the cheaper wines.

Single vineyard tinto de toro, icon style 2008
Better character of fruit concentration and stressed vines from old stock. Good fruit, oak less influenced, not too exuberant like the previous wines. Full and intense, a little heavy on the palate. Very concentrated but balanced wine, powerful broad with some late creaminess from new oak, good depth and personality but looking a little young at the moment. Lot’s of potential, but a strong reflection of the origin.

The berries are coming

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June 21, 2012 · 9:03 pm

Pintia – 21/06/2012

2006
Interesting ripe tomato seeds, intense balsamic soy notes, dark fruits, plums currants, crushed herbs, Bright and fresh yet very intense and slightly warm, incredibly intense, very powerful and broad, dense and oppressive tannins, slightly cooked fruit, very hot vintage, wild and untamed. Some toasted caramel notes, slightly overwhelmed by alcohol.

2007
Softer more opulent rich nose, sweeter fruit, more chocolate and nut aromas, more generous and broad red and black fruits, some sweet olive characters. Lighter and tighter than the 2006, less overt fruit, slightly cleaner. Alcohol still prominent but better contained, still plenty of freshness and life to it, better focus and slightly softer tannins, great structure but still very intense and powerful.

2008
Closed and young, too short a time in bottle, more subtle fruits, better integration, more complexity than previous vintages, interesting savoury spice notes. Lighter still, better acids, wonderfully balanced and full, very integrated and complete, perfect structure and expression, completely fills the mouth and has sensational length. Actually drinkable, hard to believe, intense of course but an amazing expression, perfectly capturing the terroir and personality.

Three vintages of Pintia

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June 21, 2012 · 8:57 pm

Numanthia – 21/06/2012

Numanthia #3 2011
Wonderfully intense dark colour, black purple. Quite reductive nose at the moment, very shut down in fruit, oak hiding a lot, needs some time to open up and express. Very dry black fruits, toasty dark floral notes, nice smoky toasty element from the oak. Dark dark toasty intense but not too heavy, retaining some acidity surprisingly, closed fruit for now, some interesting savoury spice notes, but quite sweet full tannin structure, and great length.

Termanthia 2011 #2 (hand destemmed, small oak vat open ferment)
Incredibly intense but not overly aromatic nose, wonderful dark fruits, cherries, blackberries, dark liquorice and sweet Indian spice notes, some earthy and very subtle toast notes. Wonderfully supple and soft in the mouth, builds incredibly on the palate and explodes on the back. Very powerful and warm expression, huge concentration from old vines and low yields, again retaining some freshness so it isn’t heavy or too aggressive in the tannins.

Numanthia 2010
Quite closed fresh off the bottling line, some dark fruit notes, very subtle chocolate. Much more intense and concentrated than the 2011 looks at the moment, big difference in vintage conditions? Warmer sweeter tannins, cassis, blackcurrant, slightly pruney, needs a few months transport to the US to soften and open. Quite a powerhouse at the moment.
Numanthia 2010

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June 21, 2012 · 2:53 pm

Tinto Pesquera – 20/06/2012

Alejairen Airen Crianza 2010 (La Mancha DO)
Incredibly intense golden colour. Quite an alcoholic nose, combination of the 18 months in barrel and the ripeness of this variety. Roasted nuts, savoury honey, ripe stone fruits, glazed citrus. Full bodied richness and viscosity, very creamy and textural, very toasty and full, but not heavy or fat, or alcoholic. Wonderful complexity.

El Vinculo Crianza 2006 (Tempranillo, La Mancha DO)
Bright ruby sweet red fruit nose, nice clean floral aromas. Fresh, fruit forward, clean and pure, good balance, some delicate floral candy notes and very late mineral savoury texture. Wonderfully simple wine.

Dehesa la Granja 2005 (Vino de la Tierra Castilla y Leon, 22 month American oak)
More intense floral earthy dried notes, red fruits and some citrus elements as well. Great freshness again, quite clean and tight, nice balance and composure, American oak giving it some sweetness and clunkiness on the back of the palate. Some of the fruit getting a little lost along the way from freshness and American oak.

Pesquera Crianza 2009 (100% American oak 18 months)
Quite toasty almost smokey notes, very subtle spice and vanilla aspects, good fruit but a little shy somehow. Lovely and supple but with excellent freshness, oak well integrated, complimenting the fruit sweet aspects, nice creamy but sharp and focused tannins and acids. Approachability and character at the same time.

Pesquera Reserva 2008 (100% American oak 24 months)
Wonderfully rustic nose, wild earthy and complex in oak. Very soft and delicate, not at all overt fruit. Quite intense and concentrated, very well balanced, all about the texture. Certainly unique, I hope they never change.

Condado de Haza Reserva 2007 (24 months American oak)
Quite concentrated rustic dusty earthy notes, vibrant red fruits. Lot’s of acidity in this one, tannins very contained and subdued, tight fruit not reflective of the vintage. Really old-school approach to this kind of wine, not at all extractive or over ripe, showing some warmth for now. Against the grain, not at all modern. Question the use of American oak…

My vintage

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June 19, 2012 · 4:36 pm

Quinta Sardonia – 19/06/2012

2011 (80% of QS2)
Noticeable Bordeaux varietal influence, spicy dark fruits, plum, cassis, blackberry, jammy. Juicy powerful yet soft elegant, structured, a little fruit sweet to offset dry tannins. Good purity and lift, some subtle minerality. Good freshness on the back.

2011 Quinta Sardonia (almost, new barrel)
Much more toasty green herb and capsicum with ripe black fruits, sweet oak nose. Full mellow and fresh, very bright and intense, powerful focused warm concentration, dense and good savoury elements. A wine with interest and character but easy to drink and appreciate.

2011 Quinta Sardonia (almost, older barrel)
Softer rounder and fresher but still very concentrated, intense dark fruit, with minerality and savoury notes. Somehow chewier tannins, juicy and fresh.

Quinta Sardonia 2009
Amazing perfume, fascinating combination of the petal and vegetal parts of roses and violets, some deep sweet spice elements. Juicy dark fruits, very soft full velvety and slightly raisined characters, sweet new oak components with good ageing, well balanced and integrated, very lifted and bright but good ripeness.

Quinta Sardonia 2010
Similar intense aromatics of floral, earthy, dusty, pot-pouri, dark fruits. Very soft, even more mellow, lovely full broad sweet fruits and subtle but firm and expressive tannins. Some savoury earth notes late on the palate. Either ready or not, hard to tell.

Cuddles all around

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June 19, 2012 · 4:33 pm

Dominio de Pingus – 19/06/2012

Flor de Pingus 2010
Dark intense fruits, quite an amazing amount of savoury notes for such a vibrant flotal nose. Juicy ripe red and black fruits, very slightly spicy, very intense concentration, bold and full in the mid-palate, dense firm yet fresh and bright tannins. Finesse yet power, needs a few years in bottle to soften and open up. Tense and tightly coiled. Not too oaky, nor too hot and jammy.

Pingus 2010
Darker more concentrated colour, very intense and bright in purple vermillion. Toasted roasted ripe and raisined, dense impenetrable dark fruits, sweet savoury molasses notes, black sweet spices, some sweet balsamic reduction notes. One of the most concentrated wines I have tasted on my trip, not heavy exactly, but incredibly tannic, fruit powerful, hot and powerful. Warm climate and 2-3 tonnes per hectare make this an intense experience. Born this way, not made this way. Some very slight citrus notes on the back, still retaining some freshness of acids. I appreciate the concentration, but I don’t like it.

The 2009 Pingus, what’s left of it anyway

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June 19, 2012 · 6:22 am

Antidoto – 18/06/2012

2011 Limestone soils (20% of blend)
Intense colour and aromatics, very spicy and blackcurrant. Looking quite toasty and very dark in fruit. Wondrful concentration and full soft tannins, depth and integrity but plenty of acids. Lifted and structured.

2011 Sandy river stone soils (40% of blend)
Brighter more floral and fresher fruit aromatics, less earth and spice. More intensity of acidity and freshness, very focused down the middle of the palate, power yet restraint, excellent balance but a tad undeveloped. Racier somehow.

2011 Clay soils (40% of blend)
Dirtier darker, more rustic and wild. Soft full bold mouth-filling, broad juicy, very expressive dark fruits, approachable generous tannins, not the same level of drive and focus, the meat of it. Nice lengthy tannins.

2011 Antidoto
A little shy, but wonderfully intense and brooding, very dark but not heavy or oaky. Nice clarity, focus, wonderful freshness of red and black fruits, juicy and vibrant but considered and contemplative. Exceptionally young, quite tight and focused, components working in perfect harmony.

2011 Dominio de Es
Dark juicy sweet black fruit, wonderful lift and vibrancy, more concentration and mature tannins, reacting with the oak a little more somehow. Too early to see the character, quite locked away in concentration, would like to see it in a few more years.

Bertrand Sourdais examines one of his vines

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June 19, 2012 · 6:09 am

Cillar de Silos – 18/06/2012

El Quintanal Verdejo 2011 (Rueda)
Crisp grassy SB salty focused ripe tropical notes. Good light texture and weight, approachable and fresh, good balanced purity of fruit. Some nice viscosity and volume, fresh aperetivo wine but great with food too.

Rosado de Silos 2011 (100% tempranillo, 5-10% is the top grapes’ pressings)
Wonderfully aromatic, very rich and creamy nose, lovely candied strawberries and cherries, some red liquorice and blackcurrants too. Bright fresh, fruit sweet and creamy texture, full in flavour and very easy to drink, but nice structure and lightness. Definitely a fruit-sweet appearance, but well balanced and food-friendly.

El Quintanal Tempranillo 2011 (Ribera del Duero)
Dark yet mellow notes on the nose, ripe black fruits and some earth and spice notes. Bold yet soft and full voluptuous tannins, very fresh and light, easy to drink, plenty of approachable attractive fruits, but relatively good structure and balance. Simple yet structured.

Joven de Silos 2011
Dark subtle closed fruit at the moment. Some concentrated dark fruits, a little bit of dried spices, some fruit sweetness on the back, good character and balance. Acid freshness holding things together, a tad exuberant and warm at the moment.

Cillar de Silos 2009 (Crianza)
Bright intense nose, very beautiful dark yet fresh fruits, very subtle oak influence, a little nutty creaminess. Quite tight and focused, very locked up fruit, slightly warm and oaky but only because it is a little reductive. Certainly a textural structured wine.

Torresilo 2008
Vey serious intense but also subtle aromas, red fruits, red earth, mature and integrated oak. Focused and driven, warm on the back of the palate, still young. Finesse and elegance but also power, not unlike a Barbaresco. Juicy dark fruits but fantastic acids and freshness, great balance. Lot’s of ageing potential.

Torresilo 2009
Slightly darker more intense colour. More reductive closed dark fruits, less subtle oak aromas for the moment. Sweeter tannins, more concentrated dark fruits, less focus, more approachability. Fuller more expressive flavour, not the same structure. Very agreeable dark fruit appreciation, great wine for many people.

Flor de Silos 2007
Seductive dark fruits and floral aromas, some toast but also savoury elements, quite an intense experience. Dark and soft, velvety tannin structure but still wonderful structure. Dark oak elements but not adding to the sweetness of the fruit profile. Very voluptuous round tannins, more new oak influence.

Flor de Silos 2005
Wonderful concentration, excellent maturity, density and richness, dark fruits, ripe florals, chocolate spice. Wonderful depth and complexity, bright most definitely and a classic style, but developing some wonderful tertiary elements, some dusty chocolate and balsamic notes. Still has a slightly sweet profile on the front, but fading nicely.

Flor de Silos 2004
Wow, wonderful deep and intense, not as full on the dark fruits, some serious savoury characters. Locked away tight, some creamy texture and retaining some youthful oak. At least 20 years cellaring potential. Amazing concentration, intensity and focus, structure depth, lot’s of expression and power. More youthful than the 2005. An absolute classic.
A barrel of the good stuff

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