So it’s been warm these past few days, and I’m hankering for a really nice crisp white, like a Txakoli or Viura or some such thing. One shop recommends a white to have as an aperitif, another recommends a red to go with the chanterelle mushrooms, arugula and fresh hand-made spicy pasta I grabbed and planned to make dinner with.
-2008 Oro de Castilla Rueda Verdejo
Very Sauvignon Blanc-esque notes on the nose, with chalky/dusty aspects, tons of grapefruit, gooseberry and sharp lemon, and a hint of almonds. The palate is surprisingly fat, with similar notes, an almost slightly fizzy acidity (does that make sense? Who cares, works for me, it’s pretty accurate), a structure that’s 75% up front, then thins out quickly, leaving behind some mouth-watering fat, slightly creamy accents on the palate, ending in a medium finish. Quite nice while sitting on the terrace in the sun, I must say.
-2008 Luberri Rioja
What a waste of a plastic cork. Seriously. The plastic in it could have been put to better use, say as a shiv or in some sort of weapon of mass destruction. Instead it went into closing this drek and ensuring that when I opened it the plonk was fresh and ready to pillage my palate. Oh, yes, the wine. Well, this is the result of carbonic maceration, 95% Tempranillo and 5% Viura, no oak. Perhaps some oak could have helped? Cinnamon-covered cherries and banana fill the nose, and the palate is slightly sweet with similar aspects, a fat frame that quickly dissipates and leaves behind angry and disjointed debris. My tongue is wondering what it did to deserve this. So is my wallet (5.90 Euros).
First shop, muchas gracias!
Second shop… well… I can’t curse that well in Spanish.
Cheers! ![[gen_fro.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/a/acc371fe8341f433d5c0ed34025c962acc33ad59.gif "fro"){kind=small}