Nora da Neve 2005 / Albariño ~ do Rías Baixas

The 2005 Nora de Neve is a rarity, a 100% Albarino fermented and aged for 7 months in French oak. The vineyards for this Albarino are severely pruned and green harvested resulting in what may be the lowest yields in Rias Baixas. This light gold-colored wine offers up a fragrant nose of toast, minerals, citrus, and white peach. Medium-bodied with a supple texture, it has intense flavors, good acidity, and excellent balance. The use of oak with Albarino is controversial (almost no one does it because of the fear that it will obscure the fruit) but in this case it seems to work. Drink this with an assortment of seafood courses."

La Rioja Alta “904” Gran Reserva 1997 / Tempranillo, Graciano ~ doc Rioja, Alta


Typical red colour, with brick tones on the edge of the glass. Medium robe, clear and brilliant. Long, penetrating and complex bouquet, with hints of spices, balsam and old leather against a background of ripe fruit. Well-structured to the palate, with silky, rich tannins, ending with some acidity so this wine will keep well. Excellent aftertaste, with persistent balsamic and spicy hints. Excellent with main dishes and chocolate desserts.

Atalyas de Golban 2006 / Tinto Fino ~ do Ribera del Duero

Atalyas is the seond project by the crew behind Dominio de Atauta The project is named after a nearby Atalya - watchtower dated back to the times of the Moors (and appears on the label) – and the Golban river that carved the Atuata Valley . Old Tempranillo vines at 400-500 meters above sea level, higher then in the Ribera del Duero, sandier and much cooler. The grapes are hand picked two to three weeks later then the rest of the Duero, fermentation is done in stainless steel tanks and the wine then spends one year in French oak barriques, 80% of those are second or third passage from Château Haut Brion. The result is a wine that has the elegance of Tempranillo from Rioja Alevesa and the power and concentration of Ribera del Duero. Pure black fruit and strong and complex finish.

Perez Pascuas “Viña Pedrosa” 2006 / Tinto del País ~ do Ribera del Duero

This red wine from Spain has 14% alcohol and spent 12 months in oak barrels before release. It is a Ribera Del Duero table wine and made from Tempranillo.

Dark purple grape juice color with an extraordinary nose of oak, coffee, vanilla and black fruit. Very dry, fairly smooth, lots of tannin and flavors of leather, tea, ripe blackberry, herbs, a hint of chocolate and black cherry on the finish.

Boqueria University Catlunya Mar

The PDF for Catalunya Mar is here Post any comments below.

soho schedule 7/13

july 13-19 schedule is here. remember meeting this week tues at 3pm!

Agustí Torelló “Mata” Reserva Brut 2004

Agustí Torelló “Mata” Reserva Brut 2004 / Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada ~ Penedès, do Cava. Family owned, modern Cava house, new to the market. All estate grown, old vines “Crus of Penedés”. Grapes are hand selected vine by vine to insure optimal ripeness. The blend in the Brut Reserva consists: 48% Macabeo; 27% Parellada and 25% Xarel-lo, all three are the traditional varietals used in Cava for generations. The wine is aged for 2 years on the lees in order for it to achieve maximum extraction of the fruit. The result is a fruit forward, elegant Cava with a dry finish. Beautifully made. I had a bottle open and a week later it was still fresh enough to drink. Lighter than the Gramona.