(2023) Aged for six months in French oak, this comes from organically farmed vineyards in Somontano. A very pleasing nose, with three years under its belt the aromas are soft and verging on the autumnal, spices, some pencil-shavings and warm berry fruit. Watch out for the 15% declared alcohol, which does add luscious sweetness to the already ripe fruit on the palate. Blackcurranty and rich, there's a stripe of tannin and juicy acids to cut through that fruit and alcohol weight in the finish.
(2023) From vineyards in the foothills of the Pyrenees, this blend of two Bordeaux varieties is aged for six months in French and American oak barrels, with a further 12 months in bottle before release. Part of my reason for choosing it is that last week's WOTW was also a Cabernet/Merlot blend from 2019, but the two couldn't be more different. The colour here shows some development, with a hint of brick at the rim. The nose shows that too, a soft, tomato-leaf note before tobacco spiced cherry and plum. In the mouth plenty of thick, rich blackcurrant sweetness, the 15% alcohol adding to the full-bodied character, oak spice filling in and a decent cherry acidity. Reminiscent of Rioja as well as a Right Bank Bordeaux, at £9.99 it could be a good shout for summer barbecues. Watch the
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(2021) Moristel is a variety found only in the Somontano region of northern Spain, and rarely seen bottled as a single varietal wine. Just 5000 bottles are produced, from vines averaging 20 years of age. Fermented with ambient yeasts, it is a vivid and saturated crimson, with buoyant and lifted aromas of kirsch and violet, perhaps a little Beaujolais Nouveau-like, there's a wild scrubland a garrigue character too. In the mouth it is creamy, fruity and forward, with no oak influence its the combination of very ripe, juicy summer berry fruit and a certain rusticity to the tannins that drives this. Acidity, however, is also keen, giving this a really racy edge and making for an authentically different drop. There are several independent suppliers.
(2013) Certainly perfumed and exotic as Gewurz should be, but as always the intelligent folk at Viñas del Vero in Somontano leave plenty of crispness and crunch on the palate to offset the hint of residual sugar sweetness and abundant fruity character.
(2007) Late harvest Macabeo, gewürztraminer and Chardonnay. Bright, herby, with fascinating perfume and lychee notes, a mealy, nutty note and plenty of dry apple fruit. On the palate this is perhaps a little less flamboyant and concentrated than the nose promises, but it has fine, bright fruit, a certain exotic undertone of lychee and mandarin orange, and a big pithy core of grapefruit acidity that keeps it focused. Unusual and very enjoyable.
(2007) Much more full, creamy, ripe and sweet fruit with cherry and rose-hip nuances. Creamier on the palate too, but this has very nice fruit and very bright acidity that keeps it refreshing and crisp. Lovely balance really, and a stylish rose.
(2007) A blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, this has a fresh, appetising raspberry, dry-fruited nose. On the palate it is racy and crisp, with a lithe character and crisp tannins. This is good in a savoury, food-friendly style.
(2003) Slightly dank note on the nose. Modest, herbal fruit. Palate is quite bright and juicy, with raspberry and a little savoury plum and damson. Nice sour notes, and good tannins and acidity.
(2000) Loads of sweet and sour-edged ripe blackcurrant fruit. Medium-bodied, this is the epitome of clean, well made, creamily fruit-driven modern winemaking. Very easy to drink, this is top notch of its style.
(1998) Very pale, almost transparent green/gold. Subtle, new-oak and cinammon nose. Rather a raw, woody impression on the palate initially, seeming a little hollow and lacking fruit. Re-tasted later in the evening from a different bottle and there was more fruit, though still rather under-powered. Vivid acidity in the good, long finish.
