Featured Monthly Tasting:

SPANISH WINE
and New Gems from Greece,
Portugal, Italy and California

January 2008

use the flags to the right to navigate.

Intro

Portuguese Wines

Quinta dos Roques 2005 Touriga Nacional Dão ($ 35 ) 90

Opaque ruby purple color showing an attractive nose of dense, dark fruit with aromatic violet and loam notes. Has a silky smooth and nicely balanced palate of blackberry fruit and mocha and finishes with gripping, ripe tannins. One of the more impressive new releases of Touriga Nacional we have tasted from Portugual.

Importer: Wineworth Importers and Distributors, Bellevue, WA

Terrenus 2004 Reserva Alentejo ($NA ) 88

From 80-year-old Aragonez, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet, and Grand Noir vines in the Serra de S. Mamede that spend 14 months in new French oak. Opaque dark ruby-garnet color with aromas of, dark berry fruit and a touch of creosote. Loam, spicy oak and ripe blackberries, with moderate tannins show on the palate.

Herdade dos Grous 2005 Reserva Alentejo ($ 50) 92

A blend of Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, and Syrah from vineyards located near the tiny village of Albernoa in the Beja district. Aged for 12 months in new French oak. Opaque ruby color with pure ripe, concentrated aromas of ripe blackberries, cassis fruit and mocha notes. Exhibits a soft, ripe attack and is round, elegant, and beautifully integrated on the palate. An impressive, very modern styled wine with good grip on the long finish.

Importer: Barterhouse Imports, New York

Italian Wines

Mazzei

The Mazzei family began development of the Belguardo estate in Maremma, Tuscany in the 1990s. The estate comprises more than 200 acres; vineyards are planted with carefully selected varieties and clones of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other vinifera.
The three selections reviewed here are both 100 percent Sangiovese and Super Tuscan in style.

Mazzei 2004 “Serrata” Maremma Toscana ($22) 88

This medium-bodied blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot displays a ruby color with aromas of ripe red plum fruit and spice. It offers a soft attack with mouthfilling fruit flavors, rounded tannins and a firm finish. It is ready to drink now and is delicious.

Mazzei 2002 Poggio Bronzone Morellino di Scansano DOC ($30) 90

Mazzei 2003 Tenuta Belguardo Maremma Toscana Label 100 percent Sangiovese; 14 months in oak. Dark garnet. Very ripe nose of blackberry fruit, black olive, leather, earth. Very concentrated, mouth filling, long lasting.with a licorice note and gripping, ripe tannins on the finish.

Importer: Palm Bay International

Mazzei 2003 Tenuta Belguardo Maremma Toscana ($60) 92

70 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 percent Sangiovese, aged 18 months in oak. Opaque purple color. with ripe, dense, inky, extracted black fruit on the nose. Explodes on the palate with blackberry, fruit flavors Modern in style. with big tannins on finish. Blockbuster.

Importer: Palm Bay International

California

Spann Vineyards

Spann Vineyards is a relatively new winery owned and operated by Peter and Betsy Spann. Their vineyards are located in the Mayacamas Mountains and are situated on a steeply terraced mountainside. The Spanns dry farm their vineyards and strive for low yields, in some cases as little as one ton per acre. All of the Spann wines are handcrafted in very small quantities using both New and Old World winemaking techniques (foot crushing, blending, destemming). This is our second look at Spann wines (see April 2007 Monthly Tasting Report) and we think this winery is on its way to becoming an innovative producer of high quality food-friendly California-style wines. Both whites and reds are showing well. The winery website is www.spannvineyards.com

Spann Vineyards NV Betsy’s Backacher “Bottle Blond” North Coast ($15) 91

This is a terrific-tasting blend of Chardonnay, Semillon and Viognier. Medium gold in color with floral and honeyed aromas and an attack of buttery tropical fruit. Very ripe. Mouth filling. Delicious sweet flavors. Finishes dry with almond notes. Quite unique. Match with Indian curry.

Spann Vineyards 2006 Chardonnay-Viognier Sonoma County ($20) 89

This blend of 59 percent Chardonnay and 41 percent Viognier displays a medium lemon gold color with aromas of apricots, crème brulee and butterscotch. On the palate it offers mango and other fruit flavors and minerals with a dry lingering finish and good crisp acidity.

Spann Vineyards NV Betsy’s Backacher Blend North Coast ($15) 89

A multi-vintage blend of Merlot, Carignane, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. Dark ruby in color and exhibiting plum and cherry aromas. Fleshy on the palate with flavors of black cherry and notes of warm, sweet vanilla oak, the wine has a pleasant finish with round ripe tannins.

Spann Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Twenty-Three Barrels Sonoma County ($32) 88

Spending 20 months in old and new oak, this dark ruby bottling offers aromas of black currants, wood spice and mint. On the palate it displays light-bodied fruit flavors and a somewhat light and slightly dry finish.

Spann Vineyards 2004 Mo Jo Sonoma County ($40) 90

The Mo Jo is our favorite in this vintage; last year it was Mo Zin. The Mo Jo is a delicious blend of 46 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 23 percent Merlot, 20 percent Sangiovese, 8 percent Syrah and 3 percent Cabernet Franc. It exhibits a medium ruby color with black cherry and vanilla aromas and a soft round attack with a full medley of red fruit and oriental spices. Enticing and complex with excellent balance and a long lasting finish.

Spann Vineyards 2005 Mo Zin Sonoma County ($20) 88

Mo Zin is an intriguing juicy Rhone-style blend of Zinfandel, Mourvedre, Carignane and Petite Sirah. Dark ruby in color, it offers ripe plum aromas and oak spice on the nose with ripe red and black currant fruit on a slightly bitter attack. Long lasting finish with grip.