Posts belonging to Category Tempranillo

A stellar lineup boasting the best wines from three European regions left the rail-birds speechless and begging for more. Even the “claimers” at the front of the card showed spunk and class. The great grapes Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir and Tempranillo – each from a star stable – were all represented on this evening card. (more…)

The Alentejo sun is so blindingly bright I had to squint when looking at the ground. We have always depended on the kindness of mega-vintners. Imagine our relief when the sommelier for this 1.25 million case winery asked us into the dining room for shelter, food and drink. Other wandering wine-farers were already in the temporary structure recovering from their travels and the winery tour. Good company among new friends – especially chatty and charming sisters – only enhances great food and a separate table to manage the many bottles being opened by our host and sommelier Carla Pires for our consideration. Portugal can be wonderful this way. (more…)

wedding style in Sevilla

After touring southern Spain for a couple weeks it is obvious the rules for tasting and writing about wine must be rewritten. At least when it comes to southern Spain the commonly accepted and greatly emulated business of swirling, sniffing, comparing, opining, recalling and placing the drink in context of anything simply does not apply. This is a land where life is all at once and wine is an important part of the experience…as is love…as is living…as is dressing to show it off. When it comes to wine you should pull the cork, fill a copaand throw it down the gullet with a bite of something. Wine is often served chilled regardless of color. Eat. Talk. Look at your surroundings. (more…)

UH HOW HOW HOW HOW. Here are the reviews for red wines from the Fourth. From Northern Italy to Beaujolais’ venerable Marcel Lapierre. There’s more. We have a review of an incredible Flamenco troupe playing in LA that you MUST SEE [ed. he rarely says that about wines]. Arte y Pureza is the inspired vision of Ethan Margolis and Company and we watched them conjure their feverish magic, melding dance with the traditional Gypsy music of Southern Spain. FLAMENCO!! Even when wines are this riveting…they are NOT this riveting! But then dance is fleeting…as is wine in most cases…so you need something EXTRA. Arte y Pureza has it. (more…)

March Madness takes mental energy and concentration. Posting a wine blog during this phase in the annual sports calendar must be what it feels like to guard Jimmer Fredette of BYU. You have to dig deep. tBoW feared he had less in the tank than Tennessee did against Michigan which might explain unattributed borrowing from other sites. [ed. Vols shot 15 for 43, lost by 30.] We found some notes on the cellar floor along with some images on the web and came up with a couple of interesting Spanish U20 wines. Add a map showing the Ribera del Duero, which along with Alta Rioja, is one of the two most widely known wine regions in Spain, and BOOM instant blogpost. Vamonos muchachas y muchachos!! Tenemos trabajo!! (more…)