Posted on

WINE MEMORIES 12.8.14

Dominio de Tares
Cepas Viejas 2011
100% Mencía
Bierzo (León) Spain

First night in Alicante and while wandering around found El Portal Taberna. Luckily we were able to sit at the bar, and (wish I could remember the sommelier’s name) we were guided through fabulous food, wine, cocktails, and conversation. This is why I love Spain so much, everyone has always been so kind, friendly, and more than happy to share with you what they love about their city. Anyway, one of the glasses I thoroughly enjoyed was Dominio de Tares’ “Cepas Viejas”. Within the label design is braille that also reads Cepas Viejas which translates to old vines. Hoping to one day in the future to again sit at this bar, relax, and imbibe. Miss you Spain!

@dominiodetares @elportalkrugambassade @bodegasdominiodetares @elportaltabernawines #wine #Spain #Mencía #Mencia #Bierzo

Posted on

WINE MEMORIES 9.28.19

Sicus
Cartoixà 2016
Winemaker Eduard Pié Palomar
Baix Penedès
Catalunya Spain
xarel.lo (Cartoixà)

Lovely gold color. Nose is light citrus maybe faint orange or tangerine, slate, salt and white pepper. Swig and it’s tart, tangy, a little pepper, citrus (lemon and tangerine), and a small bit of pear. It’s a crisp and clean quencher. Biodynamic and wild yeasts, but not one ounce of funk. Honestly, I cannot remember if I got this wine here, or brought it back from Spain, so going to give credit to all where I may have picked this up.

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @vinewinenyc @despananyc @sicus.edv @cellersicus @vilaviniteca #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #vinewinenyc #xarello #spain #Catalunya #biodynamic @worldbyglass 

Posted on

Take Me Back to the Plaça

Baudili 2019
Viticultor Ramon Jané
Bottled by Celler Mas Candí (which is a partnership between Ramon and his best friend oenologist Toni Carno)
Les Gunyoles D’Avinyonet
Catalunya Spain
Xarel.lo 50%, Macabeo 50%

Biodynamic

Color is a glistening pale golden. Breathe in a bit of a sea breeze of salt, some tangerine, grapefruit and something herbal like rosemary. Now I’m craving jamón. Time for the glou-glou and there’s apples, pears, some tart lemon, clean slate and a lot of love. What I wouldn’t give for some grilled sardines, a dozen oysters, and some squishy cheese. Take me to the plaça, let me feel the sun on my face, get a little pink (maybe from the sun or maybe from the wine), and break out the cribbage board. Let’s take the afternoon off!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Brings out lemon and a tart zing

@vinewinenyc @MasCandí @trumpetwine @cellermascandi #wine #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #vinewinenyc #xarello #macabeo #spain #Catalunya #biodynamic #glouglou @worldbyglass @cellermascandi

Posted on

Hug the One You’re With

 

WINE MEMORIES
12.11.19
Mas Alta
Artigas Blanc 2016
Priorat DOQ
Spain
Garnatxa Blanca 70%, Pedro Ximénez 20%, Macabeu 10%

Again, I miss you Spain, and of course La Vinya del Senyor. Am so happy that I took a chance with this lovely white wine, and hope one day to sit at the bar again and clink glasses with my S.O. In the past, it was often so easy to take these little moments for granted. If you’re with your family or friends, hug them and appreciate that they are there.

#wine @vinyadelsenyor @_masalta @vilaviniteca #barcelona #Priorat #spain #garnacha @worldbyglass #needmorewine #workingfromhome #pandemic #covid19 

Posted on

A Natural Stomp

Mission
Tinto Uno 2016
Ribeira Sacra
Lugo, Spain
Mencía 85%, Garnacha Tintorera 10%, Godello 5%

A beautiful glass of heavy purple. Here goes the first breath…mineral and cherry. Let it do it’s thing for a bit and then chocolate, green pepper, and pretty spring flowers. Now on with the show, this one is a smooth operator from the very first sip. Cherry, strawberries, blueberries, and then here pops in olive pit, salt with a bit of earthiness and maybe, just maybe, burnt sage. No, I’m not going all hippie and cleansing the place, even though after WFH for at least 9 weeks, this place could probably use it. This is a juicy friendly wine that makes my brain cry out, “Why can’t I be at a bar or at least with friends sharing this wine! This is a velvety wine that needs to have people together and cheering it!” Also check out the Tech Notes from Mission‘s website. I love the idea of the grapes being stomped underfoot.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: mellows it all out and heightens the cheese in the Cheez-Its. Makes me want to keep drinking more, which I did way too fast. Oof.

 @mission.wine @docwineshop @docwinebarny @worldbyglass @cheezits #Mencía #Garnacha #Godello #RibeiraSacra #lugo #spain #wine #workingfromhome #pandemic #covid19 #worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #needmorewine #zacharyelfman #organic #Sade

Posted on

Italy and Spain Had a Baby

Pietro Beconcini
Ixe Tempranillo 2016
Toscana IGT 

Beautiful ruby color. Take a breath. Cherry, warm spice that envelops you, plum, mineral/slate and a hint of leather. Time for sipping. Again there’s the cherry, plummy goodness. It’s tart and cola with peppercorns and yes my favorite granite. Opens up so smooth. Day two, it’s a juicy sweet (not like a sugar bomb but delicious sweet ) fruit friendly 

Pietro Beconcini is the only Tempranillo wine grower in Italy. He found some old vines on his land and with a bit of investigation, discovered they may have been dropped off by ancient travelers. Maybe they were on a pilgrimage or on a trade route. Either way, I’m sure glad they did! It’s like Italy and Spain had a baby. Each sip makes me want to be sitting outside in a bar in Spain, but then also reminds me of long ago when I was studying in Cortona, Italy. Man, how my drinking days have changed. Back in the early 90s in Cortona, between classes we would grab a bite and as students do, grab a cheap beer, known as Splügen. Ah for the simpler days.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: It makes the wine have a darker feel. It’s delicious yet I can feel the good funk. Oh this is so good in bed with the cats snuggled near.

@pietrobeconciniwines @docwineshop @docwinebarny @worldbyglass @cheezits #wine #workingfromhome #pandemic #covid19 #worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #needmorewine #italy #spain #Tempranillo #Toscana #Tuscany #beer #cortona

Posted on

Longing for the Past

12.11.19
WINE MEMORIES 
Ferrer Bobet 
Priorat 2015
Mostly Cariñena, with Syrah, Garnacha, and a smidge of Cabernet Sauvignon

This week wore me down. No matter how far I travel by glass, I have no idea when I will travel again. Spain just enacted a 2 week quarantine on travelers from abroad. Today, I’m going to go back to one of my favorite places in the world, La Vinya del Senyor in Barcelona. Dec. 11, 2019, I had a glass of this lovely wine (and many others), along with some great food. My memories are of a deep dark red with a cherry velvet glove. Would love to get my hands on one again, and sit at that tiny bar, or climb the spiral stairs to the crow’s nest with the enchanting window with the view of Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar. Also wouldn’t mind going shopping around the corner at Lurdes Bergada & Syngman Cucala. Even in a pandemic, a girl can still dream.

#wine @vinyadelsenyor @ferrerbobet #barcelona #priorat #spain @lurdesbergada @syngmancucala #cariñena #syrah #garnacha #cabernetsauvignon @worldbyglass #needmorewine #workingfromhome #pandemic #covid19 

Posted on

Pairs with Mando

4.14.18
WINE MEMORIES
Celler Mas Candí
Cabòries 2016
Sumoll, Mandò, Xarel.lo

Shiny, happy ruby with a really cool label to boot. When first opened had a little barnyard that ran out the gate and never to be seen or sniffed again, and replaced w berries & mineral. First sip started with a zing. Second sip and it’s a light fresh red that gives your nose and tongue a little tingle. Raspberries, blueberries, a touch of mineral, and a little citrus kick. Yes, it’s most definitely a red, and it’s a perfect red for the beginning of Spring. 

New note from 5.11.20. Anyone that knows me that just seeing Mandò, where that takes my head. If you haven’t watched it yet, you have no idea what you are missing. Well, it will be back in October! Get ready!

@despananyc @despanavinos #wine #spain @cellermascandi #needmorewine #sumoll #mandò, #xarel.lo #xarello #Penedés #barcelona #mandalorian #bobafett #temueramorrison #pedropascal #starwars #disney

Posted on

Tomas Cusine “El Geol”

This was the first wine I broke into during the lockdown. Now I only wish I could get more of Tomas Cusine “El Geol” 2016 Old Vines. 

Lovely dark ruby color. 

Nose was warm & loving. Black peppercorns, deep cherry and fig mix, whiff of cola, stone fruit, small oak; and would love to be sitting by a fireplace. Also had balsamic notes that reminded me of a reduction that my friend Stefano makes to go with his steak. Full disclosure, last one I had, I drank straight from the to go condiment cup. He makes the best damn reduction. 

Taste was rich, dark cherry, plum, dried figs, and blackberries. Velvety and full and if it were a sweater I’d wear it every day. Comforting and strong. 

#wine #spain #worldbyglass @vilaviniteca @docwinebar #eatlocal @tomascusine #needmorewine https://worldbyglass.com