Wines of Spain

     Thursday August 16, 2012

Reservations Closed
Course Pairing / Description Wine
Hors D' Oeuvres Citrus Cured Scallop Spoons Cucumber And Red Onion Salsa With Cilantro Roasted Fennel And Manchego Wellington Lemon, Basil Cream And Roasted Garlic
A fresh, fragrant and mature wine with a pale straw color brimming with the aroma of Muscat grape, apple, mandarin orange and a pinch of wilted flowers. On the palate it is fruity and dry, with notes of citrus and a gentle finish. The grapes come from the vines of Almachar that grow on north-facing mountainous slopes. After manual harvesting, at the end of July or the beginning of August, the grapes are brought to the selection table before pressing. This is 100% Muscatel with 30% being oak barrel fermented. Botani is a most versatile wine. It pairs perfectly with all kinds of fish, seafood and shellfish, as well as cold soups and also pairs great with ceviche, sushi, risottos, dishes with black truffle and spicy Thai or Indian food. “Essentially dry, the Botani is made from the Muscat grape, an exquisite rarity.” 91, Wine Advocate. “Pale straw. Intensely perfumed bouquets of citrus pith, pear and anise, with alluring spiciness and chalky minerality.” “Finishes racy and pure, with lingering lime and floral character.” 91 Wine Spectator.
J Ordonez Muscat Botani 2010
Appetizer Course Sweet And Sour Curried Lamb Meatballs Tart Pineapple And Rioja Wine Sauce With Grilled Ciabatta Crostini
Straw yellow with glints of burnished gold, this may be one of the most original and distinctive white wines made in recent years. On the nose this 90% Viura and 10% Malvasia blend primarily displays fruity aromas of ripe pineapple, peaches in syrup and honey. It has a full, juicy, velvety attack and certainly no vestiges of its time on fine lees. Along the sides of the tongue you can appreciate slight bitter nuances from the malic acid which round off and complement the whole sensory balance of this wine. It is only in the finish that the spicy nuances from new European-oak casks appear, concluding with reminders of dried aromatic herbs. A light and crisp blend of 40 – 50 year old Rioja Alta fruit, double grape checking both on selection belt and on tasting the musts, slow fermentation in new French oak and 3 months on fine lees are the secret s of this careful production process will certainly join the previous vintages and be a highly rated Spanish while.
Muga Blanco Rioja 2011
Poultry Course Cola Braised Chicken Thigh Blackberry And Black Tea "Barbecue" With Fried Manchego And Onion Potato Croquettes
This 100% Tempranillo has a strikingly aromatic nose that offers a pungent array of fruit with a saturated ruby color, floral and herbal scents. Sweet cherry-vanilla and cola flavors coat the palate and are enlivened by juicy acidity. Supple tannins gain strength on the finish, which strongly repeats the cola and floral qualities. Grapes for this wine come from a 72-acre vineyard called "Finca Los Juncares," which was planted in 1957. After very careful vineyard selections, the best vines of Tempranillo grapes are hand-harvested in small boxes to prevent bruising. Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrel, and the wine is aged in new French oak barrels for 14 months and then bottled unfiltered. This single vineyard-designated wine has plenty of red cherries, blueberries, mulberries and red raisins, depicting grapes pushed to full ripeness without going beyond the boundary into excessive over ripeness. The oak character is relatively elegant with toasty, coffee hints only, and the balanced wine shows some lingering length as well. Drink now or in the next five or so years.
Volver Tempranillo 2010
Main Course Rosemary And Thyme Crusted Beef Hanger Steak Sweet Onion And Red Wine Reduction, Grilled Asparagus And Spiced Red Pepper Coulis
This 100% Monastrell is a dark purple, cherry, plum, blackberry, vanilla and mocha on the nose, sweet and smoky black fruit on the attack followed by coriander, baking soda and hints of spice, velvety smooth finish with dark fruits overwhelming the acidity. Jumilla is an area that extends over the north of the region of Murcia in the Castile-La Mancha region characterized by wide valleys and plateaus in the presence of mountains. It is a transition zone between the Mediterranean coastal area and the high central plateau of Castile-La Mancha, and so the heights of the vineyards vary between 400 and 800 m. The climate is continental arid (long hot summers and cold winters), tempered by the closeness of the Mediterranean Sea. The soils are generally dark, lime bearing and sometimes with a hard lime crust. They are permeable and have good moisture retaining properties, which allows the vines to survive during periods of prolonged drought. They are quite sandy, allowing good aeration, have a high pH value and are low in salinity. “Aromas of black raspberry, colas, oak spices and black tea. Musky and penetrating, offering spicy red and dark berry flavors that shows a suave blend of richness and vivacity. Fine-grained tannins add grip to the long smoky finish.” 91 International Wine Cellar.
Bodegas Juan Gil Monastrella Red 2010
Dessert Course Flourless Dark Chocolate Cake Roasted Nutmeg And Balsamic Scented Plum Caramel Sauce, Cinnamon, And Wild Oat Streusel And Clove Scented Cream
100% Granacha. Inky purple. A heady bouquet evokes ripe red berries, anise, mocha and pungent fresh flowers. Supple and sweet on entry, then more structured in the middle, offering deep, mineral-accented dried strawberry and cherry liqueur flavors. Takes a spicy turn on the long, sappy finish, which echoes the pure red berry qualities. 500 cases produced. This wine is spectacular, and represents the perfect foil for grilled steak. Rich, full bodied and muscular, Alto Moncayo has riveting intensity and palate staining extract; this Spanish red is inky/purple, full-bodied, and rich. This pedal-to-the-metal offering should age handsomely for a decade. “This alluring red packs plenty of flavor in its medium-bodied frame, offering blackberry, brandied cherry, chocolate and spice notes over smooth tannins. There's just enough acidity to keep this lively and focused. Drink now through 2013. 600 cases imported.” TM International Wine Cellar 92 Points
Bodegas Alto Moncayo Red 2009