What is Rioja?
Here is a excerpt from Wikipedia.org and their write-up on Rioja -
"...Among the Tintos, the best-known and most widely-used variety is Tempranillo. Other grapes used include Garnacha Tinta, Graciano, and Mazuelo. A typical blend will consist of approximately 60% Tempranillo and up to 20% Garnacha, with much smaller proportions of Mazuelo and Graciano. Each grape adds a unique component to the wine with Tempranillo contributing the main flavors and aging potential to the wine; Garnacha adding body and alcohol; Mazuelo adding seasoning flavors and Graciano adding additional aromas..."
"Two examples of Rioja"And here is the LCBO Information for both wines
VIÑA ALBALI GRAN RESERVA 2001
VIÑA ALBALI GRAN RESERVA 2001
Stock Number – 9621
750 mL bottle
Volume - 750mL
Price: $ 19.95 (+$.20 Deposit)
Wine, Red Wine,
13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: Valdepenas, Spain
By: Bodegas Felix Solis
Release Date: Feb 28, 2009
Description - Selection and patience are the keys to this award-winning Gran Reserva's success. First there's the fruit selection in the vineyard, where only the best Tempranillo grapes are picked. Then with the crush, only the best free-run juice is used to make the final wine. Patience is required for the long ageing process: at least two years in American oak and then a further three-to-six years in bottle before release. The result is a beautifully balanced, soft-textured red that's delicious with a lamb casserole, chorizo sausage or roast chicken.
"Good value for money"
COTO REAL RESERVA 2001
Stock Number – 80341
750 mL bottle
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 39.95 (+$.20 Deposit)
Wine, Red Wine,
13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: Rioja, Spain
By: El Coto De Rioja
Release Date: Nov 8, 2008
Tasting Note - Complex and expressive, this elegant red is rich with black plum, licorice, mineral, smoke and floral notes, all beautifully balanced, fresh and long on the palate. Still young and lively. Drink now through 2015. Score - 93. (Thomas Matthews, www.winespectator.com, Nov. 15, 2007)
I was surprise how similar the aromas were for both wines; both wines you didn’t have to work too hard catch the aromas as both were quite potent. Both wines had aromas of plum, floral notes and liquorice. One difference on the nose was the Vina Albali had a large amount of oak on the nose vs. Coto Real.
I was surprise how similar the aromas were for both wines; both wines you didn’t have to work too hard catch the aromas as both were quite potent. Both wines had aromas of plum, floral notes and liquorice. One difference on the nose was the Vina Albali had a large amount of oak on the nose vs. Coto Real.
"Nice wine but pricey"I was surprise how similar the aromas were for both wines; both wines you didn’t have to work too hard catch the aromas as both were quite potent. Both wines had aromas of plum, floral notes and liquorice. One difference on the nose was the Vina Albali had a large amount of oak on the nose vs. Coto Real.
Tasting the wines before trying any foods had me a bit worried as there was a sharp bitter note to both wines that I wasn’t a fan of. I had bought in some whole grain buns, rare roast beef, sliced Swiss cheese, mayo, mustard and horseradish so everyone could make sandwiches. With the food that sharp bitter note disappeared and both wines were very good with the food. I was disappointed in the Coto Real as other than having a nicer finish there wasn’t much difference between it and the Vina Albali. Wine Club was spilt 50/50 over which one they like more.
I asked this question to all of the people that preferred the Coto Real, “Would you take 1 bottle of this or 2 bottles of the Vina Albali?”. All of them answered the same – 2 bottles of the Vina Albali. So it looks like the Vina Albali was the ‘winner’ of the day. If the Coto Real was $25 a bottle, I would lean towards it but at double the price it is hard to justify.
I enjoy this meeting of Wine Club as I haven’t had much exposure to Spanish wines. I found out in my research for this meeting of Wine Club that Spain is the 3rd largest wine producer by volume in the world after Italy and France. If they are producing that much wine, there must be a reason and after trying the Vina Albali I can see why and I will be looking to try more Spanish wines in the future.
Cheers!
Mark
Tasting the wines before trying any foods had me a bit worried as there was a sharp bitter note to both wines that I wasn’t a fan of. I had bought in some whole grain buns, rare roast beef, sliced Swiss cheese, mayo, mustard and horseradish so everyone could make sandwiches. With the food that sharp bitter note disappeared and both wines were very good with the food. I was disappointed in the Coto Real as other than having a nicer finish there wasn’t much difference between it and the Vina Albali. Wine Club was spilt 50/50 over which one they like more.
I asked this question to all of the people that preferred the Coto Real, “Would you take 1 bottle of this or 2 bottles of the Vina Albali?”. All of them answered the same – 2 bottles of the Vina Albali. So it looks like the Vina Albali was the ‘winner’ of the day. If the Coto Real was $25 a bottle, I would lean towards it but at double the price it is hard to justify.
I enjoy this meeting of Wine Club as I haven’t had much exposure to Spanish wines. I found out in my research for this meeting of Wine Club that Spain is the 3rd largest wine producer by volume in the world after Italy and France. If they are producing that much wine, there must be a reason and after trying the Vina Albali I can see why and I will be looking to try more Spanish wines in the future.
Cheers!
Mark
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