Good times at the Seattle Vinos y Gourmet tasting

[BJ]

Special mentions go to the Canary Islands Bermejos, the Guimaros, and extra special mention to Forja de Salnes - really beautiful delineation and complexity. I particularly liked the old vines Albarino and the Caino. Super purity and depth.

 

[slaton]

Hmm, I found the Caino a little too dominated by carbonic frootiness. To me it was pleasingly fresh and easy to drink, just not much more. Diff'rent strokes.

The Loureiro from Forja de Salnes was more my speed with its blue fruits, tobacco, crushed-rock minerality, juicy acids.

Incidentally, the name of the wine sure was confusing given that loureiro is a white grape often found in vinho verde. I assume Rias Baixas has a local 'loureiro tinto' or some such thing.

Brad, did you get to try any of the Argueso sherries?

 

[BJ]

Hmmm...not my experience at all on the Caino. A ton of layered complexity. Natural wine variability? I notice he was very specifically chilling that bottle, on a not that hot day.

I liked the Loureiro but it seemed to need 10+ years.

Didn't get to the sherries.

 

[Lee Short]

My standouts of the tasting were

2000 Pecina Riserva
1998 Pecina Gran Riserva
2008 Clos de Noi
2007 Clos de Noi Seleccion, Arcilla
2008 Benaza Godello
2008 Urki Txacoli Blanco
NV German Gilabert Cava
2008 Verasol Tempranillo Navarra
2004 Montebaco VS
2008 Vera de Estenas Bobal VV
NV San Leon Reserva Familia
NV Argueso PX

I liked the Caino but did not love it. Did not get to linger over it though -- got to the tasting a bit late. I also preferred to Louriero.

The Godello had a ton of lemony yum. The Urki was rather less assertive than Ameztoi is, but had a solid backbone of grapefruity goodness. The basic Clos de Noi was served chilled, and was a lovely light red. The Arcilla was really quite distinctive, and my favorite wine of the tasting (not necessarily the best wine, tho). The Bobal and the Tempranillo were great at their price point. The PX was lively and fresh.