UK by-the-case merchant Majestic recently
ran a free tasting weekend concentrating on some of their Spanish
wines, and so I trotted off to the Twickenham branch to try a
selection of nine of these wines. In order to compare notes, Paul
Armstong did the same and sent me his report on the wines he tried at
his local branch. With regard to calibrating our different rating
systems, Paul reckons that his 'Good' equals my 'Very good’.
However, of these nine wines we only tried four in common, so as a
comparitive exercise it wasn’t a total success. But it’s still
interesting to see the different ways we have described what were
presumably fairly similar experiences (although there’s always the
possibility of bottle variation). And although neither of us were
completely blown away by any of these wines (with the exception, for
me, of the superb Prado Enea from Muga), I was quite impressed by the
value for money that they offer, especially at the offer price
(regular price is given first, offer price in brackets applies when
any six or more Spanish wines are purchased, in any combination). My
notes are in brown, Paul’s in blue.
Muga Rioja Blanco 2000 £6.99 (£5.59)
Barrel fermented in new oak. Open, rounded, nutty nose with strong
vanilla notes. The palate is rich and intense, with lemony acidity
that offsets the nutty richness from the oak. Impressive, savoury
white. Very good+ (JG)
Muga Rioja Blanco 2000
Lemon grass nose with a slight rasp. Palate quite peachy, ripe and
crisp. Quite good/Good (PA)
Marqués de Murrieta Reserva Especial Blanco
Rioja 1995 £8.49 (£6.79)
This is an odd, old fashioned wine. It’s a full goldedn colour and
has a striking nose of lemon and butterscotch, with some nutty
elements and a rounded, herbal character. It seems to be oxidised and
has a bit of volatile acidity, too. The bold, full flavoured palate
has firm acidity and is savoury and intense. Unusual stuff, and may
appeal to some. Very good (JG)
Marques de Murrieta Blanco Reserva Especial
1995
Nose fat and buttery but also slightly mouldy which was off-putting.
Quite a full appley flavour, just enough acidity, good intensity and
finish. Quite good (would be more but for the nose) (PA)
Marqués de Riscal Rueda Blanco 2000 £5.49
(£4.39)
The bright, fresh, grassy nose is quite intense and Sauvignon-like.
The full, rounded palate is quite full textured, and has a herbal
quality. Tasty stuff. Very good+ (JG)
Marques de Riscal Rueda Blanco 2000
Nice lemon/herby nose. Initial mouthfeel fresh and crisp, but finishes
a touch peppery and coarse. Quite good (PA)
Sierra de Siles Tempranillo, Arva Vitis, Vino
de la Tierra de Castilla, 1998 (£4.69) £3.75
There’s a pronounced medicinal edge to the distinctive, pure
raspberry fruit on the nose. The palate shows rich, pure fruit and
some tannin. It’s bold, delicious, full flavoured and very modern.
Very good+ (JG)
Sierra de Siles Tempranillo 1998
Nose: gentle whiff of vanilla, slight lemon grass piquancy too.
Palate: plummy, quite crisp entry, but a tadge cloying on the finish.
Quite good (PA)
Abadia Retuerta Primacia 1999 Castilla y
León £5.99 (£4.79)
Deep coloured, this has a distinctive, intense nose of ripe fruit with
a chocolatey/herby edge. Quite rich on the palate, with an attractive
herbal quality and more ripe fruit. Very modern, this is tasty stuff
– in fact, it quite reminds me of a rich Chilean Cabernet in style.
Very good+ (JG)
Viña Arisabel Rioja Joven 2000 £3.49
(£2.79)
A deep red/purple colour this has a modern nose showing cherryish
fruit. The palate is brightly fruited (cherry, raspberry); appealing
in a Beaujolais-like style. Good/very good (JG)
Berberana Rioja Reserva 1996 £7.99 (£6.39)
Deep red/purple colour with a brick red rim. The evolved nose shows
herby fruit character (strawberry, red fruits). The palate is rich,
with some chewy tannins and reasonable complexity. Nice stuff; the
American oak isn’t too prominent. Very good (JG)
Berberana Tempranillo 1999 £3.99 (£3.19)
Modern fruity stuff, with attractive cherry/herbal character and good
acidity. Good/very good (JG)
Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva Rioja 1991
£19.99 (£15.99)
The colour is fading a little at the rim, but this is still quite a
deep coloured wine. It has a complex nose of leather, tea leaf, herbs
and old wooden boxes. The palate is rich and evolved, and just
beginning to dry out a little. However, this is an impressive, complex
wine that is drinking beautifully now. Very good/excellent (JG)
Vionta Albarino Rias Biaxas 2000 £8.99
(£7.19)
Herby/straw nose with just a touch of peach hiding in the background.
Palate: peachy, crisp, lingering finish. Very clean, but just a touch
one-dimensional and lacking in the aromatic complexity I hope for in
an Albarino. Good (PA)
The Wilderness Monastrell Jumilla 2000 £4.49
(£3.59)
Nose: sweet, confected, grenache-like. Palate: fat, plummy, almost
buttery-rich. A real crowd pleaser for those that like a bit of
sweetness in their reds. I don’t, so Average/Quite good (PA)
Bodegas Palacio Castillo Rioja 1999 £5.99
(£4.79)
Colour: browning, thin. Nose: muted and mouldy. Palate: nicely mature
and softened, but a touch unclean. Average/Quite good (PA)
Berberana Vina Alarde Rioja Gran Reserva 1995
£9.99 (£7.99)
Colour: maturing bricky. Nose: nice vanilla and smoke. Palate: mellow,
smooth, silky mouthfeel. Enough acidity. Slightly short finish.
Good/Very good (PA)
Marques de Riscal Rioja Reserva 1997 £9.99
(£7.99)
Nose: very muted. Is this a touch corked? Palate: nothing much at
first, but there’s good fruit intensity hiding somewhere in here.
With swilling, nice smoky plummy flavours. Good (PA)
