Certified sommelier, wine project consultant, private labels, graphic design. Located in Spain. Spanish and Italian wines are my specialty but I love a good win...
This is 100% Garnacha from 80 year old vines in the Sierra de Gredos mountain range near Madrid. Bright pale ruby in color, but intense on the nose, with wet granite, raspberries, plum, lilac and smoke. Savory and fresh on the palate with mild yet slightly grippy tannins and a structured acidity. A miriad of flavors jump out at me including fresh plums, tobacco, granite, and bouquets of spring flowers. Long finish. Very elegant, exquisite Garnacha! — 5 years ago
I grew up in the volcanic area of central Oregon so the smell, taste, and texture of lava is quite familiar to me. Which is what jumps out at me immediately on the nose, “Aa lava,” which is hot when it comes out but cools quickly and dries in hard, sharp chunks. This wine emits a distinctive aroma like hot (dried) Aa lava or asphalt. It is also quite herbal with juniper berries and sagebrush aromas and flavors. I can hardly get fruit here, dark cherry, spicy plum perhaps but the minerality is so interesting, so complex, I don’t even care about the fruit! I feel I could go on about hot rocks and ash and morning after campfire when you burn juniper and olive wood. It’s truly delicious, savory, and special! The acidity is unbelievable given this is a hot climate wine. The tannins are perfectly grippy. Medium long mineral finish makes me think this wine will age quite nicely! — 5 years ago
Smokey and savory aromas and flavors of tobacco, charcoal and earth. Silky smooth tannins but flavors of dark fruit and med + acidity tell me this wine will actually continue to age even more. Quite elegant for a Toro, but still has that “macho” Toro punch! Excellent! — 5 years ago
Deep purple color, intense nose with blackberry, black current and dark chocolate. Lots of body, violet notes, super grippy tannins, minerality comes through as wet gravel and hot asphalt. Medium plus plus acidity, lots of time to age. Needs to breath before drinking. Sweet finish. Cool label. Overall quite amazing! — 5 years ago
This is a natural, unfiltered wine that although produced within the DO Bierzo region, falls out of the rules of production, so it ends up with the IGT clssification. Dried flowers, blueberries, and smokey vanilla on the nose, continued floral aspects on the palate as well as fresh cherries and moist earth. Quite nice, more minerality than I expected and smooth as silk tannins. Medium finish. Price/quality relation is amazing, €15 the whole bottle at the bar in Madrid — 5 years ago
Pencil lead, dried cherries, charcoal and potpourri on the nose and palate. Crisp acidity, smooth tannins, warm alcohol at 15% but nicely integrated. Savory and delicious, paired with grilled chicken and eggplant parmigiana for Easter lunch! — 5 years ago
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Tempranillo. Cultivated organically in a “biodiversity reserve” in the Castilla la Mancha región near Valencia but outside of any DO, so technically it is an IGT. Black pepper, sweet blackberries, and smoke on the nose, with black cherry, spice, dark chocolate on the palate. Smooth tannins and acidity. A medium long, sweet finish, with I imagine some residual sugar here, (I bet it’s right on the line), but it is still a dry wine. Super easy to drink! — 5 years ago
I ask for a sweet wine not from Jerez (Sherry) and she gives me a taste and says do you want a full glass? To this wine I say F*#& yes! Super acidity makes this drinkable as heck! Passion fruit, papaya, beeswax, honeysuckle and bitter orange notes on the nose and palate. Nice mouthfeel, with body yet super smooth. Paired with chocolate mousse and passion fruit ice cream, I am feeling extremely guilty and already planning my run for tomorrow morning! — 5 years ago
Amy Huson
Interesting, nothing special, has all the req’s for a Cab; herbal, mineral, a bit of oak ageing. From South Africa, Western Cape. — 3 years ago