All between 20 & 30 Euros...so...equal with the Spätburgunders.
Bodegas La Tapada Bodegas 'Guitián Barrique' 2005
Valdeorras, Spain
Grape: Godella.....known as Verdelho in Madeira, Portugal......Valdeorras is the new 'secret' area for whites...clay & limestone soils..and hot, sunny summers....this spends 6 months in barriques...there is also a non-oaked version..
Medium yellow...gentle smell of new oak...enticing you to take a swill...and not being one to hang around.. I duly obliged..creme brulée..smashing opening mouthful.. someone who knows how to use barriques has been at work here..nice touch of acidity keeps the oak from dominating....2005 was a slightly hot year..so if I can find the 2004 somewhere...
Points 17.25 € 23,--
Ossian 'Agricultury Ecológica' 2007
Castilla y León, Spain
Aroma of freshly made dough...citrus fruits took over...trace of grapefruit.....this is 100% Verdejo from old vines and it shows..and reminds me of the whites from the south of France..with maybe a touch of the Loire...perfect oak..lingering on the edge..and minerals galore...very focused..and with a fine finish. A wine for the 'experienced'
Points 17.25 € 24,--
Bodegas Rafael Palacios 'As Sortes' 2006
Valdeorras, Spain
Back to 100% Godella...French-oaked...14% alcohol which you would never know....straw yellow with green tinges..doesn't this look very Chablis-like?.....Rafael, by the way, is the brother of L'Ermita owner Álvaro...some trivia while I take in the smell...green apples...pineapple..lemon peel...the palate shows super minerals...pears and butter...a real character wine...I even thought South Burgundy....Puligny came to mind..now that is a compliment.
Points 17.5 € 28,--
Three excellent wines....and as some of the best whites in the world are made in France...comparison is a compliment. And...at these prices..very comparable..individual wines..for the adventurous..and all could be layed-down for a few years..they have potential to develope and open up. Not easy to find....but..worth the effort.
1 comment:
Godello is an interesting discovery. I had the first one once in Valencia. But I had a much cheaper one in a restaurant in Rosas which was excellent but unfortunately I forgot the name. Concerning whites I somehow crave Condrieus and other Southern French ones now..
Post a Comment