Open Wine School

I attended another wine tasting class the other day, called Open Wine School, and the focus was on wines from Spain and Portugal. We tasted 14 different wines, from cava (sparkling wine made in Spain from this region near Barcelona), to white to red and to sherry and port. It was a nice mix of wine and the wine are in general fairly decent. However, I felt the course is too rushed though, and you cannot really fully appreciate the wines since you just were not given enough time. Since it was hosted at the Rainbow Room, they were able to provide us with some snacks to nibble on, which includes some pretty decent chorizos, cheese, quince paste and prosciutto. We were also served ice cream as well, in addition to olives and some really good almonds. However, I just though the whole experience was too uptight and too rushed to truely experience the wines. They do, however, provide us with a lot of nice brochures and information to read to further our knowledge of Spanish wines though.

The following are wines I drank and some of my notes:

Segura Viudas Aria Cava - Light yellow color with greenish tint. Very dry with a hint of sweetness, which is due to the fact that the wine is made with some residual sugar. Refreshing and one of those easy drinking sparklers. However, a little too bone dry for me. B-

Finca de Arantei Albariño 2005 - Note of mineral, lychee, pineapple and chamomile. Dry, but floral with a minty taste and aftertaste. Too strong and acidic to drink alone, and would be excellent with some seafood. B+

Itsas Mendi Txacoli 2005 - The wine was too cold at first, and I did not notice any notes, but did open up after a bit and very aromatic, kind of like a Viognier with the tropical fruits. Tasted light on the palate and floral. Dry. I thought it is a little tangy at the finish, and herbal. B-

Almira Los Dos Old Vines Grenache/Syrah 2005 - A wine that concentrates on fruit. Blend of 93% Grenache and 7% Syrah. Note of blueberry and smells very fresh and young. Taste like blueberry and the finish is kind of tart, thus making this wine taste kind of like blueberry yogurt. B+

Traslanzas Tinto del Pais 2001 - Note of strong smoke that shock me a little bit and makes me a little taken back. I cannot get any note of fruit. Also noticed note of oak and wood. Tasted earthy, like old farmyard. Lots of spice. Remind me of being in an old farmhouse or an old mansion. Heavy. I thought the wine shows a lot of character though. B

Castillo de Cuzcurrita Señorio de Cuzcurrita 2001 - Tasted a lot of red fruits on the palate and light to medium bodied. Like a combination of the two wines tasted before this , with fruits but not as young and vibrant, more structured and some spice. B+

Convento San Francisco Crianza 2002 - Note of black currant. Tasted like tobacco, coffe and clove. Too bitter and too herbal for me. The wine tasted a lot smoother when you have it with some creamy cheese. 94% Tempranillo and 6% Merlot. B-

Ànima Negra ÀN/2 2003 - The name of this wine is "black soul" (that is pretty cool). This is a blend of Callet, a indigenious grape to the Mallorca island, Manto Negro, Fogoneu and Monastrell. Note of black currant. Taste of smoke and some light spice. Felt the wine is not as dark and powerful as the previous wine tasted, even though the name suggest something more powerful. B-

Francesc Sanchez Bas Montgarnatx 2002 - 75% Grenache and 25% Carignan. Lots of heat in this wine. Long finish because of the immense heat. Heat is fine in wines for me as long as the wine can also exhibit other characteristics and not just it's powerfulness. However, this wine tends to exhibit too much heat and not much else. B-

Quinta do Carmo Alentejo 2001 - From Portugal. Note of cherry and some Chinese herb. Taste smooth and light, but with short finish. Tasted somewhat complex, probably due to the many grapes involved in the blend. There are fruit present and also a little grapey, but I thought the complexity is not harmonious enough. A blend of Aragonês, Alicante Bouschet, Trincadeira, Castelão, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. B-

Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Extra Fino Sherry - Note of green apple hidden in the strong alcohol, which attacks you off the bat, definitely something you need to get used to. Dry and light on the palate. Can taste a little bit of green apple combined with a bit of sourness. Very bracing. You definately need food with this but probably would be a good aperitif. B-

Taylor Fladgate 20-Year Old Tawny Porto - Nice coppertone color, but the note remind me of water-downed raisin and does not have a sense of pureness that I thought a good Port should have. Tasted like raisin but somewhat light and seems diluted. There is a nice caramel aftertaste. B-

Porto Rozès LBV 1994 Reserve Edition "Unfiltered" - There is a strong note of hospital smell, like something is sanitized. I just felt a lot of heat from this Port, and a slight raisin taste, but thought it was watered down. Lack complexity, richness and sophistication. C

Gonzalez Byass "Noe" Pedro Ximénez Sherry Muy Viejo - The note is like the Casa Mono sundae that I love so much, so I think we might have discovered what is behind the secret ingredients of the sundae. Lots of coffee, caramel and raisin note. Taste like dark caramel, raisin, and again, carry the taste of the Casa Mono sundae. Pour this on ice cream and it tastes even better than just drinking the wine itself. Very yummy yummy. B+