A selection of the best Spanish red and white wines, not forgetting cava, for you to enjoy on a very special occasion.
1. Great Walls 2010, DO Cuenca de Barberá, Bodegas Torres
The Poblet Monastery is a 14th-century Catalan abbey located in the Cuenca de Barberá region and this estate wine took its name from the walls that protected it.
This exquisite wine has the support of Garró and Samsó grapes, two native varietals recovered by Bodegas Torres after a century of the phylloxera disaster. Garnacha, Cariñena and Monastrell also participate.
The Grans Muralles is a marked cherry color, with purple tones and leaves floral and fruity notes on the nose, mainly pomegranate, and green leaves.
It is a wine with nerve and power, with fresh acidity and a long finish. Pairs splendidly with roasts, stews, and casseroles with tomato sauce, herbs, and spices. The bottle costs about 150 Euros.
2. Cirsion 2011, DOCa Rioja, Bodegas Roda
In 2011, an extraordinary vintage of its Cirsión label arrived at Roda. This Riojan winery is located in a century-old cellar on the banks of the Ebro in the neighborhood of La Estación de Haro.
The Cirsión concept arose after winegrowers realized that in some sectors of the vineyard, grapes with a flavor more closely related to wine than to fruit were growing. The Cirsión is fermented in oak vats and comes from 100% Tempranillo, being aged in totally new French oak barrels.
Cirsión 2011 is a wine with a great layer, dark cherry color with deep red rims. On the nose, ripe black fruits are perceived with a fine background of aromatic herbs, fennel, and liquorice. On the palate, it is voluminous, expansive, pleasant, fresh, and elegant, with a taste presence of olfactory notes. The long aftertaste is fruity, complex, and refined.
3. Lustau Oloroso VORS, DO Jerez, Emilio Lustau
Sherry VORS (Very Old Rare Sherry) wines are officially certified aged, meaning they have been aged for at least 30 years.
Lustau’s VORS line is made up of 4 labels (Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximénez) and is handled with a rigorous selection to produce only one thousand 50-cl bottles of exceptional wines that have won multiple awards in business competitions.
The Lustau Oloroso VORS comes 100% from the Palomino varietal and is old gold in color with greenish reflections. It leaves bitter oranges and toffee on the nose, with traces of honey and a background of spices.
On the palate, it offers notes of toasted coconut, with bright acidity and a considerably long finish. The half-liter bottle costs 42.95 Euros.
4. Legaris Reserva 2011, DO Ribera Duero, Legaris-Codorníu
Legaris wines, from the Ribera del Duero denomination of origin, are solid, with character, complex aromas, and ample on the palate.
The Reserva 2011 red is 100% Tempranillo and has been in the barrel for 16 months and in the bottle for 24 months. It is an intense garnet red color with cherry highlights.
It offers the nose aromas of very ripe red fruits, with delicate nuances of toast, roasted coffee, and spices. On the palate it makes you feel like a serious wine, well structured, broad, and with a considerable aftertaste. Its online price is 26 euros per bottle and 148.2 per box of 6 units.
5. Trout 2015, DO Rias Baixas, Finca Grabelos
Finca Grabelos is a Galician winery that works with Albariño, the regional grape used to produce excellent white wines.
The estate continues in the hands of the descendants of Alonso Anguiano, a family that in 1837 acquired the land and founded the winery.
La Trucha is a clean and bright wine, straw yellow, with greenish touches. It is a very aromatic broth that leaves floral aromas on the nose, such as jasmine, with notes of fruit, among which it is possible to recognize pineapple, guava, peach, and apricot.
On the palate it is fresh, unctuous, harmonious, cheerful, and easy to drink, leaving a pleasant aftertaste. It can be obtained in online stores in the order of 11 Euros.
6. Oloroso Tradition VORS, DO Jerez, Bodegas Tradition
This gem from Bodegas Tradición is made with 100% Palomino, the quintessential Sherry grape, and offers the eyes a mahogany color with traces of copper.
It has a complex aroma, revealing on the nose the presence of hazelnuts with balsamic sparkles, accompanied by traces of toast, leather, and roasted.
On the palate, it is unctuous, round, and powerful, with chocolate notes. It goes magnificently with a wide variety of dishes, appetizers, and desserts. The online price of the 750 ml bottle is 48.5 Euros.
7. Guitian Fermented in Barrel 2014, DO Valdeorras, Bodega La Tapada
Godello is another predominantly Galician white wine grape, much like Gouveio from Portugal’s Trás-os-Montes region. The Guitian is made with 100% Godello and the must is fermented with regional yeasts in French oak barrels.
Bodega La Tapada is located in the Galician municipality of Rubiana, Province of Orense, a project started in 1985 by the Guitian brothers.
This wine, the pride of the house, is clean, bright, and golden in color with greenish tones. It has a complex and intense nose, with aromas of peach and grapefruit, and nuances of fennel, almond, all olfactory framed by the personality of the oak, after spending 6 months in the barrel. In the mouth, it feels tasty, fruity, spicy, toasted, and long. It costs about 19 Euros.
