The Heritage Club - May 2021
This month we feature two distinct wines from the Iberian Peninsula. The first is a delicious palate-cleansing fizzy Rose from Portugal which is perfect for summer. The Second wine is a bold Spanish Rioja that blends high tannin and acid with a generous amount of oak to form a well-balanced, full-bodied red wine.
Vinho Verde Rosé
Producer: Aviva Vino
Region: Minho, Vinho Verde, Portugal
Grape Varietal: 100% Espadeiro
Viticulture: Grown in far northwestern Portugal, the terrain in the region has a somewhat irregular topography, characterized by a snug valley system combined with the fluvial network, developing from the seaside to the inland.
Serving Suggestion: Serve cold with a day outside in the sun and soft cheeses.
Age: Drink now and through summer.
Nose: Floral notes with some bright citrus zest as well.
Tasting Notes: Extremely clean and refreshing on the palate with citrus and strawberries. The fizziness of the wine brightens the whole experience.
WHY WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS WINE
Portuguese wines never hesitate to deliver a strong profile. Whether it is the traditional Port, Touriga Nacional, or this bright and fizzy Rose, Portuguese wines have a point of view. Like many, our team loves a sunny day with a crisp, refreshing Rose as much as anything else. However, this wine does not hold back on flavor whatsoever. While some Rose styles tend to be lighter bodied and lacking flavor, this Vinho Verde Rose has incredible aromatics and bubbles as well as crisp acidity.
If you enjoy traditional Rose, this wine hits all of the notes you look for while being packed with flavor and is an incredible value wine (which is typical for Portugal). This is essentially wine lemonade in a lot of ways. It is crisp, refreshing, with bright acid that must be enjoyed in the warm weather with friends, and at only 12.5%, you may be able to enjoy a little bigger glass pour.
Montecillo Rioja Crianza 2014
Producer: Bodegas Montecillo
Winemaker: Mercedes Garcia
Region: Rioja, Spain
Grape Varietal: 85% Tempranillo 15% Garnacha
Viticulture: Montecillo, or little mountain, speaks to the irregular topography of the Rioja vineyards. Surrounded by vines and close to the waters of the majestic Ebro river, the city of Fuenmayor is set amongst flat-topped hills, and in the distance, the distinctive rocky mass of the Cantabrian Mountains.
Method: 12 day maceration period (skin contact) with alcohol controlled at 23 degrees Celcius. Second fermentation in underground vats. Barrel aging (oxidative) in high-quality semi-new American oak barrels during 18 months.
Age: This wine would age beautifully if you wanted to keep it for many years. Easily for ten years in proper conditions.
Serving Suggestion: Serve room temperature after a one-hour decanting with tapas or steak. A charcuterie board would also do very well with this wine.
Nose: Dominance of ripe red fruit and stone fruits with hints of coconut.
Tasting Notes: This wine has lots of ripe red fruit and spice as well as some notes of oak on the finish. The tannins on this wine are wonderful from start to finish.
WHY WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS WINE
This wine is authentic Rioja. A wine this bold and complex is hard to find, especially one with this level of balance and ageability. This winery has been around for over 150 years and their ability to produce high-level Rioja at an impeccable value is unmatched. Montecillo is also well known for their renowned winemaker Mercedes Garcia.
Many who enjoy big bold red wines such as Cabernet or Bordeaux blends will also enjoy most Rioja wines. Oak plays a vital role in a significant amount of red wine in Spain. Rioja produces elegant wines with complex notes of red and black fruit, crushed rock, leather, toast, and tobacco, whose best examples are fully capable of decades of improvement in the cellar and this wine is no different.
A full-bodied, high tannin, and high acid wine may not sound approachable, however, Rioja somehow does it with Tempranillo with wonderful steadiness. This versatile wine could go with nearly any hearty dish and any evening activity this summer or fall.