HOLY COW! What fun we had last night. What an enthusiastic group! Several new ladies joined us last night and got to try some wonderful wines. Normally we only have 2 wines on the list, but our store is running a special right now on some terrific Spanish wines and I had to include them in the lineup.
First up was Oliver Conti Blanco from Spain. Rated 90 points from Robert Parker, it's a blend of 70% gewurztraminer and 30% sauvignon blanc. What a nose on this wine! I got hints of coriander and Asian spices, with strong citrus notes (tangerine?) on the palate. A unique and interesting white, for sure.
Next on the list was 1707 Chardonnay from Spain. Exhibited plenty of creamy oak intermixed with honeysuckle, orange & tangerine notes. It is a good, competent, straightforward Chardonnay. An excellent value.
Then we tried Donnafugata Chiaranda from Italy. WOW! This was a blend of 50% Chardonnay & 50% Ansonica (aka Insolia). A wine with personality & elegance, it combined power & prestige. Aromas of ripe yellow fruit, especially apples, & notes of peaches & vanilla. The flavor was round & mouth-filling. An imposing structure showing a perfect balance of acidity & taste.
Next was onto the reds with 1707 Cab Merlot Syrah from Spain to start us off. Deep ruby/purple-colored with a classic black currant, licorice, herb & sweet oak-scented nose, this ripe, medium to full-bodied, luscious red is ideal for drinking over the next several years. Another excellent value.
Falset-Marca Etim, another Spanish red, was up next. This blend of Grenache, Carignan, Tempranillo & Syrah had a full violet color, with aromas of spicy red fruits & hints of vanilla. The palate offered a broad range of well-balanced flavors & sweet tannins.
We tried another Spanish red, Valle de Salinas Crianza, next which received a rating of 89 points from Robert Parker. This one was one of my favorites! Fashioned from old vine Mourvedre blended with small quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah. It offered deep plum/ruby color along with a rich, sumptuous bouquet of cedar, black currants, earth & toasty characteristics. Excellent ripeness, medium to full body, surprising complexity as well as persistence on the palate, and no hard edges.
Last, but certainly not least, was Donnafugata Tancredi from Italy. A blend of Nero d'Avola and Cabernet, two varietals which fused together quite nicely! The Cabernet gave it a touch of mint, enriching its substantial supply of scents. Notes of licorice, cacao, cherries & bilberries against a sweetish background. The flavors were well-structured, full, absorbing & remarkably persistent.
All in all, the wines were very well-received. Also well-received was Dennis' cuisine (as usual!) Last month I congratulated Dennis on his one year in business. This month more congratulations are in order. His restaurant, Blue Bamboo was selected as one of the Top 25 Restaurants in Northeast Florida by Jacksonville Magazine! What an accomplishment for a restaurant that has only been open a year! It's a testament to Dennis' talent as a chef and his personality. Way to go, Dennis!
Until next month, ladies...
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