Spanish Wines Tasting 3/29/25

Marques de Caceres Verdejo- $12

Marqués de Cáceres Verdejo, a dry white wine from Rueda, Spain, offers a refreshing experience with notes of citrus, white fruit, and a hint of grapefruit, pairing well with seafood, salads, and dishes with a citrusy or spicy element.

Tasting Notes:

• Appearance: Pale straw color with metallic highlights.
• Aroma: Lively bouquet with notes of pears, mineral notes, and grapefruit.
• Taste: Well-integrated fruit flavors that are refreshing and persist in the mouth.
• Finish: A delicate hint of grapefruit in the finish ensuring a delightful and invigorating persistence.
• Other notes: Some describe it as having notes of ripe melon, white peach, grated ginger, pink grapefruit zest, white blossom, and vanilla.

Food Pairings:

• Seafood, Mexican food, White sauce pasta
• Other suggestions: Goat's cheese, tomato and shellfish, and Vietnamese and Thai food.

Marques de Caceres Red Blend- $13

Marqués de Cáceres Red Blend, a Rioja Crianza, offers a medium-bodied, fruit-forward experience with notes of red fruits, spices, and subtle oak, pairing well with tapas, lamb, pizzas, pasta, and aged cheeses.

Tasting Notes:

• Appearance: Vivid red with luminous highlights.
• Aromas: Red fruits, fresh spices, and a hint of vanilla from oak aging.
• Palate: Berry flavors of ripe plums and black cherries, dried herbs, and subtle spice nuances, balanced by natural fruit acidity and fine tannins.
• Finish: Charming and lingering flavors.

Food Pairings:

• Versatile: Works well with a variety of cuisines, including tapas, lamb chops, kebabs, tagine, classic thin-based pizzas, fresh pasta dishes, and earthy vegetarian dishes.
• Cheese: Pairs well with aged hard cheeses.
• Other suggestions: Ham, mild cheeses, casseroles, bean and pulse dishes, poultry, red meat, grills, and roasts.
• Traditional Spanish dishes: Grilled vegetables, paella, rice dishes, or chorizo

Zestos Garnacha Tinto 2021- $14

• Grapes: 100% Garnacha from old vines planted in the 1960s in San Martin Valdeiglesias.
• Origin: Vinos de Madrid, a region known for producing high-quality, value-driven wines.
• Aromas and Flavors: Lively red and dark berry aromas with a touch of candied flowers, offering juicy black raspberry and cherry flavors with a gentle mineral nuance.
• Texture: Supple and seamless, with a fruity and broad finish, and a touch of white pepper.
• Pairing: This wine pairs well with various foods, including pizza, panini sandwiches, pulled pork sliders, fajitas, cheese quesadillas, and aged cheeses.

Vina Sastre Tempranillo- $26

Viña Sastre Tempranillo 2021 offers a rich, complex experience with notes of dark fruit, spice, and oak, pairing well with grilled or roasted meats, hearty stews, and even some cheeses.

Tasting Notes:

• Appearance: Intense cherry color.
• Aroma: Ripe dark berries, black cherry, plum, and hints of tobacco, cedar, and truffle.
• Palate: Full-bodied with a velvety texture, ripe berries, chocolate, and spicy black pepper, supported by a firm tannic backbone.
• Finish: Lingering finish with notes of cocoa, leather, and dried herbs.

Food Pairings:

• Meats: Roast lamb, game, barbecued beef ribs, and meaty Mexican dishes.
• Other: Burgers with blue cheese, Cocido madrileño, and cheeses.
• Why it works: Tannins are softened by protein, acidity cuts through fat, and oak complements smoky flavors

Alvarez de Toledo Mencia 2021- $13

• Origin: Bierzo, Castilla y León, Spain.
• Grape Variety: 100% Mencia.
• Tasting Notes:
• Aromas: Aromatic notes of mature berry fruits and toasty oak.
• Palate: Silky, fruity, with persistence and great kindness.
• Flavor Profile: Vibrant red fruits, peppers, capsicum, and herbs.
• Structure: Structured, elegant, and light on the palate.
• Tannins: Harmonious tannins.
• Characteristics:
• The wine stands out due to its marked fruity character, which brings out all the qualities of the Mencia variety.The time in the barrel accentuates these qualities by providing subtlety, elegance, and complexity.
• Food Pairing: The wine's floral bouquet and tart fruitiness pair well with lean meats, charcuterie, and rich, savory stew

Tarima Mediterraneo 2023- $15

Tarima Mediterraneo 2023 is a white wine from Alicante, Spain, made with Merseguera and Moscatell grapes, known for its aromatic, fresh, and balanced profile with floral and stone fruit notes, perfect for enjoying with food or as an aperitif.

Here's a more detailed description:

• Origin: Alicante, Valencia, Spain.
• Grape Varietals: Merseguera and Moscatell (also known as Muscat of Alexandria).
• Tasting Notes:
• Aroma: Floral, with notes of white flowers, and stone fruits like peach and apricot.
• Palate: Light, fresh, and expressive with a balanced, easy-to-drink profile.
• Other notes: Some describe it as having citrus notes like lime and grapefruit.
• Food Pairing: Perfect as an aperitif or with spicy cuisine, due to its refreshing nature and balanced acidity.