Weekly Wine Tastings February 22-23, 2008

A Tour of Italy's Piedmont

Please join us at the i.m.Wine tasting bar every Friday and Saturday from 1-7pm; this week we are tasting:

2005 Naia (Rueda, Spain)
The barrel-fermented 2005 Naia Des is sourced from a single parcel of 80- to 100-year-old, ungrafted, Verdejo vines located in La Seca, a village which the locals consider to be the “grand cru” of Rueda. Light gold-colored, it exhibits an attractive perfume of vanilla spice, lemon-lime and honeysuckle. This is followed by a medium-bodied wine with an intense entry, mouth-filling fruit, and excellent balance. 91 Pts Wine Advocate
Price: $11.99   Special: $10.79   Case: $10.19

2005 Bodegas Nora, Nora Da Neve (Rias Baixas, Spain)
The 2005 Nora de Neve is a rarity, a 100% Albarino fermented and aged for 7 months in French oak. The vineyards for this expensive Albarino are severely pruned and green harvested resulting in what may be the lowest yields in Rias Baixas. This light gold-colored wine offers up a fragrant nose of toast, minerals, citrus, and white peach. Medium-bodied with a supple texture, it has intense flavors, good acidity, and excellent balance. 90 Pts Wine Advocate
Price: $17.99   Special: $15.29   Case: $14.44 

2005 Dominio de Tares, Baltos Mencia (Bierzo, Spain)
This purple-colored effort exhibits an attractive bouquet of minerals, earth, black cherry and raspberry. This is followed by a medium-bodied wine with concentrated, ripe fruit, excellent depth, and a pure finish. Because of the old-vine, labor-intensive vineyards with low yields, wines from Bierzo can be pricey so this well-made wine is an excellent value. 90 Pts Wine Advocate
Price: $15.99   Special: $14.39   Case: $13.59

2006 Vinicola del Priorat Onix (Priorat, Spain)
This surely must be the best value from the pricey D.O. of Priorat as well as one of the great deals in Spanish! The unoaked 2005 Onix is the best vintage of this wine to date, a blend of old-vine (average age 55 years) Garnacha and Carinena. The wine has a lovely nose of mineral and ripe cherries, nicely layered and intensely flavored, with a lengthy finish. This is one to buy by the case! 90 Pts Wine Advocate
Price: $15.99   Special: $14.39   Case: $13.59 

2005 Bodegas Finca Luzon (Jumilla, Spain)
The seriously endowed 2004 Altos de Luzon is a blend of 50% old vine Mourvedre (52 years) and equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo, aged 12 months in a combination of French and American oak. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by beautiful aromas of smoky licorice, black currants, cherries, and earth. Offering wonderful ripeness, an alluring texture, sweet tannin, and adequate acidity, it certainly over-delivers for its price. 90 Pts Wine Advocate
Price: $17.99   Special: $16.19   Case: $15.29

2004 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja Veraton
(Campo De Borja, Spain)
A 100% Grenache cuvee that is absolutely brilliant. The 2004 Alto Moncayo Veraton represents a fabulous imitation of a top-notch Chateauneuf du Pape. Full-bodied, with gamy, meaty notes, hints of roasted herbs, plenty of kirsch liqueur and blackberries, and loads of glycerin and alcohol, it is a stunning red to drink over the next 4-5 years. 93 Pts Wine Advocate
Price: $31.99   Special: $28.79   Case: $27.19

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