Rare is the occasion to sample varietals from both California and their native environs in the same week. This week I attended the TAPAS tasting of Iberian varietals from California and then attended a tasting of wines from the Spanish DO of LaMancha. It was a fascinating study in contrasts.
First off, many of these wines were 2010s, all very fresh and some were extremely grapey, similar in structure to a Beaujolais Nouveau. I did not care for most of these. However, the 2010s from Parra Jimenez Bodegas were fantastic. They made fresh Grenacha, Termpernillo and Syrah that were downright delicious. Fresh and fruity with a lively acidity that makes them a great match for grilled food.
I also found that the wines made in what one winery owner called the new style were also quite good. New style means that they are predominantly Tempernillo based, but have other grapes added to the blend. Most of these were Crianzas or Reserva. The aforementioned Parra Jimenez Reserva was great. Hints of tobacco, cherries and leather, aged in a combination of new French and America oak. It was delicious.
Other wineries to watch for, and most do not have extensive distribution, are Bodegas Romero De Avila's Testivo blend. It had an alluring nose of chocolate powder mixed with dark cherries. It was my favorite of the event.
The most amazing thing about these wines were their values. All of the whites and most of the 2010s were around $10 per bottle, the reservas topped out at about $30. Now the comparisons to the California grown versions, they don't compare, at least not yet. The Spanish wines were for the most part a better value, and packed more flavor into each bottle.
Monday is Mendocino, Thursday finds me tasting the wines the Navarro region of Spain, and Sunday is a double header, Pinot Days in the morning and sampling the wines of the Calistoga AVA in the evening. Too much great wine!
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