Viña Mayor Crianza 2010: elegance and tradition

ViñaMayor Crianza 2010

A couple of Weeks ago our dear friend Tracy brought us a bottle of Viña Mayor Crianza 2010. Unfortunately we couldn't share that bottle with her in that particular afternoon, but Tracy, I promise we'll share a bottle of our wine collection soon!

Bodegas y Viñedos Viña Mayor is one of the most traditional and awarded wineries of the Ribera de Duero and they've been consistently producing quality wines for over 20 years. 

When I was working as a waitress to pay my Law school one of the safest choices to present to a  client that was new to the D.O. Ribera del Duero or that didn’t know what to pair with a plate of red meat or cured cheeses was a bottle of Viña Mayor. That could guarantee an almost 100% success rate with client that would surely be satisfied and likely to repeat or even to venture further into the D.O. Ribera de Duero wines.

If I can choose, I myself prefer the Viña Mayor Reserva because to me it presents a rounder and velvety taste ideal to drink while having a good conversation and listening to some nice blues… but I have to say that the Viña Mayor Crianza 2010 is exquisite.

It is an elegant and fresh wine that wraps around with pepper and cinnamon notes, of soft tannins  and a slight vanilla aftertaste.  This wine is a sure success for a party with friends. -

Wine information

Type of wine: Crianza

D.O. RIBERA DEL DUERO

Winery: Bodegas y Viñedos Viña Mayor 

Year: 2010

Grape: 100% tinta del país (tempranillo)

Alcohol percentage: 14% Vol.

Temperature recommended for drinking: 15 - 17ºC

Size: 75cl

Price range: 10.50€ - 12€ approx.

Maridaje: goes fine with red meats, game, stews, roasts and all sort of cured cheese. According to its own web page it is ideal to go with a  Morucha veil tail risotto (Ref: winedetails)

Tasting notes: Viña Mayor Crianza 2010

Viña Mayor Crianza 2010 is an elegant and fresh wine that wraps around with notes of spices, soft tannins and a slight vanilla aftertaste. It has a deep ruby color and the taste in mouth is just enough to let you enjoy whatever you are eating alongside it.

Ref:  Bodegas y Viñedos Viña Mayor

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Celeste Roble 2012: lovely young wine from Ribera del Duero

Celeste Roble 2012  – Bodegas Torres

Celeste, "as unique as the night sky in the Ribera del Duero".

Just because it is Wednesday it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a great wine. I went to the butchers to buy some Iberian hams and chorizo and couldn’t resist buying this young wine to go along my tapas night. If I have to choose a D.O. (Denominación de Origen) from Spain, it would definitely be Ribera del Duero, there’s something about these wines that just stands out from the rest.

Wine information

Type of wine: Young red  wine

D.O. RIBERA DEL DUERO

Winery: Bodegas Miguel Torres  (http://www.torres.es/)

Year: 2012

Grape: Tempranillo, Tinta fina

Alcohol percentage: 14.5% Vol.

Temperature recommended for consumption: 14 - 16ºC

Size: 75cl

Price Range: 6€- 6.50€ aprox.

Maridaje: Goes very well with all sorts of  red meat,  Iberian and cured cheese.

Tasting note: Celeste Roble 2012  – Bodegas Torres

Intense aroma. One can perceive the scent of chocolate and espresso as well as red fruits and pepper in this medium bodied dark cherry coloured wine. Lovely to the taste, pleasant and unctuous, with smooth tannins it invites to keep drinking it.  This wine needs some oxygenation to appreciate the spicy notes and complex structure.  The wine has a pleasant and long aftertaste.

Ref:  Bodegas Torres – Celeste Roble - Vinissimus

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Rivendel Crianza 2009, an OK red wine from Ribera del Duero

Rivendel Crianza 2009  -   Vinoteca El Descorche (Alhaurín El Grande)

The night after San Valentine’s Day my DH and me decided we were not in the mood to cook so we went to our town’s wine bar  “Vinoteca El Descorche” for some good tapas and wine.

It was my turn to choose the wine so browsing in the shelves I saw a wine I couldn't pass by. Its name is “Rivendel” as in “Lord of the Rings” Rivendel, and me being such a J.R.R. Tolkien fan I HAD to try this wine.

Rivendel Crianza 2009 is a D.O. Ribera del Duero red wine, made with 100% tempranillo grapes.  It has a deep cherry hue and strong  tanning with complex and lasting aftertaste.

This wine is recommended to be pair with game and red meat, roasts and stews. That night we pair it with some wild board pate (delicious), fried quails and a mix of cheeses. After these, I would definitely recommend going for the meat instead of the cheese, as it pairs better with this wine.

Rivendel is a good D.O. Ribera del Duero, but me being such a Tolkien fan, I would say it doesn't live up to its name.

Wine information

Type of wine: Red wine - Crianza

D.O. RIBERA DEL DUERO

Winery: Bodega San Mamés, S.C. (http://www.bodegasanmames.com/)

Year: 2009

Grape: Tempranillo

Alcohol percentage: 13.5% Vol.

Temperature recommended for drinking: 17ºC

Aging: 12 months in American oak barrels y Central toasted half.

Size: 75cl

Maridaje:  Accompanies the exquisite dishes of the area as roasts, game and red meat, it is also an ideal companion for Iberian, stews and dishes from modern cuisine.

Tasting note: Rivendel Crianza 2009

Intense red with cherry hues with bright robe. Complex aromas with ripe fruit, jams and minerals. After oxygenation also appreciate spicy and balsamic nuances. The palate is elegant, with pronounced tannins and complex structure. Final tasty, velvety and long aftertaste.

Ref: 

http://www.mediterraneumfood.com/wordpress/tienda/rivendel/rivendel-crianza-2009

http://www.aporvino.com/comprar_vino/product_info_bak.php?products_id=5044&language=en

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Saturday night: Gato Negro – Cabernet Sauvignon

DH and I went shopping to Miramar Shopping Center in Fuengirola this afternoon. A friend gave us  a Gift card to spend in Zara Homes so off we went. It was a rainy afternoon, actually the first day of proper rain in this Winter season so far so it wasn't so bad to be in a Shopping Mall.

After an hour rummaging in Zara Home and expending all the credit in the Gift card in only 2 items, we enjoyed a beautiful lunch and before going back home we stopped at the supermarket to buy dog and cat food but we got lost at this big supermarket and ended up at the wine and beer isles… some new bottles of cabernet sauvignon  and Duff beer we didn't plan to get and we were heading back to our lair.

When we got back home the storm was getting worse so the night called for candles, wine and something good to watch on TV.

We opened a bottle of Gato Negro – Cabernet Sauvignon, a fantastic red wine from Chile.

This wine was born in 1960 in Viñas San Pedro and has won several prices and awards in later years. Today, Viña San Pedro is the leading and largest winery in the VSP Wine Group.

Gato Negro is fairly cheap, at  5.45€ the bottle it's way better than you would expect from the price. 

According to the Viña San Pedro website, Gato Negro has “over delivered at its price point for decades”, and I cannot but totally agree with that statement. 

This is an intense flavour Cabernet full of red fruits, plum and vanilla aromas. Lovely and rich  on the mouth it is a perfect pair to a cozy night with your beloved or a nice gathering of friends.  People say that normally Cabernet should be paired with red meats, but in this occasion and this particular wine went down well with just some bread (I love having bread and wine together).

Gato Negro - Cabernet Sauvignon went down so well actually,  that in no time we saw the bottom of the bottle while chatting on a rainy night.

My opinion: Fantastic for its price. Will definitely buy some more.

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