termes tinta de toro 2005

This is a wine from famed Jorge Ordonez (Numanthia) made from ungrafted thirty year-old Tinta de Toro (otherwise known as Tempranillo) grapes. This region of space somehow managed to avoid being hit by the great phylloxera wine plague, most likely because of the inhospitable sandy soils. I tried this as an experiment with a lower value wine from Numanthia. I can't say I fell in love. The taste, as you might expect from a region in Spain that is still catching up with modern winemaking, was, yes, a little different. The tannins were pronounced and bone dry. From the deep purple black licorice juice color and the significant tannins I'd say these grapes has some hefty time with their skins. The fruit was plummy with dark chocolate and black raspberry notes. I always like trying something new but this is one I'll won't return to soon. Even though this is not ever going to be a favorite wine of mine, it is certainly good for a surprise at a wine tasting party.

la spinona barbaresco 2000

Color: Sedimented red leather, thinner at the edges

Nose: Hints of old leather and prunes

Taste: Toasted pear, service berry, prune, very dry but still managed to be bright. The tannins were pleasant and 30 minutes of an open bottle helped the flavors open up considerably. This is a mellow wine which translates to very drinkable. Having no real punch makes this wine decidedly not California in style. In fact, it is so subtle that my wife and I had to carefully toss back and forth flavor profiles until we got it right. This wine does not bowl you over with any one aspect except its smoothness and subtlety. The age on it is graceful. It's certainly a wine to drinks with friends and conversation, but not a conversation wine. You might not even remember this wine when the bottle is finished, but you'll remember that the wine was good enough and the price was right.

Price: $20

Alcohol: 13.5%