Wine with Leslie: That you just would possibly per chance per chance need substitute from €9 within the event you opt for this rich Spanish vino
5 min readI’m off to 1 of my chuffed areas subsequent week as I am going to be attending the 20th Madrid Fusión gastronomy congress which has a superstar line-up of winemakers, cooks and food producers. With this in mind, I’ve been tasting and re-tasting some Spanish wines this week and focused on the fun to be stumbled on in Spain’s rich culinary panorama.
As fragment of the outing I am going to also be in Mallorca and Menorca for a few days visiting wineries and olive groves. I confess that not like most Irish other folks I’ve by no manner visited the Balearic Islands that are about so contrivance more than holiday motels. Strive Neven’s Spanish Food Trails series express in Majorca and Menorca within the event you don’t imagine me — it is currently streaming on the RTE Player.
Neven’s series jogged my memory that even the smallest parts of Spain be pleased their very own culinary traditions, correct as there are local grapes and wine kinds there shall be local sausages, meats, cheeses and gustatory treats — all presented with pleasure and keenness.
Strategies underneath are all from Northern Spain with a few red bargains from the Dunnes Stores sale plus a Verdejo, a Godello and an Albariño — the three sizable Spanish white forms. I feature Santiago Ruiz Albarinño right here — a wine that I’ve mentioned in passing but no longer a wine I truly be pleased ever well featured. The mark is one of my favourites because it is a blueprint to the marriage ceremony of Santiago Ruiz’s eldest daughter which he converted precise into a mark once he released his first wines. Is named the Father of Albariño there would possibly per chance be even a twin carriageway named after him within the village of San Miguel de Tabagón. This speak day winemaking is within the supremely succesful palms of Luisa Freire, a winemaker who impressed me vastly once I visited a few years ago. The unfold of food she and the Ruiz family laid on also lingers: some of the fully empanadas I’ve ever tasted and a full roast turbot for lunch.
Godello is more linked to Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras in Jap Galicia but the one right here is from a sustainable vineyard on the Atlantic waft advance the River Miño which forms the border with Portugal. The possibility of Godello within the country is step by step increasing so raise out search it out as well to Verdejo — there is no must repeat you about Albariño as we’re one of many area’s biggest patrons (by volume). Viva España!
Wines Under €15
Protos Verdejo, Rueda, Spain — €12.99-13.99
Stockists: Gap within the Wall, Martins, Jus de Vine, Mortons, La Touche, wineonline.ie, Donnybrook Ravishing, theallotment.ie
Delight in quite lots of wineries in Ribera del Duero, Protos has an outpost for white wines in Rueda correct an hour away. From 100% Verdejo this has intellectual mineral and lemon-lime with pineapple and guava hints, fruity, crisp and dry with stony chalky notes perfect for cutting by some Croquetas or the silky beefy in Jamon Iberico.
La Fea Reserva, Cariñena, Spain — €8.80
Stockist: Dunnes Stores
It is a well-organized low mark: the final time I featured it a few years ago it used to be €11. Cariñena in Aragon is correct south of Zaragoza and a area price keeping an respect on for tasty bargains. From 100% Tempranillo: rich plum and berry aromas with spice touches, supple and layered on the palate with handsome earthy liquorice notes blended into the aged fruit flavours.
Teófilo Reys, Ribera del Duero, Spain — €10.40
Stockist: Dunnes Stores Nationwide
This is continuously €13 and even at beefy mark I’m no longer definite there is the next Ribera del Duero obtainable underneath €15, by no manner mind as tasty. Four months in French oak so request some smoky vanilla notes mingled with gloomy fruits — on the palate are blackberries, pomegranate and cranberry fruits and this has ravishing weight and substance for such a low mark.
Wines Over €15
Protos Crianza 2017, Ribera del Duero, Spain — €18.40 – 23.99
Stockists: Dunnes Stores, Whelehans, Jus de Vine, La Touche.
This is on special offer at correct over €18 in Dunnes Stores this week — a reduce value. The beautiful Protos vineyard (designed by Richard Rogers) is dwelling to Ribera’s splendid cooperative and their wines are consistently reliable. This is packed with damsons and darkish plum fruit aromas, silky textured blackberry fruits and handsome length — perfect for some spring lamb.
Santiago Ruiz Albariño 2020, O Rosal, Rias Baixas, Spain — €23.99
Stockists: Avoca,, Barnhill Stores, Ely, Recent, McHughs, Crimson Nostril Wines, Wineonline.ie
From the sub-area of O Rosal and one of many oldest producers within the area (Santiago Ruiz used to be diagnosed as the ‘father of Albariño’). This is 82% Albariño plus 9% Loureiro and c. 2% Caiño Branco, Treixadura and Godello. White peaches and guava aromas with a accelerate of lime, fruity and gentle on the attack with citrus and stony-crisp freshness on the manufacture.
Altos de Torona Godello, Rias Baixas, Spain — €19.95
Stockists: Corkscrew thecorkscrew.ie, Blackrock Cellar, Deveneys, Baggot St Wines, D6, Martins, Drink Store, Nectar Wines, SC Grocer, WineHouse.
I featured this producer’s Albariño a few years ago and their Godello is equally tasty. Godello is more linked to areas to the North and East but is grown in a few areas in Galicia. It is a single vineyard Godello with key-lime and kiwi fruit aromas, creamy and textured on the palate with weight balanced by some lime curd flavoured acidity.
Spirit of the week
Teeling Single Pot Gentle Wonders of Wooden Sequence – 50% ABV, 70cl — €80
Stockists: Bradleys, O’Briens, Chosen SuperValu, Celtic Whiskey Shop, Mitchell & Son, Martins, teelingdistillery.com
This is the main initiating within the Teelings ‘Wonders of Wooden’ Sequence: Teeling triple distilled pot clean mature in Virgin Chinkapin American White Oak Barrels. This won Worlds Best doubtless Single Pot Gentle Whiskey on the 2022 World Whiskey Awards — one of a possibility of Awards Teeling has won goal no longer too lengthy ago. Teeling will be planting an acre of native woodland in Wicklow
A 50% blend of malted and unmalted barley this has caramel, honey and wood sap aromas — fruity and textured on the palate with more honey and a contact of banana bread with intellectual spice notes on the manufacture and lingering ginger and pepper flavours.