Muriel, Rioja, 2005

White or Red: Red
Grape(s): Tempranillo

Origin: Rioja, Spain
Vintage: 2005

Price: $15, Square and fair

Overall:

I saw something last week in the NY Times- some wine article and its opening paragraph alluded to the difficulty of learning the lingo- maybe you caught it too.  It reaffirmed Semi-Pro's place in the chaos.  It provoked me to give you a little knowledge nugget on this week's wine because it's very confusing to understand the terms as they appear on the bottle. 

Rioja - Spanish red wine grown in the La Rioja Provence of Spain.  Typically, it is a blended with other grapes from neighboring Provences.  There are three subdivisions in La Rioja: Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja, Rioja Alavesa.  Along with a few other varietals, Tempranillo, is a grape grown in these regions used to produce Rioja.  Got it?  Good, on to the review.

Muriel is a light-bodied red that presents a pleasant floral scent.  I get a little vanilla and dark ripe fruit (predominately plums).  Overall, you get sense this has matured quite elegantly and while the taste does not last ever-long, while it's in your mouth, it's soft and inviting.  Like an elephant in the room, you can't help but think (and know!), it's from a place other than California or the USA.  We'll just say this Spanish beauty is easily in my top 3 behind the Luigi Bosca duo.  One of the best under $15.00.

La Cana, 2010, Spain

White or Red: White

Grape(s): Albarino

Origin: Rias Baixas, East side of Spain close to Portugal

Vintage: 2010

Price: Approaching $15

Didn't think we'd come right back at ya?  Well, we did.

Overall:

Albarino, the grape La Cana is made from, I'm not familiar with it but like David Bowie, I'd like to develop a closer relationship.  I ran the name of the grape through Wikipedia and I got some more info but ultimately it would be meaningless to you.  All you need to know is La Cana is excelente and by the second glass I was rolling my r's well enough to make my hot 11th grade spanish teacher blush.

It would be against Semi-Pro rules to give you the exact tasting notes from the back of the bottle but occasionally, for the right reasons, rules can be broken.  I make an exception here because I would have said almost the same thing but in a much more complicated way (it's that simple to review). And that is also against Semi-Pro rules- so the lesser of the two infractions is only for your benefit.

"Offering lush aromas of white peaches and ripe pears followed by pineapple and bright citrus the wine finishes on a crisp dry note."

It's super light in color and structure but stands up really well.  Money in the bank for serving as an opener.  You should serve it cold and keep it chilled.  Hasta manana.

Luigi Bosca, 2007, Malbec

White or Red: Red

Grape(s): Malbec

Origin: Mendoza, Argentina

Vintage: 2007

Price: around $15

We're back.  I blame it on the hurricane, those hazy summer days and a lumpy economy.  

Overall:

We did the Luigi Bosca Cab Sav awhile back and friends mentioned that the Malbec version was one I needed to taste.  So I did and here's what I think.

Freakin' awesome.  You ever take a swim in a fresh-water river or lake and get a little water in your mouth?  You know how soft and silky that water is?  Well, that is the first thing you need to know about this wine.  Never have I been so attuned to a wine's texture- it's remarkable how soft and subtle it is.  

Further, some of the other Malbecs we've done  have been on the heavier side.  This one runs with more of a Pinot Noir consistency- light but grounded. 

The nose has hints of vanilla, strawberry jam, cola and big cherry fruit but it's in the context of a mature, well-balanced winner.

I would put this with a manchego cheese, tapas or even to the other extreme, heavy red meat.  More importantly I'd drink it without any food at all.

The bounty comes after being uncorked for an hour or more.  You gotta be patient when you get to better bottles - this wine opened up better than Gun's & Roses when they upstaged headliners, the Cult, night after night in '87.  Plan ahead, get a $5 wine aerator and drink another bottle while this one breathes.  Do that and this feels like a $50 bottle.