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Extremely Good Deals From
Extremadura
Last week we tried two excellent new Spanish wines that are, as usual for
Spain, also excellent values. The wines are from the Ribera del Gaudiana, which was new to us! But after some research we can tell you that it's the
only D.O. (denomination de origin, or government-awarded zone of quality wines) in the larger Extremadura region, which sits in Spain's southwest and
borders Portugal. It's one of many regions in Spain that have recently really modernized their production methods (Ribera del Gaudiana got its DO
status in 1999). It shows in the wines: they are fresh, easy-going, and modern.
2007 Emperador de Barros Macabeo (was $12; WWM price:
$11)
Macabeo is a white grape with multiple identities. It's one of the grapes
used to make the sparkling wine Cava near Barcelona. When in Rioja, it goes by the alias "viura." Its taste is also somewhat enigmatic, but in the
best way. So many things all at once: tangy and taut, yet also ripe and tropical, with green apple, pear, banana and a bit of a toasty nuttiness
on the finish. Mouth-watering!
2006 Emperador de Barros Tempranillo (was $12; WWM price:
$11)
Spain's most famous grape, Tempranillo, is rendered summer-ready: juicy
dark purple fruit with hints of cinnamon with a very smooth, medium body. Though you wouldn't know it from the heft seen in some top Riojas,
Tempranillo is a rather thin-skinned variety (like Pinot Noir), so when left to its own devices without the influence of oak ageing, it can be really
lithe and silky, as it is here!
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Southern Thrift: "It's Too Hot For June"
Edition
If this is June, we tremble at the thought of August. Never fear, we've
got a new $8 wine that will cool you off and perhaps distract you from imagining another summer like last year's.
2007 Punta Pays Chardonnay (Mendoza, Argentina) was
$10, SALE $8
Cool label design meets cool wine. Yes, it is made with the Chardonnay
grape, but it might be best if you forget that, because this wine bears little resemblance to that wine's typical taste. It's incredibly
aromatic, floral and tropical, with a light, refreshing body and vibrant acidity. There is a touch of roundness to the body, but it doesn't
have as anywhere near as much cream and butteriness as many Chardonnays (especially those from California). These qualities place it in the
running for summer wine par excellence.
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Crios Malbec & Rose Back In
Stock
Many devotees of this excellent Argentenian line from Susana Balbo, in
good humor, settled for other wines during its recent absence from our shelves. We appreciate that, and are happy to have them back!
The Malbec is on sale for $13 (usually $15), and the Rose of Malbec is
only $12. What a deal!!
A refresher on both:
Crios Malbec - Star anise and tons of clove, nutmeg
and other baking spices on the nose. Very smooth body, which exudes tons of violet and wildflowers. Robust fruit doesn't detract from the wine's
overall delicate and very pretty nature. Toasty and comforting.
Crios Rose of Malbec - A gorgeous deep
cranberry/fuchsia color reveals the depth of this Rose. It's rich and full of strawberry and raspberry notes. Some spicy vegetal qualities enliven the
finish.
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Store News
- We have a new face behind the counter! We are happy to have Jesse on the
team for the summer. He is fluent in Spanish and has an incredible knowlege of beer (he even brews his own!). Say hello the next time you're
in!
- You may have noticed a familiar face in Monday's edition of the Nashville City Paper - our own Courtney is the new wine
columnist there! Our resident shelf-talker and email author, she now gets to write about wine outside of work too, which she luckily enjoys. In
fact, she is writing this in the third person and feeling a bit weird about it. If there are things you'd like to see discussed in the column, please
let her know! courtney@woodlandwinemerchant.com
Have a fun weekend!
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