Gente en Barcelona: Corona de Aragón 2004

Former article: La Ninota 2005
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"Structured intensity"

D.O: Priorat
Type: Red with breeding 13,5%
Varieties: Grenache, Mazuelo, Cab. Sauvignon, Tempranillo
Aprox. prix: 8€
Producer: Bodegas y Viñedos Cal Grau, S.L.

Once harvested, the clusters are deshaved, removing twigs and leaves to avoid herbaceous tastes and the fermentation begins, whose method changes depending on the type of wine. In the whites, the grape is crumpled and the grain is sorted out from the juice before fermenting. In black and rosé wines, however, the fruit macerates together with the juice so that is acquiring the coloring of the skin, finally sorting it out by means of pressing.

This process is made in an environment without oxygen, during which yeast convert sugar to alcohol, grape juice into wine. Now it only remains to mature it, to maintain it a time in rest until it gets rusty slowly and stabilizes flavor and taste. The later interaction in American oak has brought him softwood nuances.

During its step along boot of French oak, this "Crown of Aragon" has softened its texture and has acquired a touch of vanilla. On the palate it shows good intensity with a structured way.

Original article (Spanish): www.logbares.com
Catalan version in www.logbares.cat

Gente en Barcelona: La Ninota 2005

Former article: Celler Mariol 2005
Back Article: Corona de Aragón 2004

"Intensity basis"

D.O: Utiel-Requena
Type: Red with breeding 12,5%
Varieties: Tempranillo
Aprox. prix: 5€
Producer: Bodegas Gandía

The productive service life of the grape is a calendar year. After the harvest, which runs from August through October depending on variety, the grapevine keeps on bringing down its biological activity until the spring, when it blooms again and the outbreaks that will stabilize during the summer are born.

The maturation affects the grain of grape in two different meanings: in the pulp, where the sugars responsible of the alcoholic degree are produced, but also in the leather and the seeds, which bring the necessary acid counterpoint. The thermal resistance that rules the Priorat, with important temperature differences between day and night balances both trends, provides strength and helps to describing with best accuracy the optimum moment of the vintage.

"La Ninota", an appeal blending of red color cherry, offers aromas of mature fruit with hints of alcohol and is intense and with character in the mouth.

Original article (Spanish): www.logbares.com
Catalan version in www.logbares.cat

Gente en Barcelona: Hoya de Cadenas 2004

Former article:
Back Article: Allozo 2001

"Tempranillo's fineness"

D.O: Utiel-Requena
Type: Red with breeding 12,5%
Varieties: Tempranillo
Aprox. prix: 5€
Producer: Bodegas Gandía

Llevant, the east coast of Spain, is an important wine-growing region that includes the autonomies of Valencia and Murcia and, next to Denominations of Origin (appellations) like Alicante, Jumilla or Yecla, includes others not as well-known as Bullas or Utiel-Requena, our today's protagonist.

An inner area of continental climate with heights of up to 900 meters, dominated by the Bobal grape, native of this DO, specially suitable for rosé wines and good complement to the Monastrell, of majority crop in the region. Indeed, although to a lesser extent, we can enjoy widespread Tempranillo, exemplified here in this "Hoya de Cadenas.

A monovarietal that clarifies its scent of red fruits with hints of wood and featuring good entry on the palate, where it evidences the delicacy of Tempranillo.

Original article (Spanish): www.logbares.com
Catalan version in www.logbares.cat

Gente en Barcelona: Celler Mariol 2005

Former article: Raimat Syrah 2005
Back Article: La Ninota 2005

"Showing nuances"

D.O: Terra Alta
Type: White with breeding 13%
Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon
Aprox. prix: 5€
Producer: Celler Mariol

Most likely, our preference for marriage with meat dishes can opt for traditional Tempranillo, the autochthonous national excellent grape. Culturally
tied to our palates and included in many of our wines, it is virtually cultivated in almost all DOs (apellations) and is practically available in all price bands.

However, beyond our borders, the habitual choice in this case are the red wines of Cabernet Sauvignon, a tasty and complex varietal of good body, easily adaptable to different climates and specially suitable for cask aging, as we can check in this "Celler Mariol" of today, with six months of raising.

Red cherry and ripe fruit scent marking, displays soft in the mouth, allowing to appreciate the nuances of the Cabernet without fanfare.

Original article (Spanish): www.logbares.com
Catalan version in www.logbares.cat

Gente en Barcelona: Raimat Syrah 2005

Former article: Alisé 2006
Back Article: Celler Mariol 2005

"Sustaining the smells"

D.O: Costers del Segre
Type: Black with breeding 14%
Varieties: Syrah
Aprox. prix: 8,60€
Producer: Raimat

Besides applicable to big part of our traditional dishes, the term Mediterranean Kitchen also identifies, for example, Maghreb Couscous, the Greek dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), the Arab Falafel or the Turkish Kebab, seasoned foods, strong and a usual restaurant option on our urban landscape.

By their aroma and ripened, spicy taste, the wines made from the grape Syrah tend to be a good complement to this type of food. Raimat, a bulk wine producer in the DO
(appellation) Costers del Segre in Lleida, includes within its broad offering this "Syrah 2005" of today, a black wine of intense red color with seed touches that is balanced in mouth, where it displays interesting smells in ripe fruit and spices.

Original article (Spanish): www.logbares.com
Catalan version in www.logbares.cat

Gente en Barcelona: Alisé 2006

Former article: Èlia 2006
Back Article: Raimat Syrah 2005

"A personal line"

D.O: Wine of the Earth of the Valle de Sadacia
Type: White without breeding 12%
Varieties: Muscatel
Aprox. prix: 5,20€
Producer: Castillo de Maetierra, S.L.

The map of geographical indicatives associated to the wine is stable, but non static. Often, it is not simple or advisable to change the "rules of the game" of a apellation (Denomination of Origin) or of a Wine of the Earth, and probably it turns out easier to create a new one.

Perhaps commercial motives, of addition of new grapes in the catalog of varietals allowed in the zone or maybe a simple differentiation of offer among, for example, white wines and black, are reasons enough for supporting a decision of this type. The split of apellation (DO) Montsant of its predecessor DO Tarragona, the foundation of the DO Catalonia or the creation of the Wines of the Earth of the Valle de Sadacia in territories of La Rioja are good examples.

Yellow greenish color, herbaceous aroma with acid and exotic touches. In mouth it's a little bt acid and with special aftertaste in fruit, always within the balance.

Original article (Spanish): www.logbares.com
Catalan version in www.logbares.cat

Gente en Barcelona: Allozo 2001

Former Article: Hoya de Cadenas
Back article: Auzells 2008

"A personal line"

D.O: Montsant
Type: White with breeding 13%
Varieties: Tempranillo
Aprox. prix: 4,5€
Producer: Bodegas Centro Españolas

Past week's article we spoke about the levantina apellation Utiel-Requena, today it's turn to its neighbor La Mancha, the biggest national wine-making zone, as much in extension of crop as in production of grape and much in front of two more popular apellations like La Rioja or Ribera del Duero.

Near 200.000 hectares of terrain where different varietals are grown, among those it undoubtedly highlights Airén, the native white grape of the zone and Cencíbel, a local name which they use for the widespread Tempranillo.

"Allozo" exemplifies the peculiarities of this variety, which shows slightly different from the habitual taste, of greater density and drier, in a very personal line.

Original article (Spanish): www.logbares.com
Catalan version in www.logbares.cat