Vionta
Valdubón
Fra Guerau
Morlanda
Segura Viudas
Vionta Albarino 2005
90 POINTS
"Full and robust in its approach. The bouquet is fragrant and expansive, with melon and honey aromas pouring forth with gusto. The flavors are quite delicious, a near-perfect blend of apple, melon and citrus."
Wine Enthusiast, September 2006
"The trendy choices are Albarinos from Spain."
USA TODAY, Auditioning Summer Whites, April 13, 2007
88 POINTS
"Crisp and focused, this white delivers pear, apple, lime and herb flavors with enough body to match richer dishes. A hint of spritz adds to the freshness. Drink now."
Wine Spectator, November 30, 2006
87 POINTS
"The 2005 Vionta Albarino is a light gold-colored, crisp wine with honeysuckle and peach aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with very good concentration and balance, it would be a fine accompaniment to fleshy fish courses and Asian cuisine." - Jay Miller
eRobertparker.com, February 2007
Bottles with the fresh essence of the season: "One to sample is Vionta Albarino 2005 from Rias Baixas, Spain."
Cooking Light, Sips of spring by Karen MacNeil, March 2007
"The region of Rias Baixas (pronounced ree-AHSH buy-SHUS) lies across the Portuguese border along Spain's lush Atlantic coastline. Most crisp, racy whites from the native variety Albarino are Riesling-like, but this one is ripe with melon notes and a touch of creaminess."
Epicurious.com, By Leslie Sbrocc, October 2006
Interview with Debie Zachareas, 41, wine director and co-owner of Bacar restaurant and the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant.
Interviewed by Stacy Finz, Chronicle Staff Writer
Q: What are you drinking most right now?
A: I'm drinking alot of Spanish whites. They're crisp and a good value. I'm also drinking a fair amount of Spanish reds.
Q: What wine did you have last night with dinner?
A: ...2005 Vionta Albarino from the Rias Baixas region of Spain...
San Francisco Chronicle, August 10, 2006
"This Freixenet-owned brand is one of the easier Albarinos to find in the Bay Area and a good, typical example. It has fresh red grapefruit aromas and hints of apricot and peach flavors that seem comparatively ripe, but still finish crisp."
San Francisco Chronicle, March 23, 2007
Vionta Albarino 2004
"Citrus and mineral flavors give this wine a firm edge, honed by crisp acidity. It has notes of pear and apple. Drink now."
Wine Spectator, September 30, 2005
Vionta Albarino 2003
92 POINTS
"Apple aromas with a hint of pencil lead. Zesty citrus and mineral flavors with almost stinging acidity. Lengthy, fresh, youthful finish. A fabulous oyster wine."
The Wine News, February/March 2005
SMART BUY
Thomas Matthews' Recommended Spanish Wines, December 15, 2004
89 POINTS
"Firm, even austere, with smoke and hazelnut notes overlaying the pear and coconut flavors. Yet lively acidity makes it a good match for food. Distinctive, typical style, but attractive. Drink now through 2006."
Wine Spectator, November 15, 2004
"Yellow in color, with a heavy disposition. The nose yields sweet and ripe mango, melon... Additional lemon and tangerine carries the monocline palate. Best as a simple shellfish wine."
Wine Enthusiast, Best of Year Issue, December 31, 2004
"Albarino is my favorite Spanish white. This light gold offering gives off aromas of green apples, lemons and pears. Tart and creamy, the ripe fruit makes a bold statement. This is the perfect shellfish companion."
Wine Lover's Page by Randy Buckner, July 2004
Valdubon Crianza 2003
86 POINTS
"Early on the wine is dominated by buttery oak, and it's all over the nose, palate and finish. Airing settles it down, and up from the creamy underworld comes raspberry, stewed plums and chocolate. Not the thinking man's Ribera del Duero, but it gets the job done."
-Wine Enthusiast, February 2008
Valdubon Crianza 2002
87 POINTS
"Smooth and round, with chunky red-fruit aromas touched up by cinnamon. Tangy on the tongue, with plum and cherry balanced by firm tannins and lively acidity. Not flashy but plenty good enough to enjoy on an everyday basis. Imported by Freixenet USA."
Wine Enthusiast, November 15, 2005
Valdubon Cosecha 2004
88 POINTS
"Scents of black cherry and plum carry through this wine, modern and soft as cream. Roast pork in a sweet sauce would match its charm."
Wine Enthusiast, June 2006
87 POINTS
"Bright red. Laid-back aromas of cherry cola, plum, mocha and rose. A juicy midweight wine with an attractive fruit/acid balance and good purity to its red fruit flavors. Finishes on a tangy note of pomegranate, with bright acids providing lift and precision."
International Wine Cellar, September/October 2006
Valdubon Cosecha 2003
89 POINTS, EXCEPTIONAL VALUE
"Tempranillo grown in the mineral-rich soils of the Duero often ripens with a floral character, like this wine's violet scent that contrasts all its black velvet warmth. Mineral tannins keep it structured and firm, while the fatness of the fruit is relieved by a lemon-edged acidity. A fine, fresh Ribera del Duero for baby lamb chops off the grill this summer."
Wine & Spirits, June 2005
86 POINTS
"This basic RdD delivers a smooth, ripe nose with doses of forest, bacon, road tar and violets, and there's some plum and blackberry at the foundation. Juicy and raw on the tongue, with racy, slick blackberry fruit..."
Wine Enthusiast, June 2005
Fra Guerau Rosado 2006
"It was
a rich rose-cherry color
and had a fruity bouquet.
Its rich, fruity flavor was
quite unusual, with elements
of pears, cherries
and pomegranates. It had
good body and moderate
acidity."
AustinWoman, February 2008
Fra Guerau Rosado 2005
88 POINTS
"More robust than most ross, this is in line with lighter red wines, like cru Beaujolais. The red fruit is saturated and luscious under light, fragrant scents of roses and herbs. It has enough cut for pork with romesco sauce."
Wine & Spirits, August 2006
92 POINTS
"A jazzy and racy rose, the scintillating and well-directed '05 Fra Guerau Rose deftly combines Syrah, Merlot, and Tempranillo into a work of art; fine crisp finish, outstanding!"
WILFRED WONG
88 POINTS
"Pale red. Dusty strawberry, raspberry, peach, blood orange and honeysuckle on the nose. Utterly delicious wine, with a palate dominated by peach, and red berry flavors spreading out on the long, juicy finish. A deep and concentrated rose that's also very easy to drink. Finishes with an intriguing mineral component."
International Wine Cellar, September/October 2006
Fra Guerau 2004
".."It had a nice tart cherry finish, and any tannins present were smooth. There was a touch of a woody/spicy flavor, but it was pretty subtle. Overall, it was a wine that could have paired with a number of dishes..."
Kelly Magyarics Wine Consulting, trywine.blogspot.com,
January 28, 2008, download full review
Fra Guerau 2002
87 POINTS, BEST BUY
"This well-priced red from Tarragona shows a glimpse of what the Montsant region can produce. The nose is all red fruit, with a splinter of oak. The palate is chunky and easy as it deals blackberry and raspberry in spades. Chocolate and mocha on the thick finish should please the sugar mavens."
Wine Enthusiast, June 2005
88 POINTS, EXCEPTIONAL VALUE
"You can taste the schist in this Montsant, the minerals of the soil in which the vines grew now underlying the peppery, vinous flavors of the wine. It's a bistro-weight red lightened by the scent of white flowers, to order with tripe or morcilla."
Wine & Spirits, June 2005
87 POINTS
"The warmth of alcohol frames scents of spicy strawberry and cedar. Lean, tart, bright flavors of raspberry and earth."
The Wine News, February/March 2005
EXCEPTIONAL
"Fascinating rich fruit based Syrah-Garnacha blend with cooked raspberry, black pepper an a muted dried-herb spice. Slightly rustic, but with lots going on. From a region that rings Priorat in Spain and has only just been discovered."
Dan Berger's Vintage Experience, May 19, 2005
Morlanda 2003
90 POINTS
"The 2003 Morlanda is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Carignan, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in American oak. Purple-colored, it offers an attractive nose of pain grille, smoke, black cherry and black currant jam. Full-bodied with a supple palate-feel, its ripe fruit is already exhibiting some complexity as well as excellent
depth and concentration. The wine is quite approachable now and should continue to drink well for another 6-8 years." - Jay Miller
eRobertParker.com, February 2007
Morlanda 2001
90 POINTS
"Nice mix of cherry, chalk, pencil, coffee and glove leather aromas. Lively, clean flavors of raspberry, licorice, minerals and brown spice."
Wine News, February/March 2005
89 POINTS
"This red shows supple black cherry and light herbal flavors, with notes of coffee and anise. It's surprisingly delicate, but shows firm grip on the finish. Drink now through 2010. 300 cases imported."
Wine Spectator, August 31, 2004
88 POINTS
"On the lighter side...this offers lightly peppery scents and dried red cherry flavors, tinged by herbal hints. The richness instead lies in the velevety texture; pour it with long-braised lamb shoulder, accented with juniper berries."
Wine & Spirits, June 2004
"Light ruby in color, the aromas reflect bright red cherries, cranberries, cinnamon, and American oak. Flavors are a repeat of the nose, however the oak influence is pretty heavy handed."
Wine Lover's Page by Randy Buckner, July 2004
Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad NV
"Your man will love pouring bubbly from this regal-looking vessel, hand-blown glass set in a pewter base. The lemon and apple scented cava is so tasty, he'll never know you paid a fraction of the price of his usual champagne."
Everyday with Rachel Ray, February 2008, download full review
Segura Viudas Brut Reserva NV
"Our top choice, this reserve bubbly is full-bodied and rich-tasting, yet still crisp and clean. Like all Spanish cavas, it's aged in the bottle for maximum flavor."
Good Housekeeping, January 2008, download full review
Segura Viudas Creu de Lavit 2004
86 POINTS
"This one takes some getting used to. The nose begins in crystallized, granular fashion, much like a powdered drink mix. The palate offers citrus, apple and some oak, because it was barrel fermented. Medium in depth, with tang across the tongue. Good for Penedes white table wine."
Wine Enthusiast, October 2005
"Medium bodied with apple, quince, and melon; medium finish somewhat dominated by oak. Grilled chicken."
Sante, November 2006
87 POINTS
"Medium straw color. Ripe pear, apple, and white peach aromas, with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. Round, juicy and medium-bodied, with a chewy texture and good heft to its orchard fruit flavors. I'd have guessed this to be a good-quality Maconnais wine from its body, texture and ripe apple and pear flavors. Finishes with good length. Xarello is the variety that gives body and oomph to most Cavas."
International Wine Cellar, September/October 2006
GREAT GOLD MEDAL
Grand Vinitaly, 2006
Segura Viudas Creu de Lavit 2003
"Another table wine made from Xarel-lo, the prime white grape for sparkling cava. This one is barrel-aged, so there's a full whiff of resiny wood prior to flavors of spiced cider and smoked ham. Some cinnamon and raisin notes add character..."
Wine Enthusiast, Best of Year Issue, December 31, 2004
87 POINTS
"Love what Spain is putting out these days. The color is straw and light golden yellow, the aroma a little beeswax and faint melon. The taste is bold and flavorful and really comes alive in the mouth. It's balanced and crisp."
Arizona Republic, Samplings from the office odd bin, Tastes of this and that from all over, March 14, 2007
Segura Viudas Brut Rose
"Cavas tend to be excellent
value despite the labor involved
in making them. The Segura Viudas
Brut Rose Cava was no exception.
It was a delightful dark pink
color and had a tart, yeasty bouquet
that introduced a crisp flavor loaded
with cherries and cranberries. Its
hearty bubbles tickled our noses and
inflamed our fancies as we sipped it
contentedly."
AustinWoman, February 2008
