Just a few more notes

2013 Honoro Vera Rueda

They have 2500 acres under vine, since 1916, this is one of the Gil Family Estates. 100% Verdejo from younger vines Pretty orange blossom like floral notes to the green melon and green apple fruit, a note of salty mineral and a mustard like note nuance. A bright zesty wine on the tongue with juicy fruit and a tongue tingly minerality leaving you salivating for food. Finish 35+ Very Good

This is what I found online - I must say it is close. Not a lot of orange but citrus with a great underpinning of acidity and minerality. For an under $10 bottle of white, I was very impressed.  Not oaky like Chard, not boring like Sauv blanc and better than Rioja whites.

 

2013 Ink Monster The Original Zinfandel

"This gem is an inky dark and richly concentrated wine with notes of blackberry spices and vanilla. Enjoy it with game stews braised short ribs and veal shanks with mushroom risotto." 92 Points Wine & Spirits Guild of America

 

OK - it is Primitivo, basically the same grape as Zinfandel.

I find a lot of red fruits, in a fruit bomb style, little layering of flavors and an aftertaste that reminds you of the berry flavored syrups in pancake houses. OK for the price, but not a Cali zin with the spice and depth…

2013 Marques de Somera Garnacha

Selected from old bush vines around the town of Longares by Covinca, at an altitude of 530 meters on soils of limestone and decomposed chalk. Vinification and aging done strictly in tank to accentuate the pure essence of old vine Garnacha - no oak! Violets, bluberries, and wild strawberries burst from the glass. Easy drinking deliciously smooth red. Bang for the buck!

This was another cheapy - not overwhelming but a pretty good quaff, with BBQ and grilled items.

El Jamon Garnarcha

El Jamon An introduction El Jamon is named after Spanish Jamón Serrano (literally mountain ham), a type of dry-cured ham traditionally served thinly sliced with olives, cheese and a glass of wine. The grapes sourced for El Jamon come from the region of Cariñena Denominaciόn de Origen (DO) located in northern Spain, at the base of Sierra de La Virgen. The Cariñena DO is one of Spain's oldest areas to be demarcated, in 1932. The continental climate, high altitudes of the DO and reddish-brown limestone topsoil over slate and alluvial soils is an excellent combination for growing Tempranillo

Now, to go along with our popular El Jamon Tempranillo, a new El Jamon from the other great native grape of Spain, Garnacha. Fuller and rounder, with a lower acid level, this is a soft and easy wine to sip with your meal.

 

Must be 2012 but could find no date on the label

Katherine Able: March, 2015 5/5 stars

One of the more versatile red grapes in the world, Garnacha (Grenache) thrives in Spain. This gem has flavors of black raspberry and cherry fruit, with earthy notes of spice, leather, vanilla and mocha. Medium-bodied with fine, soft tannins and well-balanced acidity. Serve with roast pork loin or chicken with yellow rice.

I know, I really do like Garnacha. This is another cheapy, but made well enough to be a dinner wine. Won't impress your wine snob friends, but a pleasant drinking, fairly low alcohol red to drink in the summer. Nice with pork.

I have to go - will try to get more done soon - got a killer Cabernet and a great Syrah to tell you about. Until later, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.