54 THE ADVOCATE
VOL. 79 PART 1 JANUARY 2021
VARIAS CAVA GENUI BRUT NATURE NV
D.O. Penedès, Spain #134687 $15.99
From an Alt Penedès winery that has been producing since 1918, this
golden Brut Nature is a completely and naturally dry sparkling, in this case
with a blend of forty per cent Xarel-lo and thirty per cent each of Macabeo
and Parellada. A golden hue, it has fresh bread, melon, lemon, floral and
almond aromas and a palate that is an echo of the nose with additions of
green apple, white grapefruit and wet stone. It has a good overall complexity
and a fine bead, with a finish that is tart and extra dry with citrus and
mineral. Slightly higher in alcohol than the Poema at twelve per cent, it
scored 91 points on <Winescores.ca>. The same food choices work here,
as will richer ones. We made crab and Manchego cheese tarts and a roasted
pepper, olive and caper salad that worked well.
TORRES VINA ESMERALDA CORAL EDITION, 2019
Catalunya, Spain #165316 $16.99
I have reviewed this pleasing off-dry wine a couple of times over the years.
From the famous Penedes producer, Torres, it is a staple of Spanish whites
in our LDB stores. A fragrant blend of muscat (Muscatel de Alejand´ria) and
Gewürtztraminer, it opens on the nose with orange blossom and light tropical
fruit. The flavours are of the same tropical fruit (lemon-lime and mango
predominate). Reflecting its lighter alcohol level of 11.5 per cent, the finish
is fairly short but rich and creamy. While it will pair very well with Indian
or spicy Asian food, I also recommend it with a seafood tapa like calamari
with a spicy aioli, or red chili shrimp.
HACIENDA LÓPEZ DE HARO 2016
D.O. Rioja, Spain #688574 $20.00 (approx.)
This winery is located above San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Principally from
old-vine Viura (Macabeo) along with ten per cent of other, unnamed white
varieties, this wine is full and vibrant, with aromas of green apple, white
flowers, lemon-lime, green peach and a mineral overtone. The flavours are
full but crisp, with lime, white grapefruit, green apple and pear, and it has
a medium-long and slightly spicy finish. It has enough weight to work well
as a winter white with food. For tapas, we had chicken sautéed with lemon
and garlic, green beans and pine nuts, and pan-fried potatoes with garlic
aioli. Also good would be pollo con langostinos (chicken and prawns). I found
this wine at JAK’s, but it is also stocked by Everything Wine.
/www.winescores.ca
