At Bertie.
Domaine de l'Horizon, Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes, Blanc, 2009
I was so taken with this at Uri Caftori's tasting, that I just had to share it with Efrat. I think this is a very tasty, very interesting wine, but it's more fascinating than it is actually great, if that's what you're looking for in a wine for special occasions. Its fruit profile is hard to place, a mixture of quince, melons and mango, but so laid back the fruit never veers close to being tropical. In addition, the aromatics have a smoky, mineral-laden, spicy feel, later even showing a dash of sculptor's clay. The palate has an almost sweet ripeness, well complemented by very juicy acidity, and culminating in a lightly saline finish. I'd reckon the reason it shies away from greatness per se is that while it is highly individual and makes a unique statement, it doesn't really have a whole lot of pieces on its game board to play with.
The anniversary-year wine.
Ishmael Arroyo, Ribera Del Duero, Gran Reserva, 1995
The aromatics are deep and complex, redolent with black fruit, cardamon, ground coffee, leather and meat - very, very Old World. The evolution in the palate has been slow since I last had a taste three years ago, and based on that, I have no idea how long this will last, probably for years and years - there's enough tannins and acidity for comfort and plenty of fruit - but it will probably remain muscular until it succumbs to dotage. Whatever, it's ripe, almost sweet, and the finish is lightly saline and grainy. It's an oaky wine at that, but old school Spaniards are probably one of the last places I accept that.