Anciano 2002 Gran Reserva 10yrs - 88pts

Anciano 2002 Gran Reserva 10yrs (Valdepeñas) Spain

Availability: BCLDB Speciality listing
Cost: $14-16
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: Nov 6th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Having been oak aged for 2 years and then spent a further 8 years in bottle prior to release, this Tempranillo offers overt signs of the influence of both practices. All of the 'edges' have been rounded and the texture is smooth and mellowed. Keeping the wine alive and well is the nice vein of acidity that helps keep the prune-y, red fruit and spicy plum aromas and flavours from appearing tired and warn-out. Tobacco, leather and coffee grind notes add complexity and help make this wine a great match for stews and peppercorn encrusted cuts of beef.

Ready to go now, and don't doddle, the end is nigh. Drink 2013-2015
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Anciano 2005 Gran Reserva 7yrs - 87pts

Anciano 2005 Gran Reserva 7yrs (Valdepeñas D.O.) Spain

Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $12-13
Alcohol: 13%
Date Tasted: Oct 30th, 2013

Tasting Notes: There's a whole lot to like and pick-out on the nose of this Spanish gem that was aged for 7 years prior to its release. At first sniff, the spice and herb qualities are dominant, though, with a long decant, sweet plum, raspberry seed and scorched earth aromas appeal and round out the nose. The palate offers a nice balance of oak influenced spice and toasted flavours complimenting bright, red fruit characters through to a moderate finish with both lingering savoury tannins and mouth watering acid. Ready to go now. Drink 2013-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Segura Viudas NV Brut Reserva - 82pts

Segura Viudas Non Vintage Brut Reserva (Penedès) - Spain

Availability: Widely available in private and BCLDB stores.

Cost: $15.99 (BC Liquor Stores)

Alcohol: 11.5%

Date Tasted: October 5th, 2009

Tasting Notes: This dry Cava is made in the traditional method of sparkling wines and spends up to 2 years aging with the residual yeast from the second fermentation. The final blend is 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel.lo which are all grapes native to Spain's Penedès region.

On the nose this light straw coloured wine offers aromas of minerals, butter, rubber, forest floor and notes of citrus fruit. On the palate the high acid does not have enough fruit flavours to blend with leaving the wine slightly unbalanced. Pair with an acidic and fatty cheese as an appetizer and the palate flavours of lemon, green strawberry and mint will come forth.

Non vintage sparkling wines are not meant to age and should be enjoyed within a year of purchase. - LC