Condesa de Leganza Crianza Tempranillo

Year: 2004
Bodega: Condesa de Leganza
Country: Spain
Region: La Mancha
Grapes: 100% Tempranillo

Description:
The “Crianza” designation just means that the wine has spent one year in oak barrels. On other Spanish wines you may find “Reserva” which means this wine has been aged for two years in bottles, and at least one year in oak. “Gran Reserva” wines see two years in oak barrels, and three years aging in bottles.
- First smell: Earthy, smoky
- First taste: Spicy, with notes of plum & cherry
- More earthy than jammy, earthy being more characteristic of an old world wine rather than a new world wine
- Strong & tasty, smooth elegant finish
- Relatively "un-fruity" for a Tempranillo
- Would go well with lamb, grilled meats with a sweet sauce, hearty vegetable dishes. I had this one with a southern Spanish stewed aubergine dish.
- I really liked this wine. For it's price, it's pretty tasty and satisfactory, without being too earthy and musty, or too tackily fruity. Would buy again.

Music Selection:

Melendi - Un Violinista en tu Tejado

Personal Rating: 5/10

Casal Garcia Vinho Verde

Year: NA
Bodega: Avaleda
Country: Portugal
Region: Vinho Verde region, Minho, Portugal
Grapes: Loureiro, Trajadura, Arinto and Azal

Description:
Vinho Verde (green wine) is a unique Portuguese wine from the Minho region in the far north of the country. It's not intended to be a "serious" wine, but rather a light summer wine.

"Selected grape varieties are brought from the extensive vineyards of the Vinho Verde Region to our winery, to produce a smooth and fresh wine with a delicate aroma. It is the wine with the longest history at Aveleda and is easily identified by its blue label, which represents one of the magnificent embroideries of the Minho region."
- Casal Garcia

It’s alcohol content is low, around 10%, so you won't have to worry much about the hangover in the morning (or later afternoon). At a pretty low price, you can get this around 3 EUR in Portugal, or $5-6 here (in EEUU).

- Light yellow-green in colour
- First smell: citrus, and a crisp, spritzy acidity
- First taste: light, fresh, and effervescent; fruity, non presumptuous
- Made perfectly to pair with seafood and light salads. Maybe some honeydew melon. Especially Portuguese seafood and Portuguese salad :)
- This wine will definitely become a staple of mine.

Music Selection:
My friends and I popped open this wine before going to the summer event "White Linen Nights" in the Heights. While we were drinking, we heard this song on the radio... and thought "WTF is this? Some eastern European or Turkish song?" I thought it was some kind of Latin song since the station I listen to had dubbed it with reggaeton. Well, apparently it is the #1 song in Europe right now. It's funny though. Light, effervescent just like the wine. Now whenever we hear this song, we invariably think of this wine.

We No Speak Americano - Yolanda Be Cool & DCup

Rating: 8/10 One of my favorites types of wine and my favorite brand of vinho verde.