Tasting Notes (Heidelberg tasting of Axial wines at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse 3/16/09)
2008 Esperanza Verdejo-Viura, 50% Verdejo and 50% Viura, Rueda, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $14.50. Tasted 3/16/2009.
Herbal/grassy nose with aromas of grapefruit peels. Crisp and dry with good fruit and acidity. Match with shellfish or lighter fish dishes. The Raymond Rating = 88 points.
2008 Esperanza Verdejo: Rueda, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $16.50. Tasted 3/16/2009.
Lemon peel with herbal notes on the nose. Crisp and dry with good fruit and acidity, though rounder than the Verdejo-Viura. Match with shellfish or lighter fish dishes. The Raymond Rating = 88 points.
2007 Care Rosado Cabernet-Tempranillo: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Tempranillo, Cariñena, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $15.50. Tasted 3/16/2009.
Strawberry/berry with spicy/herbal notes with a light milk chocolate note on the nose. Dry but not astringent, with good fruit and a clean finish. A very nice rosé that would pair nicely with many foods and be a great choice for a picnic. The Raymond Rating = 87 points.
2008 Care Rosado Cabernet-Tempranillo: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Tempranillo, Cariñena, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $15.50. Tasted 3/16/2009.
Strawberry/berry with spicy/herbal notes with a light milk chocolate note on the nose. Dry but not astringent, with good fruit and a clean finish, though crisper than the 2007 with a little more length. A very nice rose that would pair nicely with many foods and be a great choice for a picnic. The Raymond Rating = 88 points.
2003 Abrazo “Crianza”, 50% Garnacha and 50% Tempranillo, Cariñena (2003 was a difficult vintage for the region), Spain. Imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $11.50. Tasted 3/16/2009.
Medium ruby. Smoky/berry nose with herbal, raw asparagus notes. Lighter than expected, medium fruit. Medium finish with some lingering, firm tannins. The Raymond Rating = 86 points.
2004 Abrazo “Crianza”, 50% Garnacha and 50% Tempranillo, Cariñena, Spain. 13.5% alcohol, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $9.75. Tasted 11/22/2008.
Deep purple red. Sweet cherries and cedar with herbal dried parsley notes on the nose. Rather closed when first poured, it opens up with air and really starts to show off. Well-structured with good fruit, nice acidity, and firm velvety tannins providing a proper backbone to this old-world style red. There is decent complexity and a moderately long finish. Though drinking nicely now, a few more years of bottle age wouldn’t hurt it a bit. A good match with beef or lamb, and a great value! The Raymond Rating = 88 points.
2007 Abrazo Garnacha, Cariñena, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $8.95. Tasted 3/16/2009.
Medium ruby. The nose had aromas of smoky berries with a cherry note. Good fruit. A medium, rather tannic, though not harsh finish. An excellent value that would be a very good match with grilled foods. The Raymond Rating = 87 points.
2002 Abrazo “Reserva”, 60% Garnacha and 40% Tempranillo, Cariñena, Spain. Imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $14. Tasted 3/16/2009.
Berries, tobacco, and cedar on the nose. Good fruit and complexity with a long finish. Drinking nicely now. A good match with beef or lamb, and a very good value! The Raymond Rating = 90 points.
2006 Bestué “Finca Rableros”, 50% Tempranillo and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, DO Somontano, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $17.95. Deep purple color. Blackberry and cassis with earthy notes that open up with air. Well-structured with good fruit, nice acidity, and rather firm tannins. There is decent complexity and a moderately long, though tannin dominated, finish. It should improve with a few more years of bottle age to soften the tannins and develop its bottle-bouquet. A good match with well-marbled beef or lamb. The Raymond Rating = 89 points.
2006 Bestué “Finca Santa Sabina”, 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Tempranillo, DO Somontano, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $25. Deep purple color. Cassis with lovely cedar and cigar box aromas. Well-structured with lush fruit, good complexity, and a long finish. It should improve with a few more years of bottle age to soften the tannins and develop its bottle-bouquet. A good match with well-marbled beef or lamb. The Raymond Rating = 92 points.
2007 La Mano Mencía Roble, 100% Mencia, DO Bierzo, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $10.95. Slightly smoky mulberries on the nose with some hints of grilled meats. Lush fruit with some complexity and a medium-long finish. An excellent value that would be a very good match with grilled foods. The Raymond Rating = 89 points.
2006 Zumaya Tempranillo, Ribera Del Duero, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $14.50. Lightly smoky raspberries on the nose with a touch of licorice and herbal highlights. Good fruit and balance with medium finish and length. The Raymond Rating = 88 points.
2005 Zumaya “Crianza”, 100% Tempranillo, Ribera Del Duero, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $14.50. Cedar, blackberries, and coffee notes on the pretty nose. Very good fruit and well-structured with a medium-long finish. A very nice value! The Raymond Rating = 90 points.
2004 Care “Crianza”, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Tempranillo, 33% Merlot, Cariñena, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $20. Slightly raisined nose with currants, earth, and the hint of an aroma of latex paint. Well-structured with some complexity and a long, though rather tannic finish. The Raymond Rating = 89 points.
2002, 2003, 2004 Care Finca Bancales “Cosecha”, 65% Garnacha and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, Cariñena, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $30. All 3 vintages were similar. Slightly over-ripe berries on a somewhat woody nose. Good structure, fruit, length, and finish, though rather tannic. The Raymond Rating = 90-91 points.
2007 Vallobera Pago Malarina, 100% Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain, imported by Axial Wines USA, distributed by Heidelberg, $15.75. Blackberries with a touch of dark chocolate on the nose. Well-structured with some complexity and a medium long, tannin-dominated finish. The Raymond Rating = 89 points.