Neat Thoughts About Food, Wine, Travel & More
I’ve been a huge fan of Martin Codax wines for 15+ years. Love Albarino for its food friendliness, big flavors, great minerality and fantastic value.
This 2021 Bodega Martin Codax Albarino was great paired with seafood for on a warm Sunday evening.
👃Citus and ripe melon
👄 Medium body, bright, great minerality, citrus, touch of oak
💲14.99
📍Rias Baixas, Spain
Buy a case of this for the summer, it’s ideal!
Cheers, Veronique
I’m unsure why I don’t drink more Rias Baixas Albariño – it’s outstanding and an incredible value! The wines from that region are refreshing, delicious, showcase the big flavors I enjoy in white wines and are food-friendly to boot.
I enjoyed this 2018 Bodegas Granbazán Etiqua Verde Albariño wine at a tasting dinner where it was served as an aperitif to go with an amuse-bouche and was pleasantly-surprised it was less than $20.
About Bodegas Granbazán
In the 1960s, Manuel Otero y Otero purchased land that had been planted with eucalyptus and cattle feed in the hopes of converting it to vineyards. In the 1980s, his son, Manuel Otero Candeira, built Granbazán, a chateau with a beautiful building amid a vineyard pergola-trained vines.
Granbazán was instrumental is elevating the quality of wine in Galicia and for raising the reputation of Rias Baixas white wines around the world.
Bodegas Granbazán is now owned by Pedro Martínez Hernández, of Rioja estate Bodegas BAIGORRI fame, who endeavors to set new quality standards through his investments in vineyards and cellar technology.
Etiqueta Verde (‘Green Label’) is the entry-level offering from Granbazán. The grapes are hand-harvested and de-stemmed before undergoing a cool pre-fermentation maceration which helps to lock in and amplify aromas and structure.
Looks: Pale straw yellow in the glass
Smell: Intense juicy pear and grapefruit on the nose with some grassiness
Taste: Ripe melon and apple on the palate
Texture and Finish: Medium to full-bodied, crisp acidity with a bit of salinity on the finish
Pairings: Seafood, fish, roast chicken, light creamy pasta
Style: White Wine
Grape Type(s): 100% Albariño
Region: Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain
Price: $19
Cheers,
Veronique
I used to drink a lot of Rias Baixas Albariño and loved it…not really sure why I ever stopped – it’s delicious, refreshing, food-friendly and inexpensive! I enjoyed this wine at a sea side seafood restaurant on a recent vacation and promised myself I’d go back to it after returning to the USA.
Martin Codax was one of most important Galician men of the middle ages. Bodegas Martin Codax was founded in 1986 and has grown into one of the most respected wineries in Galicia’s Rías Baixas region.
Looks: Bright straw yellow in the glass
Smell: Intense citrus on the nose with herbaceousness
Taste: Ripe apple and juicy apricot/peach
Texture and Finish: Medium to full-bodied, little spritz on the finish
Pairings: Seafood, fish, roast chicken, light creamy pasta
Style: White Wine
Grape Type(s): 100% Albariño
Region: Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain
Price: $12
Cheers,
Veronique
David Geary
A couple of weeks ago, I attended a wine pairing dinner featuring the wines of Paco & Lola from Galicia Spain. The dinner took place at a local restaurant and wine bar, Tree Tavern, and a representative from the winery, David Geary, was on-hand to offer interesting information about the wines, the winery and Galicia Spain, where the winery is located.
About Paco & Lola
Paco & Lola is a relatively young winery founded in 2005 that’s committed to making wine in a modern, fresh way and for exuding a sophisticated-yet-fun image for wine drinkers with its polka dot branding.
Paco & Lola was born from a business initiative of a group of independent winegrowers from O Salnés who wanted to take their production to a professional level. These winegrowers formed “Sociedad Cooperativa Vitivinícola Arousana” which is now the largest cooperative in the DO Rías Baixas with over 400 members.
Paco & Lola is a producer of Albariño, considered THE white grape variety grown in Galicia. It’s an early ripening grape variety with small, tightly-packed clusters of sweet, deep golden berries that are renowned for their outstanding sugar-producing ability and remarkable high acidity.
Some tasting notes from the wines we tasted at the dinner:
Paco & Lola 2016 Albariño – 100% Albariño ($29.99)
In the Glass
Light straw yellow with a touch of green.
Nose
Lovely fragrant aromas of juicy pear, green apple with a bit of tropical fruit and some floral notes.
Palate
Tropical fruit continues on the palate with some Meyer lemon notes. Medium-full bodied wine with nice amount of acidity on the long-ish finish.
Food Pairings
Fish, seafood, white meats
Nº12 by Paco & Lola – 100% Albariño ($19.99)
12 were the days that the must fermented in the tank number 12.
In the Glass
Light straw yellow with a touch of green.
Nose
Meyer lemon and floral aromas with a hint of tropical fruit.
Palate
Big mango/lychee fruit flavors with good acidity.
Paco Red 2014 – 50% Tempranillo, 50% Garnacha ($18.99)
While Paco & Lola focuses on Albariño, it produces this red out of the DO Navarra, where Tempranillo- Garnacha grapes from old vines are harvested in vineyards of the Valdizarbe subzone. It was recommended this wine be served a bit on the cooler side, at around 56 degrees and I completely agree.
In the Glass
Dark cherry red with some purple hints.
Nose
Big red berry aromas with some floral notes.
Palate
Juicy dark berries and cherry flavors.
Food Pairings
Solid Tuesday night wine ideal for pizza, red sauced pasta, grilled burgers.
Paco & Lola 2010 Vintage – 100 % Albariño ($54.00)
Special high-end wine made in a limited edition of the best harvest of 2010. There were 400 bottles produced, I wouldn’t expect to find this in stores.
In the Glass
Intense straw yellow.
Nose
Candied tropical fruit with notes of nutmeg/cumin spices.
Palate
In love with this wine from the first sip – mouth-coating texture with big ripe fruit flavors and yeasty/toasted bread notes. Great acidity on a long finish.
Food Pairings
Lightly spicy foods (Thai, Indian), seafood, fish, roasted chicken or grilled pork.
Paco & Lola is expanding its reach in the USA and I highly recommend you check its wines out.
Cheers,
Veronique
This week, I was invited to explore unexpected wines from Napa Valley via a virtual tasting. I’ve explained the idea of virtual wine tastings in previous posts but for those who are new to the concept, here’s how they go:
In this case, the Karen mentioned in the hashtag was wine expert, Karen MacNeil. The virtual tasting was of six unexpected Napa Valley wines, including unoaked Chardonnay, Albariño from Carneros, an affordable Cabernet Sauvignon, and more.
Here are the wines sampled:
2013 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Chenin Blanc ($25)
Varieties: 100% Chenin Blanc
Pale yellow in appearance. Offers an Asian pear nose with a bit of sweetness. Offers tropical fruit flavors with citrus notes on the palate. Would be great served as an aperitif but also with shellfish on a warm summer evening. Only 187 cases produced – get your hands on this wine quickly.
2013 Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Fumé Blanc ($17)
Varieties: 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Sémillon
Fragrant ripe cantaloupe and juicy mandarin aromas. Lightly grassy, lime flavors with more cantaloupe on the palate. Long finish with the 10% Semillon making this wine interesting and complex.
2014 Artesa Napa Valley Albariño ($28)
Varieties: 100% Albariño
Less “in your face” with minerality than its Spanish kin. Lovely bright peach and Meyer lemon aromas with some floral notes. Peach and a bit of plum on the palate. Light oaky notes on a long finish.
2013 Alpha Omega Unoaked Napa Valley Chardonnay ($33)
Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Wish they’d make more than 500 cases! Clean, crisp, not your daddy’s Cali Chard (in a good way). Slightly creamy mouthfeel. I need to remember this wine when I host this year’s lobsterfest.
2012 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($29)
Varieties: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
Truly a classic Cali Cab and the stuff that made Robert Mondavi famous in the wine world. Enticing dark berry nose. Rich ripe berry flavors with a long, chocolate-kissed finish. 30% is from historic To Kalon vineyard in and 14% comes from Wappo Hill Vineyard in the Stag’s Leap district.
2010 St. Supéry Estate Vineyard & Winery Dollarhide Ranch Napa Valley
Petit Verdot ($50)
Varieties: 97% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark purple-red in the glass. Slightly tart berries and stone fruit nose. Big blackberry flavors with peppery notes. Get the grill out, this is what steaks are made to be paired with. 590 cases made.
For those of you who have stereotyped California wines as fruit bombs and butter in a glass (silly people), these are great examples of the unexpected, vibrant and delicious wines California has to offer.
Cheers,
Veronique
This wine is offered by Bodega Martin Codax, one of my favorite Albariño-makers. It was recently given 90 points by Wine Enthusiast and I can see, and taste, why.
In the glass, this wine is golden with greenish hues – very pretty. The aromas are of lush, juicy peach and apricot. The flavors are of ripe tropical fruits with floral and citrusy notes that carry on a long finish. Crisp with a great food-friendly level of acidity.
Pairings: Light fish, grilled seafood, aperitif
Style: White Wine
Grape Type(s): Albariño
Region: Rias-Baixas, Spain
Price: $14.99
I enjoyed this wine at San Francisco’s Spruce restaurant, which I highly recommend, and absolutely loved it.
On the nose, this Spanish wine is perfumed with sweet green apple and light lemony notes. In the mouth, this affordable Albarino is crisp and dry with lime zest and more green apple flavors. The finish is long with a great level of acidity.
Pairings: Pork belly, blackened chicken, grilled salmon.
Style: White
Grape Type(s): Albarino
Region: Rias Baixas, Spain
Around $20.
The 2009 Santiago Ruiz is a blend of 70% albarino, 20% loureiro and 10% treixadura. This wine is straw yellow in the glass and offers a vibrant floral nose full ripe peach and lemons. It is a well-balanced wine with many layers of intensity that could serve as an aperitif and also pair well with heavier shellfish. This wine has a long and strong mineral finish.
Santiago Ruiz is known to many as the “Father of Albarino” and the 2009 is a great example of Albarino that’s affordable enough to be a go-to every day wine.
Around $20.
’09 Pazo Senorans
Although light in color, this wine from Rias Baixas is anything but that in bouquet and aroma. Party in a glass is what you get from the first sniff. Nose is vibrant and screams of honey, tropical notes with lemony undertones. The 2009 Pazo Senorans Albarino is intense, creamy and well-balanced with an enjoyable crisp finish.
Around $20.
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