Spanish white wines

Monday, April 26^th: A wine tasting webinar presented by George Brown College, led by Canadian Master Sommelier Pier-Alexis Soulière, featuring four Spanish white wines.

Vinyes Domènech Bancal del Bosc Garnacha Blanco 2020 (Montsant, $25)
Very pale rose gold in colour; aromatic, minerally, pomegranate bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, crisp and elegant, grapey flavour with a light floral note; great length with an engaging note of bitterness on the finish. (91)

Muchada-Léclapart Univers Palomino Fino 2018 (Andalusía, $45)
Bright, straw colour; nutty, smoky, struck flint nose, with salty, peach notes (suggesting skin contact); medium-bodied, dry, peach and apricot flavours with lively acidity and a chalky note. (89)

Finca Montepedroso Verdejo 2018 (Castilla y Leon, $25)
Straw yellow in colour; minerally, spicy, floral, yellow plum nose; medium-bodied, dry; rich and full in the mouth with ripe melon, lime and orange flavours. Great length. (90)

Pardas Rupestris Xarel-lo 2018 (Rueda, $25)
Bright, medium straw colour; minerally, grapefruit and lemon bouquet; medium-bodied, crisply dry with green plum and lemon flavours. (92)

I received the following wines from Kalala Organic Winery on the upper bench in West Kelowna, British Columbia. The winery name is a Hindi word meaning “miracle place.”

Kalala wines

Kalala Pinot Gris 2019 (Okanagan Valley)
Bright, straw colour; minerally, lightly floral, peach pit nose; light to medium-bodied, crisply dry, white peach flavour with lemony acidity. Sustains well on the palate. Drink now through 2021. (89)

Kalala Dostana Chardonnay 2018 (Dostana is a Hindi and Urdu term meaning “friendship,” not a vineyard name)
Straw colour; minerally, sage and apple nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, savoury, green apple flavour with lively acidity and a herbal finish.  Drink now through 2022. (89)

Kalala Dostana Riesling 2016
Light golden colour; honeyed petrol nose with a floral note and a touch of oak; medium-bodied, just off-dry, honeyed apple, lychee and tangerine flavours. Beautifully balanced and lingering. Drink now or hold a couple of years to intensify the bouquet. (90)

Kalala Harmony Red 2018
A blend of Merlot, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Deep ruby in colour; spicy, lightly floral plum and cherry bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, firmly structured with ripe tannins and flavours of sour cherry and plum. Hold until 2020. (89–90)

Kalala Pinot Noir 2018
Deep ruby in colour; spicy, meaty nose of black fruits with oak spice and notes of violets; medium-bodied, dry, red plum and cranberries with earthy, powdery tannins carried on fresh acidity. Can be enjoyed now but will reward holding until 2022. (89)

Kalala Aspire 2014
A blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah. Deep purple-ruby in colour; cedary, toasty, spicy, savoury nose of blueberry with herbal notes and evident aromas of American oak; full-bodied, dry, plum and blackcurrant flavours with licorice notes; well-balanced and rich in the mouth. Cellar for at least two years for maximum enjoyment. (91–93)

Other wines tasted:

Malivoire Mottiar Chardonnay 2018 (Beamsville Bench, Niagara)
Pale straw in colour; lightly toasty, spicy, apple with a note of cashew nut, minerally (almost salty) with a light floral fragrance; medium-bodied, dry, apple and green pineapple flavours carried on lively acidity. Lovely mouth-feel. (91)

Malivoire Rosé Moira 2020
100% Pinot Noir. Palest pink colour; delicate bouquet of watermelon and Rainier cherries (yellow cherries). Medium-bodied, dry, cranberry and cherry flavours with lively acidity. Lingers long on the palate. (90)

Fess Parker Marcella’s White Wine 2017 (Santa Barbara County, California, $21.95, Vintages #17580, to be released June 12^th, 2021)
53% Viognier, 13% Roussanne, 34% Grenache Blanc. Golden straw in colour; aromatic peach nose with a mineral note; medium to full-bodied, dry, rich peach and melon flavours carried on lemony acidity; with nicely integrated oak. (90)