We love Tempranillo, and you've likely noticed. When it comes to complex, savory, age-worthy wines — it's hard to beat the value of Rioja or Ribera Del Duero. We have a hard time containing our excitement when new vintages of R. Lopez De Heredia arrive, and we're sure to show you Muga when asked about our favorite rich red wines.
But Spain is so much more than just Tempranillo! Spain is the second largest wine producing country, and contains a myriad of varietals and expressions of terroir. Today we scratch the surface of Spanish red wines, but you could spend a lifetime exploring the Tinto wines of this beautiful country.
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Saturday Pop Up!
October 21st from 1-3pm
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Pat Jacobs, of 10,000 Drops, will be pouring the delicious new 'Lokal Cry Baby Craig's vodka with Pickled Pepper Brine and Hot Sauce. A perfect vodka for Bloody Mary's!!! Lokal is an affordable, Minnesota-made distillery located in Fairbault Mn. Cry Baby Craig's is another MN made favorite — a delicious, all-natural handcrafted hot sauce!
Bloody Mary Alert!!! This is a must try tasting event for all you Bloody fans out there!
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Mencía
Mencía is a delectable alternative to Pinot Noir, similarly aromatic but a bit meatier and more juicy. Medium-bodied, with notes of mixed berries, violets, and crushed gravel — this wine is perfect with leaner game meats, fall stews, or even a casual pizza. Most notably, you will find this grape grown in NW Spain, in the Galicia. One of our favorites is the Casto Ventosa Joven Mencia made by Raul Perez, whose family has tended to vines in Valtuille since 1752. This wine comes from vines that are 40-60 years old, resulting in a smoky, mineral-driven wine with tart bright fruit. The César Márquez Pérez 'Parajes' Mencia from Bierzo is made organically in partial whole-cluster fermentation. The wine is medium-bodied, with touches of spice and herbal undertones — read about this further below in our Staff Picks!
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Bobal
Who doesn't love a velvety wine with soft tannins and a chocolatey finish? Bobal is a delicious pairing for barbeque, smoked meats, Moroccan spices, or a simple chargrilled burger. Most commonly, you will find Bobal from the Valencia region of Eastern Spain. Vega Valterra Bobal is made from certified organic vineyards that were planted in 1950. The wine is structured with bright acidity, featuring juicy elderberry and plum notes. Bodegas Nodus 'En La Parra' Bobal is an organic/vegan wine made from young vines. Intensely aromatic, with black fruits and hints of herbs, this wine is a delicious sidekick for pastas, paella, and charred meats hot off the grill!
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Garnacha
Grenache is a grape that really shows terroir, varying greatly based off of where it is grown. We love Spanish Garnacha because it is fuller body with riper fruits — hearty and perfect for the colder seasons in Minnesota. Grenache has robust, sturdy vines that make it perfect for hot dry climates. Fruit-forward, with low tannins, Garnacha is all fun and no fuss. You can find more serious expressions from NE Spain, in Catalonia's Priorat region. The Garnacha based wines of Priorat are full bodied, dusty, plumy, and a perfect alternative to Merlot. Pair them with braised beef or pork dishes, duck, or even Cajun cuisine. Font De La Figueras Priorat is a classic example of what the slate soils of Spain create. Ripe-yet-fresh, with notes of graphite, earth and fine tannins. Camino De Navaherreros Garnacha is a delicious, chuggable expression of spicy raspberry with a stony minerality.
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Monastrell
Bold and smoky, with notes of blackberry, black pepper, tobacco and roasted meat — Monastrell has it going on! This grape is full bodied and quite structured. Pair this complex red with grilled sausage, short ribs, or with hearty lamb dishes. You can find Monastrell from all over Spain, but we really love Jumilla for its value. In Jumilla, most Monastrell grows on its original rootstock. This is because the region is phylloxera resistant due to abundant sunshine, warm breezes, and low humidity. 'Monastrell' is also known globally as Mouvedre, Alicante, and Mataró. We love Parajes Del Valle Monastrell, a true embodiment of natural winemaking — no added sulfur! Red currant, fresh coffee grounds, and baking spice are just some of the notes you'll find in this dynamic gem. Bruma del Estrecho Paraje Marín is an easy drinking Monastrell grown on chalky, semi-arid soils. It's young and intense with black fruits and earthy notes of leather and tobacco.
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And Beyond
Spain is a versatile country that produces many interesting grapes beyond the iconic styles of Tempranillo. We hope you take some roads less travelled by, and find something you never knew you needed! One of our favorite fringe examples is the Bodegas Palacio Quemado 'La Zarcita' — a blend of Trincadeira Prieta, Touriga Nacional, Garnacha Tintorera and Syrah. This is a young and fresh expression of indigenous varietals and tastes like black currant, black pepper and leather, with a touch of anise. The Los Bermejos Listán Negro is from the volcanic soils of the Canary Islands. Expect an aromatic delight, with generous red fruits, vanilla, licorice, green tobacco and hints of cocoa.
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Friday Tasting Table
Friday, 10/20/23, 4 - 8 p.m.
Join Amanda of Libation Project for a FREE wine tasting this Friday!
Get 10% off any bottle of wine from the tasting table.
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Cocktail of the Week: O.C.G. Mule
I wanted to showcase one of our new seasonal liqueurs we have gotten in — Journeyman Distillery O.C.G. Apple Cider Liqueur. The O.C.G Mule comes from the Staymaker Restaurant at Journeyman Distillery. It is pretty much your basic Moscow Mule but adding the apple cider liqueur really steps it up a notch in my opinion. Also apple and ginger go great together.
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Ingredients:
1.5oz Vodka
1oz O.C.G. Apple Cider Liqueur
.25oz Fresh Lime Juice
Ginger Beer
Instructions:
Fill a copper mug with ice if you have one (A Collins glass will work too). Add all ingredients and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Cheers,
Nikola
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Staff Picks - What to Drink this Week
Try these special, staff-selected libations!
2020 Cesar Marquez Parajas Mencia - $24.99
César Marquez Perez is a rising star among the new generation of Spanish winemakers and has deep roots in Bierzo. His family founded the Castro Ventosa winery in 1752 and they still own it today. Thanks to that long history, he has access to many of the top sites in the region. He has grown up in the vines and wineries in Bierzo and has learned from his elders, including his uncle Raul Perez. Now he has his own project. The word 'Parajes' translates to ‘places’ in Spanish. The fruit for this blend of old vine Mencia and Alicante Bouschet is sourced from a number of villages in Bierzo. Packed with notes of red berry, liquorice and violets, this is a beautiful expression of this unique region. This beauty would pair perfectly with hearty lamb stew!
-Angie
2022 Cloudline Pinot Noir - $24.99
Always one of the main players in value driven Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, this wine is made under the guidance of Veronique Drouhin and sourced from multiple vineyards in Oregon, one being the epic Roserock vineyard. This vintage delivers amazing balance and authenticity which is surprising because at this price point you typically experience overipness and little depth. The nose shows red berry fruit with notes of sweet eartiness and the palate shows bright cherry fruit and mineral. This is a great bottle to have on hand this time of year for entertaining. This wine offers great food pairing potential. Try it with wild mushroom dishes or salmon.
-Rob
2018 De Martino 'Vigno' Carignan, D.O. Maule Valley - $55.99
4 generations of the De Martino family have owned and farmed this winery in the Maule Valley of Chile since 1934. They are part of "Vigno", which is an association of growers in the Maule Secano area of the Maule Valley dedicated to preserving the local tradition of dry-farming Carignan grapes on old bush-trained vines. The De Martino estate vineyards are old vines planted in very deep humid soil of granite and clay, ideal for dry farming the drought resistant Carignan grape. Organic viniculture and spontaneous ambient yeast fermentation is strictly employed. This 2018 vintage consists of 85% Carignan, with a balancing blend of Malbec, Cinsault, and Cabernet Sauvignon and is finished with 2 years of neutral oak aging. The result is a complex wine redolent of wild herbs, mint, violets, and minerals on the nose with spicy black cherry, raspberry, licorice, and black tea on the palate. This wine can be enjoyed now or sometime in the next few years with dishes prepared with baking spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg, and tart berry sauces. In other words, it's perfect for the holidays!
-Patrick
Far North Spirits Musketeer Rye - $59.99
Nerds are cool. Nerds are the folks who deep dive into their interest area, discovering and creating things the rest of us would never think of. For the folks at Far North Spirits in Hallock, Minnesota, they choose to nerd out about rye whiskey. Musketeer is part of the distillery's Seed Vault Series, where various kinds of rye seeds are grown, harvested, and distilled in northern Minnesota using identical production methods. For Musketeer, the finished product has a mild, earthy taste with a bit of raisin (especially on the finish). For such a passion project as this, I would recommend this bottle as a sipper over a mixer, but I'm not the boss of you. No matter what you do with this awesome rye, appreciate the (very cool) nerds who made it.
-Nick N
2021 Mozaik Anjou Chenin Blanc - $29.99
This lovely Chenin Blanc comes from the western Loire valley in France, specifically in the Anjou region just outside of Algers. The word anjou means pear in French and it comes as no surprise that this Chenin Blanc is reminiscent of pears ripening as they turn from green to golden. There is also a subtle amount of acidity to uplift each sip without overwhelming the palate. This wine is produced by Pithon-Paille using biodynamic and organic farming practices and fermentation occurs with natural yeasts; in addition to this the wine is aged for about a year in the same barrels where fermentation takes place. The end result is a delicious wine that can accompany a wide variety of fall fare such as herb roasted vegetables or a rich mushroom risotto.
-Olivia
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VERY IMPORTANT - Furry Friend Visits! |
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Cheers, Everyone!
The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits
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