Dr. H

“When they tell Etna reds drink like Burgundy, this is one to prove that point”

Oh, never heard that description of Etna red, but it fits the few I’ve had! I need to try more.

...it to "El Alberchón" or "La Viña es Bella", when Pies Viejos is going for a completely different style. Still not my favorite style, but it worked, and gets an extra half star in the right setting. 2/2

🍷 #winesky #wine #madrid #spanishwine #garnacha

Wine label for Fuerza Bruta by Bodega A Pie de Tierra. Red wine. from D.O.P. Vinos de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. Garnacha

Fuerza Bruta by Bodega A Pie de Tierra (2023) - 4 ⭐

A smooth taste of cherries, light and elegant, with something of a flowery nose. It was perfect for warmer weather, and we used it to follow up a couple of whites.

I think I judged it too harshly last year, unfairly comparing... 1/2

🍷 #winesky

Wine label for Fuerza Bruta by A Pie de Tierra. Spanish Grenache from Madrid, Spain. Garnacha.

Fuerza Bruta by A Pie de Tierra (2022) - 3 ⭐

Light colored with lots of fresh cherries and not much else. Maybe it’s too young. It’s still a good Garnacha, but I currently prefer El Alberchón.

Red Wine from Madrid

🍷 #winesky #madrid #spanishwine #garnacha

Wine label for Fuerza Bruta by A Pie de Tierra. Spanish Grenache from Madrid, Spain. Garnacha.

Fuerza Bruta by A Pie de Tierra (2021) - 3 ⭐

Tastes like a natural wine, but passes muster. Cherry colored. Funky.

Red Wine from Madrid

🍷 #winesky #madrid #spanishwine #garnacha

Really wish I could view this, but I’m not on Instagram nor do I patronize Meta platforms. Have you considered uploading natively here?

Wine label for Muss Madrid Tinto by Licinia. Spanish Red from Madrid, Spain. Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Syrah, Merlot.

Muss Madrid Tinto by Licinia (2017) - 3.5 ⭐

Plums and pepper, leathery, a surprising spiciness. An odd blend. Got an extra half star for value back when I tried it, but I haven’t reached for it since for some reason.

(From Jul. 2021)

🍷 #winesky #wine #madrid #spanishwine

Wine label for Saborea Madrid by Señorío de Val Azul. Spanish Cabernet Sauvignon from Madrid, Spain. Cabernet Sauvignon.

Saborea Madrid by Señorío de Val Azul (N.V.) - 3.5 ⭐

Pepper, talcum powder, shoe polish all over the place, blueberry. Strong stuff, but not much else. Something of a blunt instrument.

Red Wine from Madrid

🍷 #winesky #madrid #spanishwine #cabernetsauvignon

Wine label for Treintamil (30.000) Maravedies by Bodega Marañones. Spanish Rhône Blend Red from Madrid, Spain. Garnacha, Shiraz, Syrah.

Treintamil (30.000) Maravedies by Bodega Marañones (2020) - 3 ⭐

Raspberry, strawberries, bit of sour cherry, gooseberry and pepper. Potent nose, albeit short on the palate - it worked well with salmon, though. Madrid wine, which are slowly getting there but still have a bit to go.

🍷 #winesky

Hmm. I should post a bunch of reviews about wines from Madrid…

Thanks! Glad you like the style. 😁

For a moment there I was wondering is I should use whtwnd instead of BlueSky threads, for longer reviews, but I think I’ll stick with this for now.

And I do have a TON of reviews to bring over…

Wine label for Colección Sauvignon Blanc by Bodega Sommos. Spanish Sauvignon Blanc from Somontano, Spain. Sauvignon Blanc.

Colección Sauvignon Blanc by Bodega Sommos (2020) - 3.5 ⭐

Bit of hay, more grapefruit than lemon, something vegetable I can’t place… Lots of lime if you chill it. It shows up but doesn’t do much once it’s there. Perhaps I had too high expectations, given it’s Sommos.

🍷 #winesky #spanishwine

Wine label for Coleccion Chardonnay by Bodega Sommos. Spanish Chardonnay from Somontano, Spain. Chardonnay.

Coleccion Chardonnay by Bodega Sommos (2020) - 4.5 ⭐

Buttermilk, vanilla, peaches and cream. Some fish which I can’t place - salmon? - but still our favorite Chardonnay. Tastes of crème brûlée after katsu-don.

White Wine from Somontano

🍷 #winesky #somontano #spanishwine #chardonnay

Hmmm. This should have been a 4.5 review, but seems it got mangled when I posted it and I didn’t notice it. I need to check.

Wine label for Colección Gewürztraminer by Bodega Sommos. Spanish White from Somontano, Spain. Gewürztraminer.

Colección Gewürztraminer by Bodega Sommos (2020) - 3 ⭐

Apricot, peach, lychee, something floral (Lilly of The Valley?), some lime. Drinkable but feather-light. Passes and it’s immediately forgotten.

White Wine from Somontano

🍷 #winesky #somontano #spanishwine #gewurztraminer

Fair description! Even if it may sound like a backhanded compliment.

We do tend to skew to wines we can pair with something, so I make a note if a wine is better to drink by itself.

This one can definitely stand on its own.

...unlike the 2018 which just rolled with it - but it’s a sensational bottle. When it gets slightly warmer, it makes me think of Tim Ho Wan and pork buns and dumplings. Our friend Roque is hell-bent on spoiling other Chardonnays for us. 2/2

🍷 #winesky #wine #somontano #spanishwine #chardonnay

Wine label for Coleccion Chardonnay by Bodega Sommos. Spanish Chardonnay from Somontano, Spain. Chardonnay.

Coleccion Chardonnay by Bodega Sommos (2019) - 5 ⭐

Cream, vanilla, creamy cow cheese from Aragón on the nose. Some fruitiness on the palate that is hard to place - almost like soursop. Butter when it’s colder. Competes a bit with katsu-don, which brings out the vanilla -... 1/2

🍷 #winesky

Wine label for Rosé by Palais Constance. Provence Rosé from Côtes de Provence, France. Grenache, Shiraz, Syrah, Cinsault, Tibouren, Rolle.

Rosé by Palais Constance (N.V.) - 4 ⭐

Delicate rosé, with some strawberry and peach. Great by itself yet might be overshadowed by food.

Rosé Wine from Côtes de Provence

🍷 #winesky #cotesdeprovence #frenchwine #grenache #shiraz #syrah #cinsault #tibouren #rolle

...work as a substitute for a dry Palomino Fino, when you can’t find your favorite or when there are people who don’t go for that sort of thing. 2/2

🍷 #winesky #wine #castillayleon #spanishwine #albillo

Wine label for La Viña de Ayer Albillo Real by Soto y Manrique. Spanish White from Castilla y León, Spain. Albillo.

La Viña de Ayer Albillo Real by Soto y Manrique (2021) - 4 ⭐

Honey, stone, something slightly floral, bit of ripe apple on the palate. It has aging on lees, apparently. A slight smell of cheese, if it's colder, at which point the stone comes out and the honey recedes. It could... 1/2

🍷 #winesky

Great at the price, and might end up becoming the house Chardonnay at Maison du H. 2/2

🍷 #winesky #wine #friuliaquileia #italianwine #chardonnay

Wine label for Elvine Chardonnay by Barone Ritter de Záhony. Northern Italy White from Friuli Aquileia, Italy. Chardonnay.

Elvine Chardonnay by Barone Ritter de Záhony (2020) - 4 ⭐

Pear, Apricot, butter, bit of cheese. Changes as it gets less cold, to the point that it gets some almost Sherry-like qualities, reminiscent of a Patrick Murphy …. 1/2

🍷 #winesky

Wine label for J. Cordero by Patrick Murphy. Spanish White from Cádiz, Spain. Perruno.

J. Cordero by Patrick Murphy (N.V.) - 4 ⭐

A nose of petrol with a slight hint of quince. Sweet lemon as it warms up. An odd one, made with a sherry-like process. Definitely for specific tastes, and not cheap, but I happen to fall in the right corner of the Venn diagram.

🍷 #winesky #spanishwine

Still not for Mrs. H, but what can you do - it's a sherry and she no likey. 2/2

🍷 #winesky #wine #jerezxeressherry #spanishwine #palomino

Wine label for Manzanilla Fina Solera Playa by Bodegas del Rio. Spanish Manzanilla Sherry Fortified from Jerez-Xérès-Sherry, Spain. Palomino.

Manzanilla Fina Solera Playa by Bodegas del Rio (N.V.) - 4 ⭐

Rose apples, white flowers, and a light taste of green almonds. There's something in the back that's almost like fermented garlic - I have to try it with my black garlic butter.... 1/2

🍷 #winesky #spanishwine

I should post more of my sherry reviews…

Hope you schedule your stays at places with a gym. 😋

...faint praise. 50% Garnacha Blanca, 50% Macabeo. My weird wine fetish likes the grape blend, but thinks the overall wine is, for lack of the better expression, too vanilla. 2/2

🍷 #winesky #wine #castillalamancha #spanishwine #garnachablanca

Wine label for Manga del Brujo by El Escocés Volante. White wine. from Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. Garnacha Blanca

Manga del Brujo by El Escocés Volante (N.V.) - 4 ⭐

Cheese, chalk, bit of talcum, apricot, cream, vanilla ,burnt caramel (which Mrs. H identified as “smoke”), caramel. The most interesting wine out of a set I got a couple of months ago, but I wasn’t impressed overall, so that's... 1/2

🍷 #winesky