Do512 - What to do in Austin

Spanish Wine Tasting – Friday – East End Wines – 1209 Rosewood Ave., ATX

4pm – 8pm - With Baubak Askari of Askari O.H. LLC

Castillo de Maetierra - Spanish White Guerilla Albariño 2010 La Rioja – 16.57 – The first Albariño to be made in La Rioja. Balanced, with great fruit. Good acidity and freshness. Lengthy finish. Great for fish (try butterfish!). White fruit of melon & pear, malic green apple, mineral. Apple fruit comes through on the palate & finish. This is interesting because of how wildly different La Rioja is to the region of Albariño’s origin, on the opposite side of Spain, where there is high rainfall, high humidity, moderate temperatures, and limited sunlight.

La Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo 09 Ribera del Quelies – 12.57 – Organic vineyard on the slopes of Moncayo. Ripe black fruit & toasty spice on the nose, with red & black fruit & cocoa on the palate, sweet ripe tannins. Red fruits open up on the palate, herby balsamic note. Mineral. Brief oak aging (5 months in French barrels). 55 year old plus vines growing out of slate & pebbles.

Lopez de Haro Rioja Crianza 06 – 15.57 – With a little Garnacha (9%) and Graciano (4%). Mature fruit & a pretty nose. Soft and elegant on the palate, with the oak in balance with the expressive fruit. Gravity fed winery. Calcareous clay delivers great acidity. Aged more than 3 years in oak & bottle. 13% alcohol.

Monastir Cluny s. X 06 – 25.57 – Jumping out of the glass with fruit preserves, toasty oak, cigar box, earth, Lots of dark fruit on the palate with medium acidity. Lengthy finish, lots of pretty robust tannins still. Tempranillo, Cabernet, Merlot. Very elegant blend, really love the red fruit & dark berries.

Maetierra Libalis Melante Muscat à Petit Grains Dessert Wine 07 – 17.57 – Valles de Sadacia. Naturally sweet, late harvest dessert wine. The first sweet wine made from Muscat in La Rioja. Floral & honey notes on the nose. Very fruity, tropical, mango even, on the palate, without cloying sweetness. A bit less viscous than many dessert wines, pretty clean. Melon. Sugar is under control. Good juice, with a light almond nuttiness on the finish. Unique.