While in Spain, I was able to taste a wine made from 100% Xarel.lo, the first such wine I had ever had. It was the 2005 Pares Balta Electio and I enjoyed it very much. It was a light yellow color and had a nose with an almost medicine smell combined with sour apple notes. On the palate, it had a unique taste with delicious notes of green apple and pear. It was a crisp and smooth wine with a long, satisfying finish.
For me, I could not have said whether it was varietally correct or not as it was the only 100% Xarel.lo I ever had. But it certainly was an unexpected wine. I did not even know they made 100% Xarel.lo wines. But I certainly was glad I tasted this one. Which somewhat returns to one of your prior posts on taking chances on wine, on seeking out the unusual.
RichardA
· 1 year ago
While in Spain, I was able to taste a wine made from 100% Xarel.lo, the first such wine I had ever had. It was the 2005 Pares Balta Electio and I enjoyed it very much. It was a light yellow color and had a nose with an almost medicine smell combined with sour apple notes. On the palate, it had a unique taste with delicious notes of green apple and pear. It was a crisp and smooth wine with a long, satisfying finish.
For me, I could not have said whether it was varietally correct or not as it was the only 100% Xarel.lo I ever had. But it certainly was an unexpected wine. I did not even know they made 100% Xarel.lo wines. But I certainly was glad I tasted this one. Which somewhat returns to one of your prior posts on taking chances on wine, on seeking out the unusual.
David J
· 1 year ago
I had an artisanal Bonarda from Catamarca I just posted on & Andrés the journailist & sommelier keep harping on its being 'varietally incorrect'.
I think 'terroir', when understood with broad correction (ouch) is a positive context for discussing variations in varietal character & expression as related to geoclimactic circumstance.
Whether we enjoy these variations or not (my case with Santa Lucia Pinots, for example) should not be a pretext or excuse for dismissing the results out of hand.
All Comments
For me, I could not have said whether it was varietally correct or not as it was the only 100% Xarel.lo I ever had. But it certainly was an unexpected wine. I did not even know they made 100% Xarel.lo wines. But I certainly was glad I tasted this one. Which somewhat returns to one of your prior posts on taking chances on wine, on seeking out the unusual.
For me, I could not have said whether it was varietally correct or not as it was the only 100% Xarel.lo I ever had. But it certainly was an unexpected wine. I did not even know they made 100% Xarel.lo wines. But I certainly was glad I tasted this one. Which somewhat returns to one of your prior posts on taking chances on wine, on seeking out the unusual.
I think 'terroir', when understood with broad correction (ouch) is a positive context for discussing variations in varietal character & expression as related to geoclimactic circumstance.
Whether we enjoy these variations or not (my case with Santa Lucia Pinots, for example) should not be a pretext or excuse for dismissing the results out of hand.
I think 'terroir', when understood with broad correction (ouch) is a positive context for discussing variations in varietal character & expression as related to geoclimactic circumstance.
Whether we enjoy these variations or not (my case with Santa Lucia Pinots, for example) should not be a pretext or excuse for dismissing the results out of hand.