XII Subirat Parent 2009

15.5 / 20

Producer: Agusti Torello Mata

Region: Penedès

Country: Spain

Subirat Parent is apparently the the name by which Malvasia is known in Catalonia. This is one of the few wines made exclusively with this grape coming from Penedès.

Very pale in color, this has a good, aromatic and filling bouquet where notes of yellow and tropical fruit mingle with flowers, with a mineral background giving it some austerity.

Very mineral in the mouth as well, dry and fresh almost to the point of revealing some lemon skin notes. This is certainly driven by more mineral notes, since the fruit/flowery side comes along as somewhat hidden. Good, fresh and dry ending with an intensity that surpasses the low alcohol mark on it.

This is a delicately flavored wine, to be enjoyed young.

Will probably shine when matched with shellfish or lightly flavored grilled fish.

Tasted on 2012-01-15

Absis 2003

17.5 / 20

Producer: Parés Baltà

Region: Penedès

Country: Spain

I had Penedès pinned down as a white wine region, but with relatively unremarkable red wines. Lately, a series of very good red wines from this spanish region has started to change my mind. This, the 2003 vintage for Absis, is probably the most remarkable from the lot.

Beautiful ruby in the glass, showing no signs of evolution whatsoever, the bouquet is very inviting, subtle and sophisticated. Fleshy red fruits join together with high quality toast/oak notes and a slight vegetable scent in the background.

Smooth and rounded in the palate, the taste still shows a good deal of fleshy red fruits. The wine has a very nice presence, with moderate acidity and velvety tannins that are still going strong after 8 years, giving this wine a very nice, solid structure. The finish is very long, smooth and elegant, showing some slight vegetable notes that manage to enhance the whole experience.

A very good wine that will still live for several more years.

Tasted on 2011-11-14