I’m looking forward to our upcoming trip this summer from Portugal to Bordeaux. During the trip, we will visit two ports in northern Spain. I am not very familiar with Spanish wines so when a local wine shop offered a “Wines of Spain” tasting. I signed Chris and myself up. This tasting gave us the opportunity to try six wines, as well as two sherry wines. I was not really excited by the sherry wines and hear they are an acquired taste, so I guess I will have to keep trying.
The varietal of this wine is called Jaen. Jaen is a rustic and common grape found extensively in the central and western regions of Spain. Also found in the Dão region of Portugal, wines from the Jaen are often pale in color, have very low levels of acidity, and can be quite bland. It is best suited as a blending varietal for lightening tannic reds and it is thought to be a clone of the Spanish Mencía.
The Jaen vines at the Vina Sastre estate are over 70 years old. They are planted in a sandy soil in-between old vines of Tempranillo.
Sight
A pale color depth and a green hue.
Smell
The Jaen was moderately aromatic and had young-fruity development with aromas of citrus, melon, and lemon.
Smell
This wine was not sweet. It was dry and was medium bodied with lively acidity. I did not notice any tannins. Tasting the wine I had buttery mid-palate flavors. I asked if the wine went through Malo-Lactic Fermentation. I was told it had not but was aged in the barrel for a year and the less and was stirred occasionally which gives it a creamy buttery mouth feel. The finish was medium in length.
The wine was 100% fermented in stainless temperature controlled steel tanks.
ABV: 13.5%
How much: Less than $20 per bottle.
If we had time while we are in the Bilbao port I hope to drive to the Vina Sastre estate in Ribero del Duero region in northern Spain.
I rated the 2010 Vina Sastre Flavus three glasses.
Life is too short to drink crappy wine!
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