Featured Wines for April – 2011 La Cana Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain & 2011 Honoro Vera Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain

2011 La Cana Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain         $20

This wine is part of the Jorge Ordoñez  Selection. Ordoñez is one of the best ambassadors of Spanish wines in the world. He has developed his project of producing his own wines from different Spanish denominations of origin. They are wines of extraordinary quality and personality, particularly, Albariños from La Cana. This is a very cool white. The aromatics are white peach, pear, honey, apple and a curious ginger-like component. The mouth follows suit, with a bright citrus-lime acidity and a complex white fruit arrangement. There is good, palate-pleasing heft and weight, but it is not ponderous. Albarino is a great white when you want a switch from Sauvignon Blanc and still want complexity and depth. This is one of the better ones around. It’s from Rias Baixas in the northwest corner of Spain, north of Portugal. Use anytime you would pour a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Alcohol: 12.5%

 2011 Honoro Vera Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain     $11

In Spain, Mourvedre is known as Monastrell or Mataro, and it is planted heavily on the southeastern Mediterranean coast, including the appellations of Jumila and Yecla. Good examples come from Bodegas Castano and Bodegas El Nido. This Monastrell is opaque ruby in color with aromas and flavors of cherry, licorice, black tea, with spice and violet accents.  It is spicy and energetic, finishing with zesty cut and good lingering sweetness.   You get no heat from this appealingly open-knit wine’s alcohol; it’s an outstanding value that pairs well with rustic fare like meat-based stews and roasts. Alcohol: 15%