WTN: ESJ, non-Pep Clisson, DDC, Zarate, Gazela

I had little expectations about the NV Zarela Vinho Verde Rose, but it was reasonably quaffable in a very light style. A tad spritzy, light strawberry flavors, just a hint of RS, a little citrus on finish. Sure it’s simple, but it does a nice enough job in the cheap pink category. B-/C+

With 30 day dry aged strip, turnips cacio e pepe, brussels Sprouts
1983 Domaine de Chevalier
Pretty classic Graves, dirt/rocks and tobacco, black plums and black cherries. Balanced acids, just a hint of tannin remaining, good finish. B+/A-

Scallops with chorizo and corn (great recipe from Bon Appetit), salad
2016 Zarate “Val do Salnes” Albarino ( Rias Baixas) . Zippy acids, grapefruit and Bosc pear, citrusy/minerally finish. B+

With some oysters, 2012 Lieubeau “Clisson” Muscadet. Never heard of this producer before, in sale bin at Zachys. Heavy bottle like Pepiere Clisson,assume extended lees aging. Fuller riper style of Melon, sweet pear fruit but with good underlying acidity. Happy at $14. B

With sweet and spicy New Year chicken, carrots, goose fat green beans, burrata caprese
2016 Edmunds St John “El Jaleo”
Tangy, bright, red fruits, underbrush and herbs. Fun and tasty B+


Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

[David M. Bueker]

Now I need to open another El Jaleo.

I've enjoyed the few Zarate albarinios that I have tried, seems like a solid producer. You have been reporting on a number of Galician wines recently!

Agree Joe, nice wines for sure.

David, I'm sure these will age, but darn tasty now. Saw Steve changed blend a bit for next vintage.

As to Galicia, I've generally found Albarino, even mass market, a fairly dependable alternative to SB. And discovered Mencia 6 or 8 years ago. But it wasn't till John Gilman introduced me to some more serious reds and whites at a tasting he did while writing an article on Galicia that I became real fan. Then he also led a tasting at the International Business and Wine Society when I was speaking (not about wine) with some great Galician wines that I really appreciated the history and depth of the region. Really fun exploring

Is Clisson a vineyard? Why does it always come in unusually heavy bottles?

http://www.winewisdom.com/articles/regi ... communaux/

Interesting, I didn't know it was like Beaujolais, no 1er crus. Probably not a bad thing to see some price inflation; there's "good value" and then there's "no one is going to bother tending these vines when the owner dies because it's barely better than subsistence-level farming."

David, I'm sure these will age, but darn tasty now. Saw Steve changed blend a bit for next vintage.

As to Galicia, I've generally found Albarino, even mass market, a fairly dependable alternative to SB. And discovered Mencia 6 or 8 years ago. But it wasn't till John Gilman introduced me to some more serious reds and whites at a tasting he did while writing an article on Galicia that I became real fan. Then he also led a tasting at the International Business and Wine Society when I was speaking (not about wine) with some great Galician wines that I really appreciated the history and depth of the region. Really fun exploring

If you get the opportunity, try an Alvarinho from Soalheiro in Portugal, right across the Minho (Mino) river from Galicia. The regular bottling (should be less than $20) is always quite nice.

Soalheiro price has shot up in Alberta, agent greed I hear.