This is the ultimate crowd pleaser, and yet I don't think I've ever seen it served at a dinner party. If this wine had a profession, it would be a diplomat. I can't see it offending anyone. Temparanillo makes up most of the bottle, with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thrown in for good measure. This nice blend gives it enough earthiness to please the most pretentious Bordeaux snob, and yet it's balanced by just enough fruit for those looking for a New World glugger. It sells for $15.95 at the LCBO and seems to readily available year round. It has become the 'go to' wine in my house as it has never disappointed (we're through the 2003s and into the 2005s now), and I try to make sure that we've always got a couple of bottles on hand.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Cheap Grapes: Chivite Gran Feudo Reserva
This is the ultimate crowd pleaser, and yet I don't think I've ever seen it served at a dinner party. If this wine had a profession, it would be a diplomat. I can't see it offending anyone. Temparanillo makes up most of the bottle, with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thrown in for good measure. This nice blend gives it enough earthiness to please the most pretentious Bordeaux snob, and yet it's balanced by just enough fruit for those looking for a New World glugger. It sells for $15.95 at the LCBO and seems to readily available year round. It has become the 'go to' wine in my house as it has never disappointed (we're through the 2003s and into the 2005s now), and I try to make sure that we've always got a couple of bottles on hand.
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2 comments:
Wow, it was worth the wait! I just got my first two bottles of this outstanding wine from my local retailer. It took me two weeks to get him to track down a source. I got the 2001, which still seems to be readily available here in the midwest. I paid US $18 per bottle. Drank one bottle with friends over dinner tonight, and I was knocked out. An absolute winner!!! Thanks for the recommendation, Scott. I am a Pinot Noir drinker, but have never ventured into Tempranillo territory until now. I'm very impressed. The blend of cab-merlot-temp here is nigh perfect, to my palate. It's full bodied, as you say, but most of the flavors cluster in the middle palate, which I really like. No tannin front or "dishrag" musky back like some full-bodied reds. I plan to buy a case. I wish I had as good luck tracking down your other recommendation, the Chateau Planeres. My retailer came up empty handed on his first try. He assures me he will find it eventually, however. Sure hope so. If that French is one half as good as this Spanish, I'll be in heaven. Thanks again for the excellent recommendation.
I'm so glad that you liked it, Mickey. If memory serves, the 2001 was a particularly good year. This one is stocked pretty regularly at the LCBO (our government run booze monopoly up here) and every vintage I've tried has been pretty strong. I'm always a bit intimidated by the Spanish wine landscape (due to ignorance on my part), but I want to try more. Thanks for the comments - very much appreciated!
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