On Wednesday, locals gathered at Bell Wine and Spirits to taste wines for a “Best of Bell’s” grand wine tasting. There were many gems among the bunch.
On Tuesday, we received a preview from D.C.’s Wine Budget Examiner, Rob Garretson, who noted one of the special values of the night: the 2006 Las Rocas Garnacha.
But there were many more. One of the favorites among many was the 2006 Alto Moncayo Veraton Grenache from Spain. This wine was surprisingly rich and flavorful, made from 100 percent Grenache grapes. The Wine Advocate rates it 93 points and describes it as offering “a sensational aromatic array of pain grille, pencil lead, earth notes, wild black cherry, and black raspberry.”
This wine comes from a region in Spain called Campo de Borja, which is south east of the more well-known premium wine region of Navarra and not too far from Rioja. This wine offers an example of the innovations ongoing in Spain that are increasingly bringing to market wines in an international in style and that are ready to drink.
In the past, Spain focused on making earthier, heavily oaked wines that were often unapproachable for many years, even decades. This wine and several others are the result of a partnership between an Austrialian winemaker and a U.S. importer. Bell Wine and Spirits sells it for $31.99, but offered it the night of the tasting for $27.19. According to Wine Searcher, it is also available at i.m. Wine, located in Howard County, Maryland.
Another highlight was Mollydooker’s The Scooter Merlot. Mollydooker wines are the brainchild of Sarah & Sparky Marquis, who have only been in the wine business for 12 years yet have been winning accolades and high scores on their wines left and right. Their winery is located in the premium quality wine region of McLaren Vale in South Australia. Learn more about them on their website. This Merlot is quite rich and full of dark berry flavors, and its texture might even be described as “chewy.” Bell sells The Scooter Merlot for $24.99, but sold it at the tasting for $21.29.
That’s just two of the wines at table 5, which included a total of eight wines at that table alone! There were many other great ones that will eventually be reviewed here. It is also worth noting that it was not only the wines that made for a great evening. The shop’s owner and helpful staff made the event particularly fun and educational.
