Friday Flight: Spain

Hacienda Lopez de Haro DOCa Rioja Blanco 2025 $14 - Ripe fruit, dates and banana notes stand out on the nose in combination with the nuances of the barrel. Palate: It is fresh and fleshy, leaving a long, balanced and pleasant aftertaste.

Altolandon Mil Historias Garnacha 2024 Manchuela $21 - Perched at over 1,000 meters above sea level, the vineyard of Alto Landon spans over 120 hectares of land and is among those sitting the highest in the country. Originally from the Manchuela appellation, northwest of Valencia, this medium-bodied red has a well-balanced structure and is supported by just the right amount of acidity. Its scents of black fruits and cherry combine with those of violets and aromatic herbs.

Luberri Rioja Orlegi 2025 $19 - Luberri Orlegi is the reference point for traditional, lighter-bodied, fruit-forward Rioja Alavesa wine. Grapes for Orlegi are grown in two estate vineyards: tempranillo from El Cuento at 415m comprises 95% of the blend, and viura from Cuatroencias at 500m is the remainder.

Vera de Estenas 2024 Bobal $19 - Founded in 1945 by Francisco Martinez Bermell, Vera de Estenas has been crafting wines from their 47 hectares of estate fruit since their inception. Situated at 800m elevation near the mouth of the Estenas river near the foot of the Sierra del Remedio mountains, their en vaso trained vineyards run northwest to southeast along a broad swath of calcareous clay soils. Summer brings scorching heat, but a cooling wind called the Solano brings relief, and nighttime temperatures can drop substantially due to the high elevation, helping to preserve acidity in the grapes.

Olivares Altos de le Hoya Jumilla 2023 $15 - It is planted at 825 meters on very sandy soil with a high percentage of chalk. There are also a very high percentage of old vines, with the oldest planted in 1872. Because of the sandy soils of the region, the old, ungrafted, bush-pruned vines at the Bodega never succumbed to phyloxerra. Given the vine age, the high elevation which provides cool nights, and that high percentage of chalk, the resuting wines provide a great combination of good concentration and complexity, along with balanced freshness and structure.

Bonus Wines

Hacienda Lopez de Haro 2019 Rioja Reserva $24 - Medium-high depth wine, ruby red color with roof tile rim, which denotes its long barrel ageing and its peaceful bottle ageing. Powerful on the nose with primary aromas of ripe fruit accompanied by complex spicy and balsamic notes and a slight touch of vanilla. Balanced on the palate, it is a round and unctuous wine with ripe and sweet tannins, providing the wine with a long aftertaste: an elegant Rioja classic.

Quinta de Couselo DO Rias Baixas Albariño “Valdomar” 2025 $26 - a highly vibrant, single-varietal Atlantic white wine from the O Rosal sub-zone of the Rías Baixas DO in Galicia, Spain. Crafted by winemaker José Manuel Martínez Juste at a historic estate dating back to the 12th century. An aromatic, highly expressive bouquet of freshly grated lime zest, green apple skin, and white peach blossoms mixed with white tea, sweet basil, and wet stones.

Lopez de Heredia Rioja Reserva Bosconia 2014 $62 - The Viña Bosconia wines are always distinctive for their Burgundy-shaped bottle, which references the wines original composition, which once included a high percentage of Pinot Noir as an homage to the wines of Burgundy. The 2014 Viña Bosconia is 80% Tempranillo with 10% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo from the El Bosque vineyard in Haro, Rioja. Garnet in hue, it opens with cassis, cola and oak-driven aromas. The palate is youthful and smooth, with well-integrated tannins, black fruit and anisette at the finish. Still growing, it’ll develop greater complexity with more time in bottle.