Boise Coop Wine Shop

Five from Spain

• August 12, 2011

For more years than we can remember Basque Country Imports has been the food leader in all things Spanish. From Jamon to Anchovies, Manchego to Olives BCI has imported them all. But for us, the emphasis has always been on wine. They bring it in directly from Spain, allowing them to offer the lowest prices possible. Here are five wines from their outstanding portfolio:

Zudugarai  Txakoli
If you’ve had Vinho Verde then you have some idea what this lightly sparkling wine from Spain’s Basque Country is all about. Rated 91 points by Josh Raynolds in Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar publication with the following description: “Light gold. Lime, talc and white flowers on the nose, plus a hint of white pepper. Racy, focused and pure, showing remarkable clarity to its citrus fruit and mineral flavors. What would liquid seashells taste like? Finishes with excellent persistence and resonating lime and mineral notes. This checks in at a mere10.5% alcohol.”

2009 Perla Maris Verdejo, $9.99
Very fruity and aromatic with good structure and a long pleasant finish in the mouth. Perla Maris translates as sea pearl, and as the name suggests, this wine goes well with most all types of fish and sea food.

2009 La Val Albariño, $13.49
Founded in 1985, Bodegas La Val has been a leader in the Rias Baixas region for almost three decades. Their Albariño is a definite bargain for the variety offering aromas of apple and fresh hay on a citrus background. The palate provides good acidity with lovely ripe peach balanced by crisper citrus.

2009 Santiago Ruiz, $19.49
Established in 1898 and located in the O Rosal sub-zone Riax Baixa, Santiago Ruiz is housed in a historic building dating back to the end of the 17th century. The property is home to a winery museum as well as an original Galician kitchen. Wines are a blend of Albariño, Loureiro and Treixadura, and are marketed under the Santiago Ruiz brand, with its instantly recognizable label – a copy of the map that Señor Ruíz drew for his daughter’s wedding. It offers slightly exotic aromas of lime, kiwi and guava. The flavors are a nice combo of stone fruit and citrus with light touches of mineral and herb. This wine is at its best with food – melon and jamon, something fatty and sweet would work well.

Valdelana Rioja Joven Red, $8.99
The Valdelana family has been farming their land at Elciego in Rioja since the 16th century. The oldest information concerning the winery dates back to November 12th, 1583. This is the date on which, during the reign of Philip II, Elciego became independent of Laguardia. The king of Spain accepted their independence and received wine coming from the cellar of the villa in exchange. Currently the owner of the winery is Juan Jesus Valdelana. His Tempranillo is blended with 5 percent Viura, a white wine grape. Classified as a joven or young wine, it’s a style that emphasizes fresh fruit flavors. The Valdelana offers lots of sweet and spicy fruit on the nose with a touch of vanilla. Soft and round in the mouth, the palate is all supple cherry fruit. This is a definite bargain.