Champagne is champagne and sparkling wine is not. However, there are some reasonably priced sparkling wines out there to satisfy a hankering for the bubbly. I tried this Yellow Tail variety last night.
Bottle of Yellow Tail “Bubbly”
This bottle features a re-sealable cap that works perfectly well if you have to put the bottle away for finishing later. Of course, I didn’t have that problem, but it was nice to have the option.
Twenty-five years ago (give or take a few), I enjoyed the big red wines of both France and California. In particular, I liked the reasonably priced reds from Bordeaux that could be had back then for between $14-$20 a bottle. Yeah, that was a little expensive but not a budget buster unless you were really enthusiastic. For various reasons (mostly bourbon induced) I strayed from these classic wines. Well, today I went looking for a few and discovered my old favorite Papé Clément. Wow! The price for a young bottle is nearly $100 with other years well above $200. That’s incredible. Of course, many improvements have been made at this winery. Check out their video:
That’s a serious outfit doing excellent work. Just pull the cork on a bottle and take a sip. You’ll be convinced without a doubt. Please enjoy responsibly.
Hotel Villa de Ábalos is a marvelous place to stay in the Rioja region of Spain. I’ve been waxing poetic about many of the small hotels that served me well during the past visit, and they all did a fine job. There’s always a few that stand out, and Villa de Ábalos takes the trophy. Ábalos itself is a tiny town, surrounded by vineyards and bodegas. There are some larger boroughs nearby, but I found no reason to explore them when this tiny spot had everything to make the stay comfortable and interesting.
You see the building there in the photo above. It’s hard to imagine the entire structure was gutted and rebuilt by the current owner. He has a great scrapbook filled with photos showing the work in progress. Take time to check it out. In doing so, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the hard work the individuals invest into these establishments.
At the reception desk I was met by a very competent man who gave me a tour of the facility, asked about arranging tours, restaurants, and directions to other destinations. From here, we moved up the stairs.
The stairs are original to the palacio into which the hotel was built. At the top, you’ll notice a still. Hmmm…. Rioja is a wine region but someone liked to make a beverage a bit stronger. Nothing was said but a few knowing winks and nods were exchanged. Anyway, into the room we went.
Cozy, comfortable.
This place had steam heat directed through radiators. It had the kind of hot water that cleans away the road grit, too. What a blessing after some less than tepid showers! There are also a number of common areas for you to gather, have a glass of wine, and do a bit of work on the WiFi.
Speaking of wine… the owner makes his own, both red and white. This year, 2010, he just released his first white, and it was delicious. We drank a bottle in the afternoon and another with supper, which the man served himself. Talk about personal service! I’ll have a separate post about that. In the mean time, if you like to tour wineries, kickback with a glass, and do it in style, Hotel Villa de Ábalos should be at the top of your list.
The Bent Page 
La Fleur Morange (taste #1)
As mentioned in previous posts, I cut back on the big red wines that are so good, but leave me with some reflux. However, I’ve found a temporary reflux patch that needed a test and I decided on this bottle, La Fleur Morange to give it a go.
2000 vintage La Fleur Morange
The old saying goes like this: Buy on bread, sell on cheese. Looking for an honest palate, I cleared it with a piece of bread and gave the La Fleur Morange a swill. Very, very tasty indeed. Now, others have a different opinion of this wine and don’t we all. For me, it was slow to open, but contained all the great flavors I would expect from a crafted Bordeaux. And this producer is relatively new and working hard. The Grand Cru classification is well-deserved. This wine pairs with the usual suspects for me: veal, red sauce, and so on. Enjoy it or leave in the cellar for a few more years will it will surely get just a little bit better. Cheers!
- Commentary
on January 20, 2013 at 2:33 pm Leave a CommentTags: bordeaux, La Fleur Morange, photo, red wine, wine, wine bottle, wine tasting