"Crianza" refers to a period of aging; to quote:
"What is the difference between Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva? By law, Crianza must be aged a minimum of one year in oak barrels and at least one year in bottle before release; Reserva must be aged a minimum of three years total between bottle and barrel, at least one year of which must be in barrel; Gran Reserva must be aged a minimum of two years in oak and at least three years in bottle."

This is true in La Rioja, but other regions have different standards. Some, such as La Mancha require only six months in oak of a total of two years of ageing before release to be called a crianza(Condesa de Leganza is aged in oak for 6 mos.). There are also a number of young wines that are being released with 1-6 mos. in oak, which are generally known in the PR releases as "media crianza." IMHO, the less time some of these wines spend in oak, particularly new oak and especially new French oak, the better.

"! I will look up those bodegas when I am in Madrid. I hate to have to ask this, but which Corte Ingles has wine?"

Several of the Corte Ingles stores have Club de Gourmets shops and supermarkets with wine: in Arapiles, Goya, Serrano, Fuencarral, Plaza de Callao, Preciados, Princesa, and in Hipercor.

Good Albari�os:

Casal Caiero 2001 (88 pts.);
Do Ferreiro 2001 (89);
Pazo de Barrantes 2001 (90);
Gran Bazan Verde (87);
Martin Codax 2001 (87);
Burgans 2001 (??, tasted when btld only 1 week; usually very reliable & good QPR);
Pazo de Senorans 2001 (90+); P
alacio de Fefi�anes 2001 (87+; these live for several years and just get better);
Valdamor 2001 (87);
Fillaboa 2001 (89+);
Terras Gauda 2001 (87; a blend that is mostly Albar.);
Valmi�or 2001 (86);
Lagar Pedregales 2001 (88+);
D. Pedro de Soutomaior (Adegas Gallegas)(87); Veigadares 2001 (87);
Torre La Moreira 2001 (87);
Abadia da Cova Albari�o - Ribeira Sacra (88).

Tasted in April 2002 (Gerry Dawes�2002)

Thanks for the Albari�o notes! Tell the board more about this less well-known wine of Galicia. Not sure it's available in my area---might have to go to Chicago---although my son's boss might be able to order some.

"The white wines of R�as Baixas are some of the most delicious, un-intimidating, food- friendly wines in the market. Based on the albari�o grape, R�as Baixas wines are luscious, but dry, and exhibit lovely, complex, mineral-laced flavors reminiscent of white peaches or apricots. They are fruity without being sweet and have a fine-edged acidity that balances the fruit beautifully and makes them ideal matches for a wide variety of modern and traditional dishes, as well as perfect wine for sipping alone as an aperitif or to accompany tapas.
R�as Baixas wines bearing the varietal name Albari�o must be made from 100% of that grape variety. Most R�as Baixas white wines contain a minimum of 70% Albari�o with remaining 30% composed of one or more of the three other authorized grape varieties - - Treixadura, Loureira, and Cai�o Blanco (with some Godello, Torront�s, and Marqu�s authorized) - - which can add complexity, body, and different aromas to the wines. While Albari�os are among the world's finest single varietal white wines, the R�as Baixas blends often match them in quality."
- - copyright 2002 Gerry Dawes

Have to mention that I keep the Food Network on while providing daycare for my granddaughter and never miss Bobby Flay(Bolo and the Mesa Grill in NYC---I have a huge crush on this guy!) Today they had a chicken dish prepared with and accompanied by---albari�o. Have visited the Rias Baixas and really must go again! Celtic and Spanish, what a perfect combo!

Sauteed Chicken in Albarino Wine Sauce

Copyright 1999 Bobby Flay. All rights reserved.

2 whole chickens, quartered
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 cups flour, seasoned with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
2 shallots, finely sliced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cups albarino white wine
3 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Place the flour in a medium bowl and dredge the chicken in the mixture. Tap off any excess. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven until almost smoking and sauti the chicken in 2 batches until golden brown on both sides. Remove the chicken to a baking sheet and finish cooking in the oven, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of oil in the pan. Add the shallots and garlic to the pan and cook until soft. Increase the heat to high, add the wine and reduce until almost dry. Add the chicken stock and continue cooking to a sauce consistency. Whisk in the butter, tarragon and peas and season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the chicken from the oven and serve with the sauce.

Wow Gerry!! What a fantastic thread. Thanks for your help.

My wife and I are big wine fans. We normally like to go for any reasonably looking Rioja-Crianza. (e.g. El Coto, Marques de C�ceres, Marques de Vargas, etc.) She prefers the slightly sweeter flavor of the Crianzas compared to the Reservas and Gran Reservas. I just love Riojas in general for their mature, robust flavors. That's our perception at least as non-wine experts.

One wine I don't believe has been mentioned in the thread to this point which is also normally excellent is Valdepe�as. (Southwest La Mancha) We also enjoy these wines, though they're always our second choice after the Riojas if we don't see something we like. What is your opinion of Valepe�as wines in general?

Thanks again for the valuable and informative info!

I'm less than an amateur in this wine issue, but I have a suggestion for you: try Pened�s red wines. This region is quite well known for its whites, but some Pened�s cellars want to get a share of the high quality Spanish red wine market (dominated by Rioja and Ribera del Duero), so they are selling good red wines at very reasonable prices. I hope you can get them in the U.S.
On the wine shops in Madrid issue, I've been told that there is another good one in Conde de Xiquena st. (off Paseo de Recoletos). I've been told too that they can speak English - I guess that you can find English speaking shop assistants in already mentioned Lavinia as well (Ortega y Gasset st. -former Lista st.-, between Vel�zquez st. and Serrano st.), since they're proud of being a high end shop.

Hola Gerry,
This is a wonderful thread. I wanted to ask you if you happen to know of an Internet site where i might be able to purchase some R�as Baixas wines? Also, can you recommend a good Wine book about Spanish wines?

Gracias,

Have a peek here: http://www.selectwinesllc.com/20bural.html and their other page here:
http://www.selectwinesllc.com/porwin.html

Their site says that they consider themselves "one of the best-kept secrets in the world of wine"

I just love reading tasting notes!

"I'm less than an amateur in this wine issue, but I have a suggestion for you: try Pened�s red wines. This region is quite well known for its whites, but some Pened�s cellars want to get a share of the high quality Spanish red wine market (dominated by Rioja and Ribera del Duero), so they are selling good red wines at very reasonable prices."

In Penedes as elsewhere, there are the good, the bad, and the ugly. One can't just buy a Penedes red, a Rioja, a Ribera del Duero and be guaranteed a good wine. You have to know the producers. Likewise, it is not the vintage that is most important, it is the producer.

Sue, thanks so much for the link. You don't happen to have a link in Spain do you? I wnat to order liquores as well.
Gracias,

Hi Gerry. If you'll permit me to be a Pain for a moment :lo: , I'd like to revisit a question I'd asked from earlier in this thread as I'd be interested to get your opinion on the subject:

quote:

One wine that I don't believe has been mentioned in the thread to this point which is also normally excellent is Valdepe�as. (Southwest La Mancha) We also enjoy these wines, though they're always our second choice after the Riojas if we don't see something we like. What is your opinion of Valepe�as wines in general?

I know you mention that we need to try to be saavy as to good producers and not just regions. That makes sense. Would you recommend any Valdepe�as producers to us? Thanks again for your valuable contribution.

tonytorero
madrid/spain nut !
member # 169

posted 25 june 2002 17:13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Gerry. If you'll permit me to be a Pain for a moment , I'd like to revisit a question I'd asked from earlier in this thread as I'd be interested to get your opinion on the subject:

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One wine that I don't believe has been mentioned in the thread to this point which is also normally excellent is Valdepe�as. (Southwest La Mancha) We also enjoy these wines, though they're always our second choice after the Riojas if we don't see something we like. What is your opinion of Valepe�as wines in general?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know you mention that we need to try to be saavy as to good producers and not just regions. That makes sense. Would you recommend any Valdepe�as producers to us? Thanks again for your valuable contribution.

--------------------
Tony

Although, Valdepe�as wines are improving, they are still a long way from being as good as many wines from the Ribera del Duero, Navarra, some Penedes, Priorato, and many other places. The better ones are Pata Negra from Bodega Los Llanos, Palacio de Ibro (B. Real), Casa de la Vi�a, Dionisios, Vi�a Albali (Felix Solis), Corvoco (Megia e Hijos), Vegaval (Miguel Calatayud), and Luis Megia, which is cheap and okay for everyday drinking.

quote:

originally posted by Booklady:
[qb]Sue, thanks so much for the link. You don't happen to have a link in Spain do you? I wnat to order liquores as well.
Gracias,[/qb]

What licores are you interested in? There are some very good pacharanes, orujos de Galicia, licores de manzana verde, canela, melocoton, etc., brandies de Jerez, Catalan brandies, eau-de-vie like licores from Extremadura, Calvados-like brandies from El Pais Vasco, etc.