Video Wine Review: Atance, Bobal, Valencia D.O.P. Spain 2018 $10 90pts+

Big $10 Value; Bobal Grape from Spain Tastes like Warmed Blueberries and Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans!

Cheapdatewine.com Robert FitzMaurice O’Maoilriain CS, CM Certified Sommelier and Chef drinking deep in the heart of the Garden District in New Orleans, Louisiana. One of the World’s Best Historic Wine Cities.

Wine Review: Atance, Bobal, Valencia D.O.P. Spain 2018 $10 90pts+ QTPR (Quality to Price Ratio) #ValkyrieSelections

Overview: If you like dark fruit but low tannin dryness and especially if you are like me and love Syrahs, Pinots or Malbecs that have blueberry-like flavors this wine is for you at an everyday price of $10.

Organic Grapes and Bottled at the Chateau. Bobal naturally has unusually high levels of resveratrol and generous amounts of anthocyanin, polyphenols, and terpenes.

Comparable to: $20-$35 Central Coast Syrahs or GSM Blends, Oregon Pinot Noirs from Yamhill or Dundee Hills and some Northern Rhones Syrahs like Cote-Rotie and St.-Joseph Regional Reds.

Who will love this wine: Those who like blue and black fruit-like flavors but low tannin dryness or bitterness | 99% of Syrah Drinkers | 80% of Pinot Noir Drinkers | 50% of Cabernet Drinkers | 50% of White Wine Drinkers

When to drink: great by itself | paired with gamey red meat | paired with American-Asian | paired with American-Mexican

Winery Story: A project by Bodegas Mustiguillo to bring lesser known local grapes like Babal and Merseguera to an international audience.

Regional Story: Valencia was named by the Romans over two thousand years ago and its name means strength or Valour in Latin as praise for the valour of the soldiers from Valence that fought for the Roman Empire. When Valencia was taken over by Islamic Arabs and Moroccans 800 years later it was renamed Medina at-Tarab or City of Joy. Later it became a large producer of Silk and later it became an economic powerhouse. Winemaking here is ancient and goes back to the pre-Roman Phoencians who also used to local grapes like Bobal. The grapes are grown at high elevations of 2,00 to 3,00 feet, the old, gnarly low-bush trained Bolbal are deep rooted and easy to farm organically.

Grape(s): Bobal (bo-bal) is the 2nd most commonly grown red grape in Spain and is over 600 years old.. It takes its name from the Latin Bovale reference to the shape of a bull’s head in which the outline shape of Bobal grape clusters are shaped like. Grape types were once most often mixed together in vineyards and the shapes of clusters and leafs were often used to identify different kinds of grapes.

Flavors: warmed, crushed blueberries | chocolate covered espresso beans | rainer cherries | lavender | ripe blackberry | black mineral or stone | licorice root | black leather | coriander | dried orange zest | grilling spice rub | chicory root | fig jam | whole clove

Body 2-3 / 5
Acid: 2 / 5
Tannin: 2 / 5
Fruit: 4 / 5
Floral: 4 / 5
Dried Herb/Spice 3-4 / 5
Stone/Mineral: 3 / 5
Vanilla/Oak: 1 / 5
Earth/Yeast: 2 / 5
Sugar: 0 / 5

Cheese Pairings: Manchego | Aged Gouda | Parmesan
Food Pairings: lamb | beef stew | Mexican & Asian Rice Dishes | Mushroom Dishes & Eggplant
Traditional Pairing: Valencia Paella made with rabbit, sausages, chicken & garlic