Generous, smooth vanilla and coconut with fresh strawberry jam A Chacolí crop on buried between. Juicy and refreshing. hills in the Getaria DO UK £9.99; Nkd Honoro Vera, Organic Monastrell, Jumilla 2012 (15%) A Fun palate of chocolate-dipped strawberries and crunchy cranberries. Simple, easy and gratifying. UK £6.99; DBy, F&F, Hen, Wow Iniesta, Corazón Loco, Manchuela 2012 (13.5%) B Soft redcurrant and juicy strawberry are apparent. Very attractive, straightforward, pure, fruity style. Iniesta, Corazón Loco Selección, Manchuela 2010 (13.5%) B Really big, powerful fruit with creamy vanilla and a light seasoning of freshly ground black pepper. Inurrieta, Norte, Roble, Navarra 2010 (14.5%) Fresh cherries and dried herbs with a complex palate adding stony minerality. UK £8.99; C&D. US $15; USVIL J Chivite, Finca De Villatuerta , Navarra 2010 (13.5%) D A biscuity note among the dense flavours of red fruits and cassis. Check out Chacolí Sensual texture. by Cristina Alcalá Juan Gil, 18 Meses, Jumilla 2010 (15.5%) C Not only is Chacolí (written as in Glossy mouthfeel, dark, ripe berry flavours. A touch of on the nose, Basque) relatively unknown beyond Spanish but integrated well. shores, but also it is equally low profile within Juan Gil, Silver Label, Jumilla 2010 Spain itself. Chacolí is traditionally served by (15%) B pouring it from a height, in a similar way to Delicious and savoury with a bruised Spanish cider but in a glass half the size. From berry character. Ripe tannins and a zingy, clean finish. its image as a green, acidic and naturally La Báscula, Catalan Eagle, , it has become an attractive Terra Alta 2011 (14%) B Atlantic with a personality that Vibrant nose of herbal cassis and reflects its artisanal production in Basque tobacco with a fabulously fruity casaríos or manor farmhouses. The DOs are palate, with tacky tannins. US $14.99; USFAC Chacolí de Getaria-, Above: from rugged Chacolí La Báscula, The Charge, 2010 Chacolí de Vizcaya- and now produce attractive Atlantic white wine (14%) B Chacolí de Alava-Arabako Txakolina. Black cherries, anise with spice and DO Chacolí de Getaria is the oldest of the of Rioja Alavesa. Its temperate climate and fresh acidity rising around. Gentle three (1989), boasting the largest moderate rainfall set it apart. One of its most tannins reveal distinctive minerality. US $14.99; USFAC area, around 400 hectares, and 27 bodegas. interesting is Señorío de Astobiza. La Báscula, The Gauntlet Monastrell, The DO covers the entire province, but most The features that unite these DOs are high .L./Corbis

Yecla 2011 (15%) B vineyards are located in the coastal area rainfall, rolling green countryside, rugged S A cheery, easy entry of fleshy berry

between Getaria and Zarautz. This traditional landscapes, bodegas in unsuspected places, pain S flavours with tinges of fennel and Chacolí region produces very light and fresh and legendary vineyards (many trained on brown sugar. La Báscula, Turret Fields, Monastrell wines. Recommended bodegas are Talai Berri, trellises or arbours), with varieties in – Syrah, Jumilla 2012 (14.5%) B Txomin Etxaniz and Hirutza. common. Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Sweet, fleshy damsons and fresh, Slightly smaller than its neighbour is DO Zuri Zerratia (Petit Courbu) are the main just-ripe blueberries at the core, with Chacolí de Vizcaya, which has nearly twice as white varieties and the Chacolí hallmark. some earthy character. many bodegas. It has distinct climates Hondarrabi Zuri is a vigorous vine which gives US $14.99; USFAC La Perla del Priorat, Noster Nobilis, between its coastal and mountainous areas, rise to citrus, ripe fruit and grassy aromas, the

Priorat 2009 (14.5%) and more varied soils. This DO produces Hondarrabi Zuri Zerratia less vigorous with lamy;JavierLarrea/age fotostock Smoky aromas, superb red fruits in a late- and sparkling wines. These many grape clusters with golden berries, a high A savoury style. Animal notes nicely pioneering wines account for less than 1% of alcohol content and aromas of white flowers. balanced with plush fruit. total production, but show the progress being Other permitted varieties are Mune Mahatsa UK £9.98; Asd La Purisima, Trapío Monastrell 100%, made by enterprising young winemakers and (Folle Blanche), Izkiriota (), Yecla 2008 (15%) B bodegas, such as Gorka Izagirre (see box Izkiriota Ttippia (), Sauvignon A pure, deep berry flavour with opposite) Itsas Mendi (see box p293), Egia Enea, Blanc, and . Chacolí is set massive, huge, chunky tannins. Berroja and Doniene-Gorrondona. to earn the recognition it deserves. Very masculine style. The youngest DO, Chacolí de Alava (2001) La Viña, Juan de Juanes Vendimia Plata Petit Verdot, Valencia 2010 has just eight bodegas and 100ha of vineyards Cristina Alcalá is a writer, author, , (14%) B in an area that coexists with the famous reds wine consultant and judge based in Spain hotographs:MikelBilbao Gorostiaga-Travels/

Some tobacco, sweet ripe red cherry ➢ P

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