Wine experience – Sabatacha Gran Cuvee Negro – 2009
And you all thought i can only speak tech… an old hobby of mine caught up, and reminded me of small pleasures in life…
I decided to write about it, not only for sharing, but for myself, to remember…So if technology was the only reason you visited me…i hope this won’t be too big of a change. I can only promise there will still be more tech-oriented content 
Wine…my old-new born hobby…starting today with a spanish corrida…a mix of two great grapes into one fine wine…Sabatacha Gran Cuvee Negro
The first thing i noticed after i let it breathe for a couple of minutes (and then anxiously poured myself a glass), was that amazing strong smell that the tanines give a wine…was not as strong as i was used with dry wines. This one was something special…I could dive into that glass, and take a deep, deep breath without feeling the usual spiciness, that usually requires another breath of fresh air.
This wine smells so wonderful, reminds me of blackberries, and of the jam my mother used to make from green, unripe walnuts. I can’t even decide if i feel the smell of walnuts or black cherries more… guess it’s a relative thing, cause these were my favorite ones when i was a kid…
Sabatacha Gran Cuvee is a wine made of Monastrell and Shiraz, two varieties of grapes that make out strong, full-bodied wines. Monastrell is a grape known to be used for producing wines with a higher volume of alcohol…no wonder, the Gran Cuvee is one of the strongest dry ones i had…going for an impressive 14 %.
It’s color is a dark, dusty red, resulting from a beautiful dark blue monastrell grape, and a dry, old-aged black shiraz grape, with a great effect of vignetting when looked through. I just love the black color looking from aside, and the dark red one, looking from above.
Tasting it gives you somehow the feeling that you’re drinking a dry wine, and still, now and then, you feel like at the end, you have the feeling of an old-aged quality cognac….sour, and then sweet…and then that flower-mouth feeling…
Listening to Moby’s latest album, “Destroyed”, also gave it a kick…can only recommend, other wines will work for sure
Me and my wife, we wanted to have some fish today. But i said there’s no better thing to add to this great wine than some great greek, mediterranean food, seasoned with strong greek cheese….And i was right…
Greek chicken with red and green paprika, onions, zucchini, brown champignons, garlic and light goat cheese…what a delight.
Greek chicken dish with vegetables - Good companion for Sabatacha tasting
Greek chicken dish with vegetables - Good companion for Sabatacha tasting
Greek chicken dish with vegetables - Good companion for Sabatacha tasting
Greek chicken dish with vegetables - Good companion for Sabatacha tasting
Facts:
- Wine: Sabatacha – Gran Cuvee Negro
- Year: 2009
- Country and region of origin: Spain – Murcia/Jumilla
- Grapes: Monastrello and Shiraz
- Producer: Bodegas San Isidro
- Price: In german market, about 7 €
- Rating: Among all spanish wines that i have tried, this one stand out. A couple of days me and some friends tried a Tempranillo Crianza – Clos de Torribas from 2006, having won a medal in Helsinki in 2009, and having been mentioned as a best buy by the Wine Enthusiast Magazine in 2009. I have to admit this one was better…Of course it is another grape, but it is all a matter of taste. And this wine will definitely land in my collection after having it tasted now. Superb color, great aroma, i just wish that fruit smell could last longer…
- Final rating: hard to say, but i have to rate them, for myself:) For a spanish dry wine, i’d say 8.5 out of 10 ( this is only cause i had some better red dry ones…)
What a great evening…
Cheers,
Alex
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