2007 Veleta Nolados

We had this wine at the 2011 International Wine Expo back in February. We bought a few bottles at the time and saved one to review. I’ve been looking forward to opening the last bottle, so when we talked about reviewing a wine tonight, I knew exactly what I was going for.

The facts:

2007 Veleta Nolados
Variety: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc, 20% Tempranillo

Region: Granada, Spain
Aging: 12 months in American and French oak



My take

In a way, I get dark purple and light pink on the nose. I find that surprising and don’t really know how to process that; not sure what to expect.

As for the flavor..., It’s difficult to get it’s full measure quickly. To borrow a phrase from Jonathan, this is one I want to get to know.

I’d say it tastes like a blend. It has a lightness from the Cab Franc and added complexity from the Cab Sauv. There is definitely a range of flavors, but I can’t seem to pinpoint its character. It’s not hugely complex with a wide array of flavors, but it’s not one note either. There is some spiciness in the front and the middle. And it has a relatively long finish. The texture is great - It has a full, creamy/velvety, soft texture to it.

Overall, the Veleta Nolados has a bigger and bolder profile than I’m used to drinking, but I rather enjoy it. It’s very well balanced, easy to drink, with a nice mouthfeel (yes, I just said “mouthfeel”), and a range of flavors. I only wish I had more.

Price Point: Updated 8/18/2011

When an internet search yielded no US stores selling this wine, I emailed the winery about their availability in the U.S. They responded immediately putting me in touch with their U.S. distributor in Virginia, Andes Importers, Inc. They were very helpful and quick to respond as well.

If you're in the DC metro area, Andes Importers works with Arrowine, Red, White and Bleu, Wine House, and Unwined. While the Veleta Nolados may not be on the shelves at those stores, I'd suggest mentioning Andes Importers and see if they'll put in a special order for you. I know I will.

If you're not in the DC area, contact Andes Importers directly - they'll be happy to tell you if there are stores in your area that might special order from them. And the more interest we can drum up in this wine, the better!

2007 Veleta Nolados

This one has been a long time coming, for multiple reasons. Its been a while since we have posted a review, and we ran into this wine back at the DC international wine expo in February.

This was one of the first years that they have been selling wine at the expo, and luckily for us, this is one of the ones they were stocking. Tasting and buying wines at a large scale wine event is always a bit dodgy; your taste buds (and level) can get shot pretty quickly and more often than not, everything is tasty after a certain point. Regardless of that, the Nolados made enough of an impression on us for us to scoop up three bottles, of which only one was remaining. That lone bottle was saved for you dear friends, and tonight seemed the night that we should record our thoughts of it for posterity.

“So, how is it?” you might ask. Terrible with grilled chicken and potatoes with a Mexican cheese blend would be the first answer. While I have never really been big into food pairings, I think it’s safe to say that particular combination was terrible, and will largely remain un-described with the exception of the phrase “terrible, tannic, and how did I already plow through two bottles of this and think this was still a good idea?”

The answer was cheese, a good cabot. It cleansed the palette, was yummy, and frankly I was still hungry, so needed a quick post dinner snack to set me straight and appreciate the wine. With the cheese down I set about to drinking (a noble pursuit if there ever was one) and getting the full measure of this wine (for the third time). Given the multiple bouts I’ve gone with the Nolados, I think its safe to say its pretty good. It's got an extremely long finish, in fact it's long enough that it might actually rival the movie Contact for length, and yet exceed it for interest level. While the wine is indeed interesting, the sensation is a bit narrow in range, with the flavors being well defined, if not overly broad. It comes across not quite velvety, but lets call it veloury, which while totally not a word…is still fun to throw out there.

Final verdict. Buy a bottle. It’s an enjoyable romp, the kind that makes you want to stretch into two bottles in a single stretch. I’ve been through a quarter case now (obviously not in one sitting… What kind of lush do you take me for?) and will be keeping an eye out for it on menus wherever I travel.