Throughout the month of April Taberna del Alabardero is offering more than 100 wines at retail cost, regularly priced at $55 or above. There are several reasons to take advantage of this tremendous wine deal … first of all you get to meet a gem of a sommelier Gustavo Iniesta (foto) who has created his own Taberna wine service “style” over the past two years. Secondly, you will have a chance to taste the food of Dani Arana … who has also matured over the last year as the top toque in the kitchen (he still looks like a kid though). And thirdly, say hello to the new general manager Javier Velazquez. For some who might have missed the changing of the guard, our friend Paco Pena is now the general manager of the newest Taberna … in Seattle. We wish Paco well, but I’ve talked to Javier a couple of times now and he is just as gracious and he can share some new stories with you. Wow, that’s a lot of new for a place celebrating twenty years in DC.
On to the super wine deal: when I visited Gustavo, I asked him to pick out two favorites from the wine list that show off this great opportunity to upgrade your wine selection with dinner at Taberna. It didn’t take him long to find two to make my palate happy.
2004 Maria Casanova Rose (on the wine list at $90, but during April it is priced at $50): The sparkling rose is produced from a Pinot Noir blended with small amounts of a traditional Cava varietal. The wine is assembled after an thorough search and tasting of various lots of wines from Penedes.
Iniesta Tasting Notes:
The 2004 Brut Nature Pinot Noir is a dark pink, salmon-colored wine with a lovely perfume of strawberries and rose petals. Elegant on the palate with persistent small bubbles, the flavors are precise and the finish pure.
I think this is a sure-fire winner for a toast before dinner with the Iberico Jamon appetizer.
1998 Torres Reserva Real (on the wine list at $350, but during April it is $195)
In 1995 during a tour of the winery, His Majesty King Juan Carlos showed particular appreciation for a red wine from the Santa Margarita de Agulladolç vineyard, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Since 1997 they have vinified this Reserva Real (Royal Reserve) separately in memory of that remarkable day in the Penedès.
Iniesta Tasting Notes:
Intense deep mahogany red color, with brown tinges in keeping with a properly aged wine. On the nose the wine is intense, complex and very fruity (blackberry and raspberry jams). There are clear signs of oak in a series of toasted aromas (toasted almonds and toasted bread) and a slight hint of smoke over a spicy background of cloves and bay leaf. On the palate it is powerful and quick to emerge, with body and huge concentration enhanced by its sweet but well structured tannins. It is reminiscent of ripe fruit jams and prunes with well integrated oak and the considerable presence of touches of cocoa and leather finished off by a slight flinty nuance all in all giving the wine great length.
Whoa, that’s a lot going on! Check with Gustavo for recommends for this one … maybe Dani will have something special that night to send out with this one.
When someone gives me a gift certificate, I like to treat myself to an upgrade in wine. Well, Taberna is doing that for you without any needless paperwork … these two particular wines in April will save you $195, that’s a great birthday present from Taberna to me.
Taberna del Alabardero
1776 I St NW
Washington
202-429-2200
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