Ein Traum von einer Speisen-/Wein Kombination

Am vergangenen Wochenende gab es überbackene Spinatnudeln (Rezept-Tipps am Ende) der besonderen Art. Gibt man nämlich neben frisch geriebener Muskatnuss und Szechuan-Pfeffer geriebene Zitronenschale hinzu und - jetzt kommt der Kick – träufelt beim Servieren frischen Zitronensaft und gibt Parmigiano Reggiano darüber, erhalten Sie ein phänomenales Geschmackserlebnis. Dazu tranken wir 2012 VINA GRAVONIA BLANCO CRIANZA, mit nur 1200 Kisten eine sehr hoch bewertete Weißwein-Rarität aus dem Rioja von LOPEZ HEREDIA. 100% Viura, 4 Jahre lang im Barrique ausgebaut, ergeben ein Geschmackserlebnis, dass man erlebt haben muss und nur als einzigartig beschreiben kann:

„Komplexe Aromatik, die weiße Blumen und Früchte zeigt, zudem Vanille, Nüsse, und ganz dezente Orangen-Sherrynoten im Hintergrund. Reife Stilistik, dabei extrem frisch, straff und trocken. Trotz des niedrigen Alkoholgehaltes von nur 12,5% schöne Viskosität und beeindruckende Salzigkeit im Finale. Ein absoluter Rioja-Klassiker und in Kombination mit unseren Spinatnudeln nicht nur die absolut perfekte Kombination, sondern definitiv nicht zu schlagen.“ LOPEZ HEREDIA schreibt zu 2012 VINA GRAVONIA BLANCO CRIANZA:
„Vintage rated as VERY GOOD by the DOC Rioja Board. The 2012 vintage was constrained by the scarce pluviometry, 25% lower than usual in our region. It was an especially dry year until well into the Fall. 35% of the total precipitation was concentrated in the last three months of the year. This low pluviometry and the spring and summer high temperatures, entailed a very important brought forward of the harvest, similar to the previous year. Although the rains that started the 11th of October meant that the harvest continued until the 18th of October, five days later than the 2011 harvest, however this is still an early date for what is usual in Haro. Harvest started on the 4th of October with the white varieties. These same conditions caused a significant reduction in the number and weight of the bunches and therefore, the final production of our cultivation was lower than expected in a normal year. This year quality of wines of our House, both whites and reds, was very good due to a magnificent healthy stage and a good balance between the alcohol content and the polyphenols. The wines continue to develop favourably in terms of freshness and fineness for its good aptitude to ageing in barrel and long age-worthy.” 95 THE WINEADVOCATE:
"2012 was a very complete vintage in Rioja, even if it was quite dry, and the 2012 Viña Gravonia Blanco shows superbly. It's very intense, with two levels of complexity, intensity and depth above the 2013 I tasted next to it. It has the textbook aromas of lanolin, diesel, mushroom, yellow dried flowers and chamomile, with perfect ripeness. The palate is round and glyceric, quite lush, and leaves your umami-laden mouth with a salty finish. This should develop nicely in bottle, one of the best vintages of Gravonia of recent times. The wine has 12.5% alcohol and amazing acidity measures. 15,000 bottles produced. This was bottled in November 2017 after four years in American oak barrels." 94 ANTONIO GALLONI:
"Vivid yellow-gold. Dried orchard and pit fruits, marzipan, buttered toast, vanilla, tarragon and pungent flowers on the intensely perfumed, spice-accented nose. Concentrated peach, pear nectar, orange pith, honey and vanilla flavors pick up a nutty quality with air. The vanilla and spice notes drive a very long, gently chewy finish that's firmed by a smoky mineral flourish." 94 JAMES SUCKLING:
"Lovely aromas of vanilla, praline and pie crust. Some waxy undertones. Full-bodied and very dry on the palate with similar flavors to the aromas. Vanilla cream on the finish. Dried peach, too. Very typical, barrel-fermented white from Rioja. A classic. Drink now."   Fortgesetzt haben wir den Abend dann übrigens mit der im Vergleich zur Crianza fast noch frischeren Reserva 2009 LOPEZ HEREDIA VINA TONDONIA BLANCO, die bis hin zu 97 Punkten von JAMES SUCKLING erhielt:
"Intense aromas of cooked lemon, dried apple, light vanilla and stone with some waxy and lanolin character. Full-bodied with a dense, layered palate with beautiful fruit, nougat and meringue at the finish. Really opens out. Unique. Drink now." Die Nudeln waren dann leider bereits aufgegessen. Von beiden Weinen aber haben wir etwas für Sie übrig gelassen. First come, first served. Tipp: Verwenden Sie für die Nudeln anständige Mengen gefrorenen Spinat, den Sie nach dem Auftauen etwas auspressen, geben Gemüsefond und geriebenen Bergkäse nebst anständig Büffel-Mozzarella und den oben erwähnten Zutaten hinzu!