Casual tasting at Acánthum Restaurant, Huelva

Behind the bar of the restaurant Acánthum of Huelva , we find the sommelier José Antonio Barragan. Acanthum is a new Michelin star for 2016, and is  run by the chef Xanty Elias.

Spontaneous , joyful and passionate of wine above all , José welcomes us , and improvises an unforgettable evening that will taste a series of unconventional wines. We start with cava , before continuing with a series of different wines, white, red , and to end with a Pedro Ximenez.

For its quality and scarcity, it is considered a "cult wine".

SUMARROCA

LA VI Y SOÑé

OCNOS

VX Sousón CUVE CACO

SEMELE

TERÁN

XIMENEZ SPINOLA PEDRO XiMENEZ MUY VIEJO

 

 

Sumarroca Brut Reserva , a classic sparkling wine from Penedes (Catalonia ), is made ​​from chardonnay ( always less than 7% ), and a traditional mix of local grapes, such as Macabeo , Xarel·lo and Parellada, with a minimum aging of 24 months in stacking . The result is a very cool sparkling wine with a very fruity nose , fine and pleasant bubble , ideal to take it either alone , as a wide variety of dishes.

La Ví y Soñé is a very different wine produced in Granada, made from a rare grape in Spain, Viognier.  A deep golden color, A little bit murky due to its natural elaboration, it has a very fruity nose, with aromas of ripe apple,  which at times reminiscent of cider. The taste gives us a very lively and expressive wine, with a marked acidity that remains a nice blow of freshness.

Ocnos, a Chardonnay produced in the Seville´s range . Fermented and aged on its lees in French oak has an intense lemon yellow colour. Wood is highly integrated with the fruit and also a balanced acidity, resulting in a fresh and persistent wine with light toasty.

VX Sousón Cuve Caco, red wine made from native varieties of various grapes from  Ribeiro wine region in Galicia, Western Spain( Caiño Longo, Caiño da Terra , Mencia, Carabuñeira ), in which Sousón is the predominant grape. A black cherry colour wine with a very fruity and spicy nose, as result of its 20 months in oak cask. The taste is very fresh, snuff nuances are appreciated all together with ripe fruit and wood that are softened becouse of its high acidity . The result is a smoked , tasty and intense wine with a powerful aftertaste.

Semele, is a red wine from  Ribera del Duero (Spanish Wine Region)  coupage of Tempranillo grape and Merlot. It is a clean wine with cherry color. Pleasant and easy to drink, it gives aromas of red fruit and balsamic among others. Spicy, velvety on the palate with powerful aftertaste; it has good balanced acidity and a fresh lingering finish. It moves away from the typical wine from the Ribera del Duero with the presence of wood.

Terán, a Spanish Rioja red wine from 2010,  aged in Bordeaux barrels of American and French oak for fourteen months. Red cherry well covered colour, also remarkable for its fruity aromas, ripe red fruits. Wood, though noticeable, is well assembled with fruit and acidity. The palate is soft, well balanced with a long finish.

 Ximénez Spinola Pedro Ximénez Muy Viejo 100% Pedro Ximenez grapes handpicked and collected in boxes of 15 kg. After the grapes undergo a natural process of dehydration, the must obtained is subjected to an aging at least 15 years in American oak barrels. It has an intense mahogany color with a very dense tears, reflecting its high glycerine content. The nose predominates passes and roasted aromas and black chocolate. Very soft and silky on the palate, pure velvet.