Arocho

Arocho

www.costersio.com

This is a bag in box format. 3 litres for 6,5 eur. However, nothing to do with Aqua (vi al punt). Aqua is much better. I do not recommed Arocho.

Costers del Sió

Costers del Sió

Ctra Agramunt, km 4,2

www.costersio.com

This is a nice and modern cellar, and their people is extremely friendly. Worth to visit! They do not charge anything for the visit if you purchase some products in their shop. Otherwise, the fee is 3 eur for three wine tastings + olive oil tasting.

Oli del Sió

Oli del Sió

www.costerssio.com

This is a good olive oil. You can purchase it for a good price in the cellar (22 eur for 5 litres). The acidity is onlu 0,2º (really low). However, I prefer the olive oil from Ciurana. It is more tasty.

Viña del Sió 2006

Viña del Sió 2006

www.costersio.com

This is a nice "crianza" red wine. Its cost in the cellar is 7,5 EUR. In my opinion this one offers better price/quality than Alto Siós

Alto Siós 2006

Alto siós 2006

www.costersio.com

This is a reserva red wine. Its price is 11,8 eur at costers del Sió cellar. Although it is pleasant to drink I think that it does not offer a good quality/price. In addition, it is too "smooth" for me.

Viña del siós Rosat 2009

Viña del Siós Rosat 2009

www.costersio.com

This is a nice rosé wine. Plenty of color and taste. Its price is 6,5 EUR in the cellar.

Marques de Riscal Reserva

Marques de Riscal reserva 2004

http://www.marquesderiscal.com/

Although I do not like Rioja (with few exceptions such as San Vicente, Roda I, etc.) I must say that Marques the Riscal is another exception. I am satisfied with this great wine. More density, texture, and good flavour. Worth to taste it! In this case, it is a half bottle (37,5) and I paid 12 eur at Thai Gardens (they do not offer a large selection of wines)

Thai Gardens (2/2)

Thaï Gardens

C/ Diputació 273, Barcelona

www.thaigardensgroup.com

This is the second post devoted to this place. Although most of the people are very entusiasthic with the place, I feel that it is a little bit "wasted". Maybe it was outstanding ten years ago, but now it is just decent. Less espectacular than I was expecting.

Thai Gardens (1/2)

Thaï Gardens
C/ Diputació 273, Barcelona
http://www.thaigardensgroup.com/

This is a nice restaurant that offers a very good quality meal. Worth to taste it. Nice cutlery, nice service, and some outstanding dishes. Really tasty. I paid 77 eur for two people. Thus, good quality/price ratio. The trays (starter and main course) are for two people, while you get a couple of dishes for the dessert.

starters (my favourite one was the "brocheta"):

Two sauces:

main course: my favourite one was prawns with mint (on the left of the photo)

dessert:

Biher

Embotits biher

Passeig de l'estació 41, Balaguer, Lleida

This is a very good place to buy fuet and things like this. In my opinion. much better than the fuet from Vic. Very good option!

Blue restaurant

Blue Restaurant

C/ Santa Marta, 37 Mataró, Barcelona

Although the price is reasonable (22 eur fixed price menu 2 courses + dessert + bad wine + coffee) and the quality is good, they have three big problems:

• Dishes are really small
• Service is not efficient (quit slow)
• They are not professional. We booked a table for 25, one of us was unable to attend, and the remaining people were forced to pay for this missing person. Then we asked for these dishes and they declined to bring them. We paid for something that we couldn't eat. It is really a shame.

This restaurant goes directly to the black list.

Elyssia Brut

Freixenet Elyssia Brut

http://www.freixenet.es/

I have been really surprised by this cava. Worth to taste it! specially if you do not have too much expectations when tasting a cava.

Anna de Codorniu brut Rosé

Anna de Codorniu Brut Rosé

http://www.codorniu.es/

Although I do not like cava I must say that, in my opinion, the rosé one is much better. Probably because it does not remind too much the cava taste...

Viña Pomal Reserva 2003

Viña Pomal Reserva 2003

http://www.vinapomal.com/

As usual in Rioja wines, it is quite acide. Nevertheless, it is drinkable. Obviously I do not recommed it. You can buy much better wines for 12 eur/bottle, such as the classical Elias Mora (8 eur/bottle)

Pintia 2006

Pintia 2006

http://www.bodegaspintia.com

This is an outstanding Toro wine produced by the very famous wine-maker Vega Sicilia.
I think that the best place to buy this wine is El Corte Inglés. You will pay there around 25 eur per bottle. You won't feel its 15 alcoholic degrees. it is really dense, plenty of flavour and tasty. Worth to taste it!

Almirez 2007

Almirez 2007

http://www.eguren.com/marco.htm?pagina=lamonja/index.htm

Very nice label and bottle, but I found it quite "flat". Nothing special. Thus, I do not recommed it. Specially because I paid 15,2 EUR in Colmado Quilez.

Ricon

Bar Ricón

C/ Goya 20, Barcelona

I do not know if this place is still active. It was a great place for "patatas bravas" just made in time for you. I haven't been there since long time ago...

Nine Popes 1996 Charles Melton

Nine Popes 1996 Charles Melton

http://www.charlesmeltonwines.com.au/

This is an australian wine with 14,5 alcoholic degrees. The 1998 one costs 50 EUR in Lavinia.
It's a great wine, but not as great as 50 EUR! it has a very nice parfume that returns after drinkng it (nice post-taste) but it also has an acidity excess and lack of body.

According to Robert Parker (wine advocat): "The 1996 Nine Popes, a satirically named wine that pokes fun at France's Chateauneuf du Pape, is made from dry-farmed vineyards, ranging in age from 30-130 years, planted with Grenache, Shiraz, and Mourvedre. The deep ruby/purple-colored 1996 is a blend of 68% Grenache, 30% Shiraz, and 2% Mourvedre. This big wine (14.5% alcohol) should offer immensely pleasing and mouthfilling drinking for a decade or more. It offers a knock-out nose of black fruits intermixed with new saddle leather, spice, and earth. Expressive, with gobs of fruit, this intense, chewy, yet impeccably balanced and pure wine is a thrill to drink. Think of it as Australia's Chateauneuf du Pape, but fruitier."

Txakoli Gañeta

Txakoli Gañeta

http://www.getariakotxakolina.com/es/bodegas-degustacion-y-venta.php


I have not enjoyed this Txakoli. Bad smell (humidity) and strange taste (extremely dry, quite acide). it is from 2008 thus, it should be in good conditions.