New Spanish Wines
Free tasting | Saturday, February 24, 2018 | 4-6PM
New Spanish Wines with Vineyard Road
Spanish Wines with Vineyard Road
Bob from Vineyard Road is back and this time teaching us all about Spanish wines! We have a few newbies to the shop, and a few repeat favorites like German Gilabert's Cava. See you Saturday!
NV German Gilabert Cava Brut Nature Reserva – Catalonia, $19
Cava making in Catalonia dates back to the 19th century when phylloxera hit the region, and, until then, the majority of wine growers only grew red grapes. While the region recovered from phylloxera, winemakers began experimenting with growing white grapes. A winemaker (Josep Raventós Fatjo) who had a particular fondness for Champagne decided to try to create a Spanish version, with using the Champagne method. And Cava was born! The Cava from German Gilabert is an organically made blend of 50% Macabeo, 30% Xarel-lo, and 20% Parellada. It was grown on sand and limestone soil in a Mediterranean climate on 35-year-old vines. After being fermented in stainless steel vats, the base wine rests on its lees (yeast cells) for 45 days before undergoing a secondary fermentation in the bottle. It is then rested on its lees for another 18-20 months before disgorgement, giving this cava a full-bodied mouthfeel that is very unique to German Gilabert. It has tiny, fresh bubbles and notes of lime and green apple with a long minerality driven finish!
Bodegas Valdespino, Ojo de Gallo (2016) – Jerez, $18
Valdespino is one of the most renown sherry producers in the world steeped in history and rooted in tradition. With an unwavering commitment to the demands and expense of traditional Jerez winemaking, Eduardo Ojeda produces this dry white wine from the same grape as other sherry Valdespino produces: Palomino Fino. Instead of aging like a sherry and undergoing the solera system, this white wine is aged in stainless steel and spends six months on its lees to give it a full-bodied and lush texture. It smells like juniper and oyster shells and tastes quite like them too!
2014 Charo Moriones 'Verasol' – Navarra, $15
Verasol is a cuvée made by its the importing company, José Pastor Selections, in collaboration with Charo Moriones, a vintner with deep roots and intimate knowledge of the Navarra region. Navarra isn't just any ole region - it's one that is as rich and varied as a metropolitan city center. Its location has Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Continental climates and can host a bounty of soil and grape types. This Tempranillo and Garnacha blend was grown on loam, marl, and limestone soil in the Ribera Alta. After being fermented and raised in old concrete vats, it is bottled unfiltered and has notes of dried herbs and ripe strawberry and raspberry fruit.
2015 Bodega Alegre Valgañón, Rioja Tinto – Rioja, $24
Winemakers Eva and Oscar Valgañón’s vision is to highlight the natural beauty of Rioja through finely tuned wines that showcase the uniqueness of Rioja's terroir. They met at enology school in Italy, and after years of working in various positions in wine they decided to take the leap in 2014 and open their own winery. This blend is 75% Tempranillo from the Obarenes mountains and 25% Garnacha from Cárdenas, a tiny village with only 182 people! It was fermented in wooden vats and given a 30-day maceration. It was then aged in a mixture of French barriques and demi-muid barrels. The result is a lively with satin texture and notes of roasted meat, juniper, rosemary, and blackberries.
2015 Siete Rioja Tinto – Rioja, $14
If you like red blends, then you'll dig this wine! This wine is a child of Rioja and is a blend of 80% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 10% Mazuelo. It was grown on sandy stony limestone soil from vines that vary between 25-45 years of age. Siete is certified organic and each grape varietal is fermented separately in stainless steel tanks, filtered, and then combined. This is a supple blend with notes of cherry, cloves, and caramel.
