Great Domaines cellar opening and our offer on some Spanish greats from Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Toro
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Dear All,
We are thrilled to announce our official cellar opening to celebrate our new home. This will take place on Saturday 26th November 2011. It will be an al fresco affair outside in a walk around format. We will have separate tables representing some of the different regions and wines from the following producers:
Pol Roger, Marguet, Delamotte (CHAMPAGNE), William Fevre, Fourrier, Bonneau du Martray, Mugnier (BURGUNDY) , Vieux Telegraphe, Cuvee du Vatican, Pegau (RHONE), Pibarnon (PROVENCE) , Alion, Pintia (SPAIN) Felsina, Grasso, Sandrone (Italy)
Guests limited to 100 people. Please email us if you are interested in attending. RSVPs will be dealt on a first come first served basis.
It is with great excitement that we are able to offer our full Spanish portfolio, which has been carefully built up over the last few years. We have focussed our attention on the Spanish fine wine regions of Ribera del Duero, Rioja and Toro.
The privilege of being the importers of Spain's "first growth", Bodega Vega Sicilia, has opened the door for us to import wine from their two sister estates. The first is that of Alion, situated in the same region as Vega Sicilia- Ribera del Duero, a region which challenges Rioja as Spain’s most revered wine region. This is a seriously sophisticated estate producing 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) from 20-30 old vines. Certainly a more modern philosophy here but that is relative considering that Vega Sicilia is very traditional indeed. Depth, elegance and freshness are hallmarks of the estate. Certainly one of Ribera’s revolutionaries estates.
Their other estate is Pintia, which is based further west along the Duero river in Toro. Toro is a region known for its power and Pintia provides a wonderful window into a wine which, through taming this powerful frame, reflects the pure, explosive beauty of Tempranillo from this region. Vine age here is between 40-60years and the wine stylistically straddles that of the old and new world. Stunning.
Moving further north-east one finds the famous region of Rioja. Most Rioja is produced no less than 100km from the Atlantic, from vineyards at a higher altitude than any of France’s fine wine regions. This allows for conditions of cool nights and nuanced temperatures that result in a freshness and warmth in the wines. Tempranillo is the dominant grape here, often blended with small amounts of Garnacha (Grenache), Graciano and occasionally Mazuelo (Carignan). Rioja tends to rank quality via the amount of aging prior to release. Namely, ‘Crianza’ (a year in each barrel and bottle), ‘Reserva’ (one in barrel, two in bottle) and ‘Gran Reserva’ (two in barrel and three in bottle). We are fortunate to have developed relationships with two of Rioja’s great bodegas- Bodega Remirez de Ganuza and Bodega Muga. Fernando Remirez de Ganuza runs one of Rioja’s benchmark estates. His attention to detail is intense and it shows in his wines. Muga was established in 1932 and is one of the cornerstones of Rioja with wines of exemplary quality. A traditional estate with a modern outlook. Also worth mentioning is that 2004 was, along with 2001, was one of the vintages of the decade. Great Rioja must be some of the most reasonably priced fine wine in Europe.
**The below tasting notes are from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.** **Please indicate your interest by filling in your desired quantities and replying to this email. **
Andrew Jefford on Rioja: "I can think of other fine red wines in Europe and elsewhere with qualities of this order. But not many"
Region
Vintage
Wine
Parker Points
Tanzer Points
Price/bot incl VAT
No. of bottles
Ribera del Duero
2007
Alion
94+
92
R 460
Region
Vintage
Wine
Parker Points
Tanzer Points
Price/bot incl VAT
No. of bottles
Rioja
2006
Rioja Muga Reserva
91
91
R 200
Rioja
2004
Rioja Muga Gran Reserva 'Prado Enea'
94
-
R 395
Region
Vintage
Wine
Parker Points
Tanzer Points
Price/bot incl VAT
No. of bottles
Rioja
2004
Rioja Reserva 'Fincas'
91
93
R 295
Rioja
2004
Rioja Reserva
97
94
R 495
Region
Vintage
Wine
Parker Points
Tanzer Points
Price/bot incl VAT
No. of bottles
Toro
2007
Pintia
93
92
R 365
"... Alion, one of the more respected Ribera del Duero producers set up by Vega Sicilia's owners...the Figeac of Ribera del Duero?"- Jancis Robinson
2007 Alion (94 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate)
"The 2007 Alion continues the winery's string of outstanding vintages. It is 100% Tempranillo with malolactic fermentation in barrel followed by aging in new French oak. It offers up an exceptionally fragrant and complex bouquet of wood smoke, pencil lead, exotic spices, incense, lavender, and blackberry. On the palate it displays impressive volume, a smooth texture, layered flavors, and a lengthy, seamless finish. This impressive effort will continue to blossom for several more years and provide much pleasure through 2027."
2007 Pintia (93+ Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)
"The 2007 Pintia was sourced from 50% ungrafted Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) vines and aged in 100% new French and American oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it shows off a compelling bouquet of wood smoke, scorched earth, mineral, incense, blackberry, and licorice. Already complex on the palate, this full-bodied offering is dense, succulent, and structured. Give this lengthy Toro another 5-7 years of cellaring and drink it from 2016 to 2032, if not longer. "
2006 Rioja Reserva, Bodega Muga (91 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate)
"Muga's red wines begin with the 2006 Muga Reserva, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, with the balance Mazuelo and Graciano. It was aged for 6 months in wooden vats before spending 2 years in 60% new French and American oak. Purple-colored with an already complex bouquet of pain grille, mineral, violets, black cherry, and blackberry, on the palate it is smooth-textured, layered, and concentrated. It conceals enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years and will offer optimal drinking from 2012 to 2026. It is an excellent value in serious Rioja."
2004 Rioja "Prado Enea" Gran Reserva, Bodega Muga (94 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)
"The 2004 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is not quite as dense as the 2005 but is more expressive on the nose and rounder on the palate. It is a complete effort that should prove to be one of the best Prado Eneas Muga has produced."
2004 Rioja Reserva "Fincas", Bodega Remirez de Ganuza (91 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)
"The 2004 Fincas de Ganuza Reserva is composed of 90% Tempranillo and10% Graciano both from old vines. It is aged for 25 months in 50% new French and American oak before bottling without fining or filtration. A glass-coating opaque purple, the aromatic array includes earth notes, mineral, incense, black cherry, and blackberry. This leads to a mouth-filling, intensely flavored wine with good grip, excellent depth, and enough structure to evolve for several more years. This lengthy effort will deliver prime drinking from 2011 to 2019."
2004 Rioja Reserva, Bodega Remirez de Ganuza (97 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)
"The 2004 Reserva, according to Remirez is "a great vintage, a lot of nerve, like 1994, that needed a long aging period". Opaque purple in color, it offers up a splendid bouquet of sandalwood, incense, Asian spices, balsamic, and black cherry. Layered, opulent, and impeccably balanced, it is a monumental effort."
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