Mouriz Cask 2008

Type: Red wine

Winery: Bodegas Solera

D.O.: Wines from Madrid

Country: Spain

Varieties: Tempranillo

Features

Solera winery is located in Colmenar de Oreja and it is 100 years old, where the past and present coexist since, although the incorporation of technology is a necessary task, this has not got rid of those methods that, although being traditional, have an important influence over quality of wine. Beginning by ecological cultivation of 18 Ha. of centenary vineyards under an exhaustive control and the handmade harvest of the grape, going on to the earthenware jars which continue pampering the wine, and finnishing with the sale in the cellar, bottle to bottle.

Ecological wine from vineyards about 40 years old. Four months inside American oak cask.

Alc./vol.: 14%

Tasting

View: Deep red cherry colour.

Nose: Intense aromas with hints of vanilla from the wood.

Mouth: Balanced with a persistent and pleasant finish.

Altos de la Finca 2009

Type: Red wine

Winery: Finca Constancia (González Byass)

V.T.: Tierra de Castilla

Country: Spain

Varieties: Petit Verdot (60%) and Syrah (40%)

Features

Grapes from vineyards located in the heights of Finca Constancia. Malolactic fermentation inside new French oak casks of superfin grain and medium toasting. 18 months in contact with its lees.

Alc./vol.: 14,5%

Tasting
View: Deep cherry red colour with high slayer. Deeply colored crying.
Nose: Aromas marked with red fruits.
Mouth: Good structure, rich and meaty on palate. Long and silky.

Sofros 2009

Type: Red wine
Winery: Bodegueros Quinta Esencia
D.O.: Toro
Country: Spain
Variety: Tinta de Toro

Features

This wine is elaborated from native grapes -tinta de Toro-, from an old vineyard (82 years) located in the village of Morales de Toro (Zamora), with a soil made up by sandstone, clay and limestone sediments, with a great profusion of rolling stones. The vineyard is 705 m height. Its type of conduction is made by the Govelet system. Continental climate with Atlantic influences. With maximum and minimum, very pronounced temperatures and very marked thermical day-night contrasts.

12-14 months inside new French oak cask.

93 points in Parker's List 2011.

Al./vol.: 15,5%

Tasting
View: Red-cherry colour with a medium-high intensity.

Nose: Fine and smooth within the contribution of the wood, cedar, vanilla, roasted aromas... which are going to open in the extent the wine becomes oxygenated.

Mouth: Round and ripe tannins, elegant and long finish.

Chivite 2008 Finca de Villatuerta

Type: Red wine

Winery: Chivite

D.O.: Navarra

Country: Spain

Varieties: Tempranillo and merlot

Features

Chivite family owns a property of 180 Ha in the village of Villatuerta, located on the slopes of Alto de Musquidia; pool Tertiary soils of chalky origin with moderate contents of clay and silt.

This wine is made from an exclusive selection of Tempranillo graves from four plots totalling 44 Ha. and Merlot from a plot of 22 Ha. within the property, turned toward southwest. After a careful winemaking, the malolactic fermentation is made inside French oak barrels (12 months), and two rackings, this wine is obtained.

Alc./vol.: 13.5%

Tasting

View: Deep ruby, young colour.

Nose: Red fruits and blueberries aromas. Spicy hints. Good wood, cedar and blond tobacco.

Mouth: Persistent and very pleasant finish.

Montesierra Crianza 2007

Type: Red wine

Winery: Bodegas Pirineos

D.O.: Somontano

Country: Spain

Varieties: Tempranillo, Moristel and Cabernet Sauvignon

Features

Bodega Pirineos' vineyard makes up an assortment of little plots locating in the just core of Somontano area. It is the most ancient from D.O. Somontano, where native varieties (macabeo, moristel, parraleta) of centenary grapevines are preserved. They take up 1.050 Ha, mainly belonging to 220 winegrowers from Sobrarbe Somontano Regional Cooperative. Vineyard, 90% dry land, benefits from brown limestone grounds with scant fertility, good permeability with soft materials, which allow the infiltration of the vine roots, suitable limestone level and fit sanitary conditions. With a height swinging among 350-650m., the Atlantic character climate typical in this area provides quality and balance to wines.

It is aging for 12 months inside French oak cask.

Alc./vol.: 13,5%

Serving temperature: 18 ºC

Tasting

View: Red cherry colour with rubi hints, well covered.

Nose: Intense aromas from oak aging although red fruits, blackberry and redcurrant prevail and vanilla, leather and spicies as green pepper.

Mouth: Velvety, spirited and great fineness. Aftertaste is prolonged and fruitty.

Martúe 2008

Type: Red wine

Winery: Bodegas Martúe La Guardia

D.O.: Pago Campo de La Guardia

Country: Spain

Varieties: Tempranillo (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (23%), Merlot (26%), Petit Verdot (6%), Syrah (5%)

Features

Winery finally was built in 2002 and 2009 it got the Pago Campo de La Guardia qualification. A Pago's wine is the highest qualification that the Spanish legislation considers in the winegrowing matter, even above the D.O. The Pago concept when it is applied to the wine refers a vineyard located on a special settlement, with singular soils and a privileged weather which impresses to the wine its unique qualities. In Spain only nine winerys have this honour.

Fermentation is traditional, with daily overpumpings. After, it has 20 days of maceration into the depots with the skins. Wine is fermented separately in a controlled temperature with long macerations and stays nine months inside the American (20%) and French (80%) oak casks.

Alc./vol.: 14.5%

Serving temperature: 15-17ºC

Tasting

View: Cherry-red colour.

Nose: Clean and complex aroma. Red fruits and flowers stand out. Memories of spices and aromas of quality wood.

Mouth: Fresh, kind, dominating the fruit but with structure, long aftertaste and tasty.

Grego 2009

Type: Red wine

Winery: Vinos Jeromín

D.O.: Wines from Madrid

Country: Spain

Variety: Garnacha

Features

Quality of this wine begins in the own plantations, being taken care greatly. Since early August, grape samplings begin in the same plots, according to make a ripening and quality following which decides the optimum point of ripening and its harvest date. Harvest is handmade during the coldest hours of the day and with boxes 20kg weight, in order to respect greatly the grape quality. Fermentation is made into 10,000l depots within a controlled temperature (22-29ºC). Fermentation and maceration last 26 days with two daily overpumpings. The most modern technology and high quality wine products are used for the fermentation of these grapes, supporting always on the innovations of this wine growing sector. Once alcoholic fermentation is over, the wine begins the malolactic fermentation, very important for quality red wines. 12 months inside French and American oak cask.

Alc./vol.: 14,5%

Serving temperature: 14-16 ºC

Tasting

View: Deep red cherry colour with violet trims.

Nose: Very fine and intense aromas with a great complexity, red fruits, wood.

Mouth: Meaty and tasty, with a long aftertaste.

Portillejo 2009

Type: Red wine

Winery: Viñedos Mejorantes

D.O.: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Variety: Merlot

Features

It is a product of a project developed by a group of vine growers from La Mancha, which late 80's undertook the restructuring of their vineyards with foreign varieties, hence its name, this winery was born 1994 located un Toledo province. With the aim to elaborate quality wines about the basis of the vineyards selection, it is distinguised itself especially about its single varietal wines from foreign varieties, somewhat unusual in the area.

Alc./vol.: 14,5%
Serving temperature: 15-16ºC

Tasting

View: Dark deep red color, some evolved trims. Medium-high layer.

Nose: Very fragant. Medium-high intensity. Prune, dry flowers, with cacao flakes and some grain aromas as a result of the cask.

Mouth: Powerful path, structured, balsamic, medium height, very fruity, a little mineral and high alcoholic content, very complex.

Cape Spring 2010

Type: Red wine
Winery: Les Grands Chais
D.O.: Western Cape
Country: South Africa

Variety: Pinotage

Features

The wines of the Western Cape range from sturdy Rhone-style red wines to aromatic Sauvignon Blancs in vineyards cooled by breezes off the Atlantic. In this case, a fragrant subtle elegant wine, with cherryish, spicy flavours and that familiar bitter sweet flavour one associates with Pinotage.

Alc./vol.: 12,5%
Serving temperature: 14-16 ºC

Tasting
View: Garnet coloured wine. Medium layer.
Nose: Intense ripe bramble and black cherry fruits.

Mouth: Dry with firm but mellowing tannins and huge, yet elegant, structure. With a fine palate of mulberry & loganberry fruits and hints of coffee and cloves in the background. Stylish wine with a savoury twist on the finish.

Imperial Reserva 2004

Type: Red wine

Winery: Cune

D.O.: Rioja

Country: Spain

Variety: Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (10%) and Mazuelo (5%)

Features

A selection of the best grapes from our Rioja Alta vineyards aronund the village of Villalba were hand harvested into small 30 kg boxes. Prior to starting the alcoholic fermentation, the whole bunches of grapes were coolled down and kept at a low temperature for some hours in order to better control the fermentation without using any additives and to achieve the optimum extraction. The fermentation took place in a combination of oak vats and stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. The wine was then aged in both American and French new oak casks for two years before being bottled followed by another two years in bottle prior to its release to the market.

Alc./vol.: 13,5%

Serving temperature: 18-19 ºC

Tasting

View: Stylish, bright ruby red and very intense in colour.

Nose: Highly aromatic on the nose with hints of red and black autumn fruit aromas along with some toasted and spicy notes of sweet Bourbon character.

Mouth: Full and meaty in the palate with great depthand a fine, long, velvety and complex ending.

Baltos

Type: Red wine

Winery: Viñedos y Bodegas de Dominio de Tares

D.O.: Bierzo

Country: Spain

Variety: Mencía

Features

This wine has been produced from the Mencia grape variety from different vineyards in the area of Bierzo, seeking a balanced and harmonious grape combination grown on three different types of soil. The predominant vineyard area is called Cabanelas. From here we have harvested vines between 25 and 40 years old planted on stony limestone soils which produce grapes offering structure and bringing out all its strong flavour.

On the other hand, vines also between 25 and 40 years old were selected from the Valtuille area. These were planted on clay-calcareous alluvial soils giving grapes of elegance and ‘finesse’. Finally, vines of at 40 years old were chosen from the Almazcara area, grown on gravel soils lying over clay-calcareous sub-soils at an altitude between 700 and 800 metres above seal level (2,300 – 2,600 ft.), situated in the Upper Bierzo region. This type of soil confers the tannins and polyphenolic compounds to the wine, needed for correct ageing. The harvest in the Western Bierzo region usually takes place during the second fortnight of September and is finalized in the Upper Bierzo region during the last week of October. After an initial selection of grapes, they are transported immediately after picking to the winery in small lots of 15 kilos. They are then sorted out by hand in bunches. The next step is to separate the stems from the grapes which are further pressed lightly before maceration with their skins during two weeks. When fermentation is completed, the wine is aged for 4 to 7 months inside French and American oak barrels which have been in use from 1 to 3 years.

Alc./vol.: 14,5%

Serving temperature: 16 ºC

Tasting

View: Intense red-cherry colour with violet trims. High layer. Slow tear.

Nose: Medium intensity aromas showing more powerful to the extent that it opens. Many red fruit accompanied with floral hints which let through the typical hints of wood with some lactic and spicy hints which have the prominence. Balsamic ending, with memories of hill grass and mint.

Mouth: Smooth, fresh and elegant, with prominence of fruit. Tasty and nice pace, with any last balsamic touch, spicy and licorice. Balanced. Good ending. Round aftertaste.

Pétalos 2010

Type: Red wine

Winery: Descendientes de J. Palacios

D.O.: Bierzo

Country: Spain

Variety: Mencía

Features

After the empahtic success in Priorat, Álvaro Palacios decided to settle in Bierzo as a great potential area. His way to understand the wine is the selection of minuscule plots of old grapevines on sheer and rocky grounds to make diferent wines depending on features of every vineyard, a similar system to the Burgundian clasification method. It began many years ago since 1999 and his technique in the making has been refined, leaving back the abuse of strong toasted casks to remove the essence of fruit and draw his wines with several fragances. One of them is Petalos, his village's wine, as Burgundians catalogue it.

It is aging for 4 months inside the cask.

Alc./vol.: 14%

Serving temperature: 16-17 ºC

Tasting

View: Violet and dark tonality.

Nose: Fragance has a perfect definition of carnations, violets and rockrose's petals and flower. When it is shaken, it gains in complexity and you can sense graphite, wood and mineral humus.  

Mouth: Floral and blueberries with very fresh texture, balsamic and a velvet dress. Tannins hardly are sensed because of a superfluous and nonexistent touch.

Finca La Estacada 6 months inside the cask

Type: Red wine

Winery: Finca La Estacada

V.T.: Tierra de Castilla

Country: Spain

Variety: Tempranillo

Features

FINCA LA ESTACADA has 278 hectares of vines that are all grown close to the winery, with the farthest at a distance of 7-10 Km. Of these 278 hectares, 106 of which are of Tempranillo grapes, of an average of 25 years, 59 of Cabernet, 32 of Syrah, and 8 of Merlot. Also, in recent years the vineyard has been extended with new varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Cariñena, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

The use of varieties sucha as Tempranillo, the most prestigious in Spain, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, renowned the world over, and the newcomer Syrah, star of the Rhône and Australia, is not just a fashionable choice. FINCA LA ESTACADA has gradually abandoned the traditional image of head-pruned vines that has characterised the wines from Castile-La Mancha, turning instead to the geometry of the trellis system with a drip irrigation method that ensures a balanced water supply. This noticeably improves the quality of the grape, as it increases the amount of sunlight the vines receive and the distribution of production. It also improves the ripening process by producing a larger leaf surface, and in the final stage makes it possible to mechanise many of the processes required to tend to the vines. The soils are clayey with a limestone substrate, poor but woth sufficient mineral resources.

Ripening takes place without any problems due to the long hours of sunlight to which vines in Castile-La Mancha are exposed, but with the peculiarity of being situated in the highest part of the region. This allows for a slightly longer ripening process than in the rest of La Mancha, preserving certain acidity levels and fruit notes that would otherwise be lost with a higher average temperature.

The average density of the vineyard is between 2000-2500 plants per hectare, depending on the type of grape and their location. As a result we obtain a production per hectare of between 5000 and 7000 Kg of small grapes.

6 months inside American oak cask and 2 months bottled.

Alc./vol.: 13,5%

Serving temperature: 12-14ºC

Tasting

View: Deep cherry colour with a purplish edge, proof of its strength of youthfulness.

Nose: Powerfully aromatic that exemplifies black berries and the bramble patch touches of the land that add complexity and certain notes of fruit.

Mouth: Meaty in the mouth, with sweet tannins, as well as certain warm notes and a powerful ripe fruit finish.

Premius 2010

Type: Red wine

Winery: Yvon Mau

D.O.: Bordeaux

Country: France

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

Features
PREMIUS is the prestige cuvée of Yvon Mau, makers of great Bordeaux wines since 1897. PREMIUS benefits from the lavish care and attention of our in-house oenologists. Over the last 10 years, this uncompromising approach has been rewarded by some 50 medals in the main French and international competitions.

Alc./vol.: 13%

Serving temperature: 16-18 ºC

Awards (another vintages)

- Premius 2006: Bronze Medal - Concours des Grands Vins de France, Macon 2008. Bronze Medal - Concours des Vins d'Aquitaine 2008.

- Premius 2005: Silver Medal - International Wine Challenge 2006.  Gold Medal - Vinalies Internationales 2007. Gold Medal - Brussels Concours Mondial 2007. Silver Medal - Mundus Vini 2005. Bronze Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards 2007.

- Premius 2004: Gold Medal - 4 stars, Premium Select Wine Challenge 2006.

- Premius 2003: Bordeaux Red Vinalies Nationales Prize 2006.

Tasting

View: A lovely crimson colour.

Nose: Red fruit bouquet with vanilla and slight menthol hints.

Mouth: The impression on the palate is well balanced, with delicate fruit flavours.

Cermeño 2010

Type: Red wine
Winery: Bodegas Covitoro
D.O.: Toro
Country: Spain
Variety: Tinta from Toro

Features

Selecting the best grapes around 30 years old, manual harvest just in the optimum moment of ripeness.

Alc./vol.: 14,5%

Service temperature: 15-17 ºC

Tasting

View: Intense red cherry colour.

Nose: Powerful aromas from red fruits, strawberry, cherry and black fruits, plums and blackberries.

Mouth: Fresh, broad, meaty and persistent.

Orange Phoenix Crianza 2002

Type: Red wine
Winery: Bodegas Entrecepas 
D.O.: Rioja
Country: Spain

Variety: Tempranillo (70%), mazuelo (13%), garnacha (13%), graciano (4%)

Features
Aged in French and American oak casks for 12 months.
Alc./vol.: 13,5%
Serving temperature: 16 ºC

Tasting

View: Intense red cherry colour with saffron hues.

Nose: Velvety jams fused with toasty notes, light reminiscence of coffee.

Mouth: Silky with certain final acidity that adds freshness. Long finish.

Valvinoso

Type: Rosé wine

Winery: Bodegas y viñedos Alfredo Santamaría

D.O.: Cigales

Country: Spain

Variety: Tempranillo, verdejo and albillo

Features

Made of a mixture of grapes variety from own vineyards, manually selected and picked. It is elaborated by cold maceration and clearing, after which a fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of 15ºC. Racking and fining process make the wine limpid and stable. The vinification finishes when wine is stabilised at low temperature then it is ready for bottling.

Alc./vol.: 13%

Serving temperature: 8 ºC

Tasting
View: Very clear and transparent with pink tones.

Nose: Red licorice and strawberry yogurt aromas harmoniously combined with intense fresh red fruit hints.

Mouth: Vivacious, high sharpness and fruity in the month with a long finish. Greasy and with good structure.

Alfredo Santamaría 2007 Crianza

Type: Red wine

Winery: Bodegas y viñedos Alfredo Santamaría

D.O.: Cigales

Country: Spain

Variety: Tempranillo

Features

After grapes are harvested by hand from 65 years old vineyards, a traditional maceration with their skins takes place during 15 to 20 days, depending on the polyphenols richness of the harvest. Alcoholic fermentation at a controlled temperature, always below 30ºC, followed by a malolactic fermentation at 28ºC. A racking and a fining process that make the wine limpid and stable. Finally, the wine is settled at 5ºC aprox. after which it is ready for aging. The aging period consists on at least 13 months in American oak barrel and 12 months in bottle, always in the best conditions of temperature and moisture. Bottling takes place without any aggressive process, for this reason it may contain sediments, being decanting recommended.

Alc./vol.: 13,5%

Serving temperature: 16 ºC

Tasting
View: Deep red layer of colour and purple edge. Thick tear. 

Nose: High aromatic intensity which contains hints of fruits, spices and wood.

Mouth: In the mouth is meaty and with firm tannins which leave a long lasting fruit flavour.

Fontal Roble 2010

Type: Red wine

Winery: Bodegas Fontana

D.O.: La Mancha

Country: Spain

Variety: Tempranillo

Features

Winery Fontana is the result of a family life dedicated to the making of quality wines and own harvest. Best vineyards of the region were carefully selected for years with an only aim: to achieve the best harvests for the wines.

For it is necessary a sandy loam soli, a rainy spring and cool summer. The mild summer temperatures allowed a long ripening period, producing fresh grapes with grapes aromatic potential.

6 months inside the oak cask.

Alc./vol.: 14%

Serving temperature: 12-14 ºC

Tasting
View: Clean, brilliant and deep red-violet colour.

Nose: Intense touches of red fruits with toasted and vanilla aromas.

Mouth: In mouth the taste is round, broad and powerful, with sweet and ripe tannins. Medium body.

Amant Roble 2010

Type: Red wine

Winery: Bodegas Toresanas

D.O.: Toro
Country: Spain
Variety: Tinta de Toro

Features

Selected vineyards and then the grapes. Pampered and painstaking wine-growing. Aging for 6 months inside casks of French and American oak.

Alc./vol.: 14,5 %

Serving temperature: 12-16 ºC

Tasting

View: Red cherry colour. Medium-high layer. Clean and great brightness.

Nose: Aromas of red fruits and spices, with licorice notes.

Mouth: Structured, balanced, meaty, fresh and with marked fruit notes.