Spanish & Portuguese Wine News - 12/29/11:

By: Joe Manekin

K&L Spanish & Portuguese Wine Buyer

Happy New Year, everyone!

Hopefully no one minded (or had time to notice) the radio silence during the past few weeks.  We had what was easily our busiest holiday season, and are enjoying the steady, but much less frenzied and high pressure week between Christmas and NYE.  If you have some time to see us and need to stock up on anything - Cava, Sherry, Rioja, Champagne, beer, Muscadet, pineau d'aunis, whatever - come on in, we'll be happy to see you!

I thought that I would take a (temporary) hiatus from the sales pitch (sort of), and instead use this email to wish you all the best for 2012.  Here are just a few things we're looking forward to next year:

 - Hosting our new Riojano friend Miguel Merino, likely in March.  We will surely have a few events featuring Miguel and these delicious direct imports, so stay tuned.  Also, please be sure to check out our interview with him in our February newsletter.

- Adding some new direct imports from Rioja and perhaps further afield.  One in particular I'm very excited about; we've had the wines in the past and will soon be their exclusive US importers. 

- Continuing to spread the Sherry gospel.  Maybe a direct import here as well?

- Tasting the good stuff with you all.  To that point, our first tasting of the year (Redwood City, San Francisco and Hollywood) will focus on some of the classics from Rioja and Ribera del Duero, and will be Saturday January 7th so mark your calendars!  Just a heads up, this tasting may be a fancy one (in terms of wines, not price!)  We might could pop open some fine vintages to get folks out the first week in January.  You should check it out. Check K&L Local Events for more details: http://www.klwines.com/local_events.asp#5

 Thanks for all of your support in 2011, and best wishes for the New Year.

Saludos,

Joe

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Joe Manekin

Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American Wine Buyer K&L Wine Merchants

Ph: 877.559.4637 ext. 2748

joemanekin@klwines.com

Spanish & Portuguese Wine News 12/1/2011: Bodegas Riojanas tasting this Friday 12/2!

By Joe Manekin | K&L Spanish and Portuguese Wine Buyer

Hey everyone,

This week we are focused on one thing and one thing only: the special Bodegas Riojanas tasting with Luis Moya of Vinos Unico this Friday at 5pm in our Redwood City store.  In addition to having some delicious tapas prepared courtesy of Chef Raquel Hermosilla of Spain at Home Catering, we will be featuring a full line-up of Bodegas Riojanas wines, including the '78 Viña Albina and legendary '64 Monte Real Gran Reservas.  Those two bottles alone, if they were for sale (they're not, we're pouring them just for fun and educational purposes) would likely go for $200 each. 

The price of the tasting is only $8. 

Here is the line-up: 

2004 Bodegas Riojanas Viña Albina Reserva Rioja - $19.99

2001 Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Gran Reserva Rioja - $34.99

1998 Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Gran Reserva Rioja - $39.99

1998 Bodegas Riojanas Viña Albina Gran Reserva Rioja - $39.99

1978 Bodegas Riojanas Viña Albina Gran Reserva Rioja (not for sale)

1964 Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Gran Reserva Rioja (not for sale)

I look forward to seeing you all there and enjoying some terrific, traditional Riojas with you.

Joe

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Joe Manekin

Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American Wine Buyer

K&L Wine Merchants

Ph: 877.559.4637 ext. 2748

joemanekin@klwines.com

http://www.bodegasriojanas.com/en/bodega.php

Spanish and Portuguese Wine News 11/16/11: Talking Turkey

By Joe Manekin | K&L Spanish and Portuguese Wine Buyer

Greetings from Iberilandia,

Let's talk turkey.  We've got some new stuff that I think would make terrific turkey day wine.  Also, our last Vibrant Rioja Thursday tasting to look forward to this Thursday in Redwood City.  Finally, we have some new sherries – one everyday Manzanilla as well as a few special occasion/collectible things from Equipo Navazos.

1.) Thanksgiving wines

I have found that Albariño works wonderfully with the Thanksgiving meal.  The wine's ripe, juicy fruit seems to complement nearly everything on the table, and the acidity invigorates your palate and keeps you focused on the most important business of the holiday: eating. 

2010 Carballal Albariño Rias Baixas - $14.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1072339

2009 Do Ferreiro Albariño Rias Baixas - $24.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1065195

Rioja is my default Thanksgiving red (to satisfy the French side of my euro inclined palate, I'll usually pick a good Beaujolais as well).  There is something about the generosity of Rioja's fruit and the gently balanced acidity which just works great at table, whether you're going Spanish style with lamb and roasted potatoes or American style with turkey and mashed spuds. 

2007 Bodegas Puelles Crianza Rioja - $15.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1072531

2001 Señorio de Peciña Reserva Rioja - $29.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1069149

2001 Señorio de Peciña Reserva Rioja (1.5L) –  $59.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1079798

Finally, my pick for something a bit different.  Think of this as one of Spain's best winemaker's response to Beaujolais.

2010 Bodegas y Viñedos Ponce "Clos Lojen" Manchuela - $15.99

 http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1078214

2.) New Sherries

How about a fresh, recently bottled Manzanilla?

La Guita Manzanilla Sanlucar de Barrameda - $14.99

 http://www.klwines.com/content.asp?&N=0&Nr=OR%28OutofStock%3AN%2CInventory+Location%3ASpecial+Order%29&Ns=QtySoldLast30%7C1

And, some rare, rare wines, for the collector with a sweet tooth.

Equipo Navazos La Bota de Pedro Ximenez #11 Jerez - $79.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1079258

Equipo Navazos La Bota de Pedro Ximenez #12 Montilla Moriles - $79.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1079267

3.) Vibrant Rioja

Join us in Redwood City tomorrow (Thursday 11/17) for our final Vibrant Rioja tasting (featuring all Reservas and Gran Reservas!) 5-6:30pm. $5 RSVP and/or invite friends, or roll solo - it's going to be well worth the $5.

Saludos,

Joe

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Joe Manekin

Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American Wine Buyer

K&L Wine Merchants

Ph: 877.559.4637 ext. 2748

joemanekin@klwines.com