Spanish & Portuguese Wine News 2/3/12: Tondonia for $20?

By: Joe Manekin

K&L Spanish & Portuguese Wine Buyer

Greetings all,  

While we are not selling Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva for $20 (though, curiously, a colleague mentioned that Maria José Lopez de Heredia was recently interviewed on NPR) we are selling another classic, single vineyard wine made from a vineyard literally one Rio Ebro stone's throw over: Viña Pomal.  

Bodegas Bilbainas has been producing the Viña Pomal Reserva since 1932.  It is all Tempranillo from a beautiful calcareous clay vineyard site in Haro.  It's aged 18 months in American oak, and then another 18 months in bottle (though at this point both wines below have obviously aged considerably longer).  Both of these are from terrific vintages in 2004 and 2005, and would make for a delicious accompaniment to any of your favorite winter stews and braises.  They are wines with great material, rich fruit, well integrated spicy barrel notes, balanced acidity, earthy savor and an unmistakable Rioja Alta minerality.  These wines are also known to age well- I will be grabbing some of each to experiment.  

2005 Bodegas Bilbainas Viña Pomal Reserva Rioja - $19.99 http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1084698  

2004 Bodegas Bilbainas Viña Pomal Reserva Rioja - $19.99 http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1069595   

Saludos,

Joe    

---

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 1/19/12: Equipo Navazos

By: Joe Manekin

K&L Spanish & Portuguese Wine Buyer

Greetings all,  

Short and to the point offer today for some extremely limited wines.....  

Most anyone who has an open mind and a knowledge of fine wine has some familiarity with Equipo Navazos.  What can be said about these Sherries that hasn't already been mentioned in the press and by wine lovers of all types?  From professional Champagne writers to leading Spanish journalists, younger restaurant wine buyers to more seasoned collectors, Equipo Navazos has earned praise for days and extra days. These are not only some of Spain's best wines, but the best bottlings are paradigm shifting examples of their style, and make ideal, cerebral introductions to the delicious, if complicated and challenging, world of Sherry.

Equipo Navazos consists of a partnership between Jesús Barquin and Eduardo Ojeda.  The proprietors use their connections in the Sherry trade to pick some of their favorite barrels from a small group of top bodegas.  These barrels are then bottled with the lightest of filtrations, and the resulting wines are truly outstanding and distinctive versions of their respective style.  They are also capable of improving with bottle age.  I love both of these wines, though it's the manzanilla pasada (in its earlier #10 iteration) which has been amongst my favorite wines of all time.  Both of these, though, are awesome and have my highest recommendation.  

Equipo Navazos La Bota de Fino #18  Macharnudo Alta Jerez - $39.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1079246

Equipo Navazos La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada #30 Sanlucar de Barrameda  - $59.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1049734  

Saludos,

Joe  

 ---

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 - 1/11/12: Bodegas Las Orcas

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

Greetings all,  

Let's start off by thanking everyone who made it to our tastings this past Saturday.  The first tasting of the year can be a tough one to guage - will people turn out, excited to once again have a Saturday tasting after a few weeks without one?  Or perhaps people would want to take it easy after the holidays? 

Well, as it turned out a lot of people wanted to taste some wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero.  And, since we only have the opportunity to do this a few times a year, we had the chance to open some good bottles:  1996 Viña Sastre Pagos de Santa Cruz Ribera del Duero, 1996 Bodegas Las Orcas Reserva Rioja, 1996 Finca Allende "Aurus" Rioja.  In Redwood City we were fortunate to have a bottle of 1970 Viña Tondonia Blanco, a rare relic which, frankly, I was tired of passing by in the jewel rack without pulling it out and opening it for curious customers and staff.  

Let's keep that Rioja feeling going this week.  Based in the Rioja Alavesa town of Laguardia, Bodegas Las Orcas farms tempranillo as well as a bit of garnacha and graciano.  Their wines are delicious, though at the same time they are serious and built for the long haul.  Amongst tasters' favorite wines last Saturday was the 1996 Bodegas Las Orcas Reserva Rioja.  At 15 years old, it has developed into a beautiful, aromatically complex, medium weight, silky wine, still showing fruit but with plenty of mushroom and sous bois notes to grab your attention.  We hardly have any more of this wine left, grab some before it disappears. 

People also enjoyed the younger and fruitier 2006 Bodegas Las Orcas Crianza Rioja.  This is tasty now, though our experience with this wine suggests that, for those who prefer softer tannins and a bit more savory nuance, its optimal drinking period will not begin for another few years, and will continue through its 10th birthday. 

Finally, the 2001 Bodegas Las Orcas Reserva Rioja is drinking great now, though it too will continue to reward cellaring.   

2006 Bodegas Las Orcas Solar de Randez Crianza Rioja - $14.99 http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1075877  

2001 Bodegas Las Orcas Solar de Randez Reserva Rioja - $24.99 http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1049887  

1996 Bodegas Las Orcas Solar de Randez Reserva Rioja - $29.99 http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1058127  

Saludos,

Joe

---

Joe Manekin

Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American Wine Buyer

K&L Wine Merchants

Ph: 877.559.4637 ext. 2748

joemanekin@klwines.com