Spanish & Portuguese Wine News: Thanks & Happy New Year!

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

Greetings all,  

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for what has far and away been the most enjoyable and successful year for us to date. Sales success, for sure, but also lots of success in expanding our Direct Import selections, gaining first hand knowledge in the regions where our wines are made, and hearing from all of you.

It was a pleasure to host Miguel Merino in our Redwood City tasting bar in August. Many of you have travelled to Spain and reported back on visits to folks like Miguel Merino and Angel at Bodegas Casa Juan. To state things concisely, everything we do here is a direct result of your support. Thank you.  

In 2013, we have a lot to look forward to. New direct imports. We're working on a DI Getariako Txakoli (hopefully just $15). Ribera del Duero as well. I'm still exploring ways to expand our fortified selections, particularly as it relates to sherry (do we have enough enthusiasts to allow us to purchase our own barrel....?)

There is lots of impeccably stored mature Rioja in Spain, sitting patiently in perfect cellar conditions; perhaps we should bring some in?

Of course, our suppliers will continue to deliver loads of wine for us to taste through, select and offer to you all. So, lots of exciting work for the new year. In the meantime, I wish you all the best for your New Year celebrations and in the year ahead.  

Happy New Year,

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 10/31/12: Rioja Tastings This Week!

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

TASTINGS, we got 'em! If you're curious to see how well great Rioja ages, please join us for our final Vibrant Rioja in-store tastings of the year in San Francisco and Redwood City.

 Vibrant Rioja Part III: San Francisco - Thursday 11/1 (5-6:30pm) $5

Vibrant Rioja Part III: Redwood City - Friday 11/2 (5-6:30pm) $5

We've got a fistful of Lopez de Heredia Tondonia for both of these...the whites. See how the 1996 Blanco Reserva and the 1991 Blanco Gran Reserva are showing.  We will also be featuring the lovely 1995's from Ontañon, a reserva and gran reserva. I won't overemphasize the point, but for anyone who has tasted any of these will tell you, $5 to try these four wines is a steal.

Also, for all of you who live and/or work in SF, please join us for what promises to be a fun Rioja tasting with our friends at 18 Reasons (3674 18th St) on Friday 11/9 from 6-8pm. There will be some cheese and other Spanish nibbles while you enjoy wines from Peciña, Remelluri (yes, including the vaunted white!) and others. Twelve great wines and snacks for $15. All killer no filler, as they say. Spanish wine importer/local celebrity José Pastor may even make an appeance. It's going to be fun.

Alright, gotta go, too much going on!  Hope to see you at one or more of these tastings.

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 10/25/12: The State of Affairs

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

Greetings wine drinkers,

This week has been an inventory counting week, meaning there is not much new stuff.  That said, I did have the opportunity to fully examine the state of the inventory (as well as to listen to Billy Joel's The Stranger; such a classic record and great music to count bottles of wine to, "bottle of red, bottle of white," c'mon it's perfect). I'm happy to report that the state of the Spanish, Portuguese, and South American inventory is strong. There are a few wines which I noticed we still have very small quantities of which you may want to check out before they disappear forever.

2007 Vinya Sanfeliu Tempranillo Costers del Segre - $17.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1062758

Hippy wine. No sulphur added.  When this 100% tempranillo is on its 'A' game, it's delicious.

2009 Jimenez-Landi "El Reventon" Garnacha vino de la tierra de Castilla y Leon - $69.99

2009 Bernabeleva Garnacha de Viña Bonita Vinos de Madrid - $49.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1077415

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1107183

Having recently visited both of these bodegas (and in Bernabeleva's case, the vineyards as well) I can confirm what I suspected earlier: these are among the best wines in all of Spain right now. All garnacha, all whole cluster; garnacha made by people who want to take grenache back to its rightful place, where clairty, terroir expression and energy dominate. Fans of Rayas, Vieux Donjon, Eric Texier...take note.

2009 Vera de Estenas "PG" Madurado en Barrica Bobal Utiel-Requeña - $14.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1064681

Rustic, gritty wine from a pretty fierce, rustic grape.  Bobal can be fairly high in acid and tannin, though this expression does have some tasty fruit to balance things out. Very interesting wine for the price, not for the fruit fanatics but rather for the "make mine traditional" crowd.

*Lots of goodies coming in next week: a large spread of Lopez de Heredia wines - including current release of the '91 Tondonia Blanco Gran Reserva and one of my all time faves, 1981 Bosconia Gran Reserva. Also, some killer wines from Vega de Ribes in the "garraf" sub-zone of the Penedes.

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