Skip to content

Posts from the ‘Spain’ Category

May 22

Introducing Juan Antonio Ponce–The Prince of Bobal

Juan Antonio Ponce of Bodegas Ponce

We are excited to announce the most recent addition to our Iberian Portfolio: Bodegas Ponce from Manchuela! In 2005, after working as Telmo Rodriguez’s righthand man at Remelluri for a few years, Juan Antonio Ponce, who was just 23 years-old at the time, launched Bodegas Ponce, which quickly rose to the top in the tightest of wine geek circles. Known as the king of the Bobal varietal to many, a local grape that’s termed Valenciano in the rest of Spain, Ponce comes from a long blood line of grape growers, joining forces at the Bodegas with his father who shares his name. And while Bobal is a tannic grape with bright acidity that’s typically been used to produce bulk rosé wines in a region that lacks a unified identity, it is Ponce who has taken this native varietal to another, sublime dimension.

Read more

May 9

Txikifest 2012

The traditional pouring of Ameztoi Rubentis Txakolina

On Sunday, a bunch of us spent the afternoon at Txikifest 2012 , a fabulous Txakoli fair located in the back alleyway of Txikito, a Basque restaurant in Chelsea.  With producers from D. O. Bizkaiko Txakolina, D.O. Arabako Txakolina and D.O. Getariako Txakolina (including Ameztoi!), delectable snacks for pairing from a smart selection of restaurants, and proceeds going to the Department of Neonatology at NYU Langone Medical Center, this was an event not to be missed!

And we are happy to say, that after tasting through the selections, we decided, hands down, that Ameztoi Txakolina and Ameztoi Rubentis Txakolina were most certainly our favorites!

Read more

Apr 23

Joan Angel Lliberia of Edetaria

Joan Angel Lliberia of Edetaria Edetana

Last week, Joan Angel Lliberia of Edetaria in Catalunya came to town, to spread the love of his new rosé.  ”This is the kid of Jorge [our Spanish Portfolio Director] and me,” said Joan Angel and laughed.  And upon taking a closer look, I could see the resemblance…

“Last April, when I visited New York, I saw salespeople selling rosé for spring and summer, from Rioja, Txakolina [from Basque Country] and Provence,” he added.  ”On my last day, I asked Jorge what he thought about a Garnacha rosé…The most important thing to me was to make a gastronomic rosé, to eat with in the summer and spring.

Read more

Apr 12

2 Comments

Rioja Reserva–Traditional & Modern Style Wines

Santiago Ijalba & Roberto of Bodegas Santalba

On Monday, Eric Asimov of the New York Times, published an article titled, “For Reservas, No Cellar Required“, where he discusses the benefits of buying Rioja reservas, because the wines are often well-aged before they’re sold, which leaves the consumer out of the aging/cellaring equation.  Here, Asimov emphasizes the point that though Rioja reserva wines must be aged for a minimum of three years, with at least one year in cask, before  they’re released to the market, many producers go the extra mile and age the wines even longer.

Out of the 20 wines sampled by the tasting panel, our Ermita San Felices Rioja Alta Reserva 2005 made the top ten.  Produced by Santiago Ijalba, of the father/son team at Bodegas Santalba, Ermita is a traditional style wine that’s only made in years that are deemed “excellent” vintages by the Rioja Control Board.

Read more

Mar 12

Ribeira Sacra at De Maison Selections

Tucked away inside of eastern Galacia, in northwestern Spain, sits D.O. Ribeira Sacra (Sacred Banks), which runs along the River Miño and the River Sil.  Located between neighboring DOs Ribeiro and Valdeorras, Ribeira Sacra is home to ancient vineyards of impossible steepness whose terraces were originally excavated by the Romans, 2,000 years ago.  An area that’s been “off the grid” for perhaps just as long, Ribeira Sacra produces wines that were rarely exported, until André Tamers of De Maison Selections came along.

Read more

Feb 28

1 Comment

A Special Place…Really

A visit to Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri, by Chris Wilford

While reflecting on my visit to the Remelluri estate located in the town of Labastida in the north of Spain’s famed Rioja region the words “a special place” kept popping into my head. I must admit that I find the phrase a bit cliché. That said, I just couldn’t shake it. Like a sip of a wine you didn’t think you would like but couldn’t stop thinking about, it simply lingered in my mind.

Read more

Jan 3

New to Our Portfolio: Wines of Bierzo

From the “increasingly fashionable small DO region” of  Bierzo, in Castilla y Leon, in the northwest of Spain, comes the wines of Valle del Boeza, Tinto Mencia and Roble.  An ancient wine region that has recently been resurrected to help pave the way for Mencía, a native red grape, Bierzo is known for its fruity, aromatically refreshing red wines.  In the small village of Valtuille de Abajo (population 200!), it is here that our most recent acquisitions, Valle de Boeza Tinto Mencia and Roble, are produced.

Read more

Nov 11

Staff Picks–Gorrondona Tinto Txakolina 2010

Staff Pick from Brian, our Domestic Portfolio Manager:

For me, it’s the 2010 vintage of Gorrondona Tinto Txakolina. 100% Hondarribi Beltza.

Much deeper dark fruit than the 2009.  Reminded me of some of my favorite Cab Francs from the Loire (La Croix Boissie from Baudry and Pierre and Catherine Breton’s Bourgueil Clos Sénéchal).

Those two wines specifically are from distinct clay soil vineyards in Saumur-Champigny and Bourgueil.  The Gorrondona had a very similiar minerality as those wines and great salinity from the Atlantic.

Perfect for this time of year, with root vegetables from the farmer’s market.


Oct 25

Harvest Report 2011 from Bodega Miguel Merino

 Vineyard Mendiguerra at Bodega Miguel Merino

We just received a harvest report from Bodega Miguel Merino in Briones, La Rioja Alta, along with these stunning photographs! Enjoy!

Briones, La Rioja Alta 20 October 2011

After a mild winter with little snow, a spring of little rain and warm temperatures in May and most of June, we had an unusual summer with below average temperatures in July and early August; while the second half of August was really warm and September started very hot and dry, without a drop of rain.

Read more

Oct 10

2 Comments

Bodegas Santalba in Rioja!

Cepa Vieja Ogga

After working in the industry for 33 years, Santiago Ijalba Garcia established Bodegas Santalba in 1998, in the Riojan town of Gimileo.  Obtaining his degree in oenology in 1974, Santiago was later joined by his son, Roberto, in 1997, after he’d finished studying at UC Davis in 1996.  ”This is a father/son team,” says Jorge.  ”They do everything hand-in-hand…These two winemakers represent two different generations…They have traditional style wines, Emirta; and Abando, which is the son taking over, introducing modern techniques.”  Making wines under eight labels, including Santiago Ijalba Ogga, Vina Hermosa and Bodegas Santalba Abando, the Ijalba family has 20ha under vine, all of which is certified organic.  The remaining fruit, they purchase from other growers…”My dad’s 63 years old,” says Roberto, “he’s been in the business for 46 years…he knows a lot of people, very good producers [from which we buy our fruit]…35-40% of which are practicing organic.”

Read more

« Older Entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 77 other followers