Some brief notes from a session on “ Iconic“Spanish wines. Not sure how iconic but there were some excellent wines.
These wines were tasted during a double session over 3-1/2 hours with a live feed via Scythe where we had the representatives from Lopez De Heridia, Marques di Riscal and Ramirez de Ganuza with Pancho Campo MW moderating the discussion of their growing and winemaking philosophies while sitting in the vineyards of Marques Di Riscal with additional feeds from Neo and Felix Callejo later.
The tasting started off with a
1998 Gramona Cava
1970 Tondonio Rioja Lopez de Heridia Gran Reserva – 85% viura and 15% malvasia bottled in 1978
1964 Tondonio Rioja Lopez de Heridia Rioja Gran Reserva - Light to medium garnet, some oxidized notes with tomato, celery salt and red fruits.
1956 Marques de Riscal Rioja Gran Riserva – This was 55% tempranillo, 45% cabernet sauvignon and 4 years in French oak, Light to medium garnet with a garnet tawny rim, Nose of old furniture, leather, tobacco with red fruits with good intensity for a wine this old. Very interesting with the cab and French oak in the wine.
1995 Vega Sicilia Unico - 28 months in neutral oak, 22 months in French oak and 34 months in 1000 liter American oak – Medium deep ruby with a ruby rim, cedar dried fruit, red fruits and lifted high toned nose, Palate showing floral, violets, and red fruits. this was restrained and elegant. Still was rocking after 2 hours in the glass.
Now for some more modern Spanish wines
2004 Ramirez de Ganuza Reserva Rioja from 80 year old vines, one interesting thing they talked about was that only the shoulders gets used for the wine with the tips going into the wine slated for the domestic market. I had probably heard this before but did not recall this. The grapes were cold soaked at 5 degrees C for 72 hours.
Deep Purple/Ruby, floral and perfumed with red and black fruits on the nose, rich and intense on the plate with medium plus tannins with some licorice showing on a very long finish.
2001 Marques de Riscal Baron de Chirel Rioja Reserva– 85% Tempranillo 15% Cavbernet and 12 months in American oak, Deep ruby/purple, moderately pronounced with cassis and lifted OH/VA, moderate to pronounced oak spice box and black fruits.
2005 Bodegas Felix Callejo Ribera del Duero Reserva Back to Traditional style here 100% tinto fino, 25 day extended maceration and 18 Months in French oak.
Medium Deep ruby dried red fruits and tobacco, great balance and concentration with meim to medium plus tannins. Very elegant wine.
2006 Neo Punta Esencia Ribera del Duero – back to a more modern style 200% new oak,didn’t catch how long
Deep ruby purple medium plus intensity on the nose with oak, spice box and black fruits, Rich intense and concentrated on the plate balanced with moderate acid and tannins with a medium plus length.
Now they are just getting bigger and bigger
2005 Aalto PS Ribera del Duero
Holy shit is this big, Deep purple/ruby. All I can say is big rich and intense black fruits.
2005 Bodegas Vina Magana Calchetas Navarra - 20 months in new French Oak
Deep Ruby/Purple Big, rich and intense as my palate is pretty much shot with tannin from the last few wines.
04’Bodegas Castillo de Perelada Finca Garbet Emporda- Costa Brava
60% Cabernet 40%Syrah
Medium deep ruby with brick edge, Big and rich with great fruit intensity and concentration.
Vall Lach Priorat carinena, merlot and cabernet sauvignon blend appears to be in the 65/25/10 range in any given year.
Did not get the vintage another big kick ass wines with tons of new oak.
We then finished with a 50 year old solera Amontillado from Gonzalez Byass that was around $150,one of the best if not the best sherry I’ve had, Later in the week we had 3 VORS Gonzalez Byass, Del Duque Amontillado and Apostales Palo Cortado amd Muy Viejo PX that gave this a run for it’s money.
Last was a Montilla-Morales PX
Then it was time for lunch TFG!!