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Spain

Wine writers around the world have been impressed by the huge leaps in wine quality coming out of Spain of late. In the north, Rioja is still producing some stunning oak aged red reservas and Gran Reservas where the Tempranillo variety takes the lead role. But now it has been joined by other rapidly improving red wine regions such as Priorat, Ribero del Duero, Toro and Penedes.

In the North-west, the cool, maritime region of Galicia is turning out some delicious, fresh whites from the Albarino variety, while further inland, Rueda and Rioja are also crafting some well-made whites.

In hot, central Spain, La Mancha is a source of vast quantities of easy drinking red and white wines while Valdepenas continues to make very acceptable reds and roses. Elsewhere, Jumilla, Utiel-Requena and Valencia are also exporting some soundly-made wines at value-for-money prices. (Financial Times)

Algareiro

Winery: Bodegas Algareiro
Region: Spain
Sub-region: Albarino

Albarino Rias Baixas

One of the most respected white wines in Europe, the Algareiro Albariño produced by Mar de Frades is a young wine with an Atlantic soul. Green gold in hue with clean, fresh and fruity aromas and flavors and low acidity; a delightful wine!

Bodegas Arzuaga

Winery: Bodegas Arzuaga
Region: Ribera del Duero
Sub-region: Ribera del Duero

Please call for current releases.

Story

Founded by Don Florentino Arzuaga, the winery established itself in 1980 by acquiring a piece of land in the heart of Ribera del Duero in a town called Quintanilla de Onesimo. The property is now known as “Finca La Planta”.

From 1982 to 1985 the first vines were planted, and in 1993 the first bottlings were marketed internationally under the Arzuaga label. In 1995, winemaker Juan Carlos Martínez tookover at Arzuaga after woking closely with winemaking legend Mariano García. Arzuaga produces five wines from 150 hectares of their own vineyards, consisting primarily of the varietals Tempranillo (Tinto Fino), Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Wines

La Planta
Classified in the region as a young wine, or “Joven”, it sees 3-4 months in American oak. Approachable and meant to be consumed young. Inviting fruit, and a joy to drink.

Pago Florentino
New project by Don Florentino Arzuaga in La Mancha.
100% Tempranillo aged 8 months in a combination of French and American oaks. Decanter Gold Medal. Extraordinary example of a new modern La Mancha at a great value.

Crianza
This wine is produced from 90% Tempranillo (Tinto Fino), and 10% Cabernet and Merlot. It is aged for approximately 14 months (75% American/25% French oak) in a combination of new and 1-2 year old barrels. Great fruit, excellent balance, very well integrated and subtle, with an elegant, long finish.

Reserva
The Reserva is produced from 90% Tempranillo and 10% Cabernet and Merlot. It is barell-aged for 18 months (50% French/50% American oak). This wine is selected from the best barrels of the vintage.

Reserva Especial
A special wine selected from the best vineyards, with an average age of 40 year old vines. Aged 15 to 18 months in 100% new French oak. 100% Tempranillo.

Gran Reserva
This wine is only produced in exceptional years from the very best old growth vineyards, and is ages 25 months in 2 year old barrels (80% French/20% American).

Awards:

Gourmet Guide of Spain
Winery of the Year 2004

Gold Medals Brussells (Reserva Especial 1999) Bacchus (Crianza 2001) LJUBLJANA (Crianza 2000)

Bodegas Cillar de Silos

Winery: Bodegas Cillar de Silos
Region: Tierra de Castilla y Leon
Sub-Region: Ribera del Duero

Altos de Revilla
Crianza
Torre Silos

Story

Founded in 1995 by the Aragon Family, this estate has quickly grown into one of the jewels of the Ribera del Duero region.

The winery is located in the town of Quintana del Pidio. The 48 hectare estate has an average vine age of 40 years, and produces approximately 180,000 bottles annually.

Wines

Cillar de Silos Crianza

100% Tempranillo blended from a selection of vineyards. Aged 13 months in 100% French oak barrels. Total production: 78,000 bottles.

Torresilos

The flagship wine made from 100% Tempranillo. Made from old vines, and aged 16 months in 100% French oak. Total production: 30,000 bottles.

All wines at Cillar de Sillos are aged in “El Calado” – natural underground cellars 50 ft. below the surface which maintains a constant temperature of ~52F. We are left to wonder what Geraldo Rivera might discover in such a mysterious place?

Bodegas Izadi

Winery: Bodegas Izadi
Region: Rioja
Sub-region: Rioja

Please call for current releases.

The Anton family founded Izadi in 1987 after years of running vineyards in Villabuena de Alaba.

The Antons also own a one star Michelin restaurant (Zaldiaran) in the hamlet of Vitoria.

Transformation of the winery happened in 1997, when Don Gonzalo Anton hired Mariano García (Winemaker for 30 years at Vega Secilia). Together with Angel Ortega (winemaker for Izadi), they created what we now recognize as the Izadi style: robust yet refined, modern and international.

Wines

Blanco
A combination of 80% Viura and 20% Malvasía from the Rioja Alavesa region. This wine is fermented in new American oak and aged on it’s lees for approximately 4 months. Shows characteristic fruit and floral notes, and a hint of wood. Balanced, with crisp acidity and a pleasing finish.

Crianza
100% Tempranillo from the Rioja Alavesa region. It is aged approximately 14 month in 100% American oak.
Exhibits deep color and concentration, exceptional for the region, with fresh, pure fruit, and balance.

Reserva
A modern style Reserva, with deep, comlex flavors and aromas.
Produced from 75% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano and 10% Cabernet and Grenache. It is aged 20 months in 60% French oak (coming from the barrels used for Selección and Expresión), and 40% American oak. “Complex aromas with hints of red berries, smokiness from the fine wood. Flavourfull and velvety in the mouth, well structured and a long elegant finish.”

Selección
Comes from a very strict selection of wine from three old vineyards harvested by hand, in very small boxes and then hand sorted at the winery. Blended from 80% Tempranillo and 20% Graicano, which is aged in 100% new French Oak for a period of 16 months. (Total production: 23,000 bottles)
“Deep garnet red with dark, slick leg evidencing its youth. Intense aromas stand out with a perfect blend of fruits, floral an tasty notes. Powerfull an structure in the mouth, with great ageing potential”.

Expresión 2000
The top wine from Viña Izadi. This is always the expression of the best vineyard and the best wine of any given vintage. It is 100% Tempranillo aged for 18 months in new French new barrels.
Fabulous wine with “aromas of fruit and spices underscored by smoky and lactic notes. Well structured and full bodied in the mouth with much complexity and a long finish”. Total annual production 17,000 bottles.

Awards:

Enoforum
Enoforum 2003 – Izadi Seleccón 2001 (2nd place)
Enoforum 2002 – Izadi Expresion 2000 (1st place)
Enoforum 2001 -Izadi Selección 1999 (2nd place)

Gourmet Guide
Rated Expresion among the best wines from Spain, and Crianza among the best eight Crianzas of all Spain

Wines of Spain Magazine
Gold Medal Izadi Selección 1999
Silver Medal – Izadi Crianza

Guía Peñin of Spain
Izadi Crianza – Best Buy from Rioja under 15 Euros

Stephen Tanzer – International Wine Cellar
Izadi Crianza 00 – 89 pts
Izadi Reserva 98 – 90 pts
Izadi Expresion 99 – 91pts

Wine & Spirits
Izadi Selección 99 – 90 pts

Bodegas Leda

Winery: Bodegas Leda
Region: Tierra de Castilla y Leon
Sub-region: Tudela del Duero

Vinas Viejas
Mas de Leda

Story

Founded in 1997 by four entrepreneurs from the Tudela del Duero region, a stones throw from Ribera del Duero d.o.c.

Mariano García – probably the most important winemaker in Spain, was the artist wine-maker at Vega Secilia for over 30 years. And also build Mauro into one of the top wine since 1991. He oversees the winemaking of Leda.
Jesús Soto – Owns the largest wine distributor in the Ribera del Duero Region.
César Muñoz – One of the leading persons in the field of viticulture in the region, in charge of day to day operations of the vineyards, and also works as winemaker with Mariano
J. Suárez – Capital investor.

The winery is singular in its focus: simply produce the best possible wine, year after year. Since its premier vintage in 1998, Bodegas Leda has been regarded by the press as one of the top wines of Spain.

Total production of 30-45K bottles.

Wine
100% Tempranillo
85% French oak, 15% American oak (typically)
Aged for a period of 17 months.
Very low yields per hectar.

Tasting Notes
Red cherry with intense violet. Complex and intense in nose, aromas of mature black fruit, preserves, toasted coffee and noble wood. Potent and elegant in mouth, with pronounced and silky tannins. Lengthy finish.

Gourmet Guide 2004 for Spain
Leda 2001 “Best of Spain”

Bodegas Ramiro's

Winery: Bodegas Ramiro’s
Region: Tierra de Castilla y Leon
Sub-region: Tudela del Duero

Condita Tierra de Castilla

Story

Ramiro’s is a boutique hand-harvested, hand-crafted 100% old-vine (75 years) Tempranillo. These selected grapes are from some of the best single parcels in Ribera del Duero and Toro- two of the most superb D.O. in Spain. The wine aged for 22 months in French (90%) and American (10%) oak.

Ramiro’s represents the best of what Ribera del Duero and Toro has to offer in one great bottle of wine. This is an amazing and rare combination of power, finesse and elegance. If this first vintage is a sign of things to come, Ramiro’s will undoubtedly soon be recognized as one of the top wines of Spain.

A miniscule production of only 500 six-pack cases from Eduardo Garcia one of the young rising stars in Spanish winemaking.

The label “rising star” is a birth-right when you are the son of the great Mariano Garcia, former Vega Sicilia enologist for over 35 years (Vega Sicilia “Unico” is one of the most sought-after wines in the world, fetching prices akin to the finest grand cru Burgundy). Indeed Mariano has guided his son well and obviously has had a hand in the success Eduardo has now realized.

Tasting Notes

This fabulous wine is dense, rich and weighty without being heavy. It is thoroughly modern in style and character. Pure and clean with bold aromas of crushed blackberries, cherries, leather and graphite. On the palate the wine is exceedingly, generous, smooth and forward with a lush, broad middle and long spicy finish. Ramiro’s is an ideal accompaniment to Manchego cheese, grilled meats, braised lamb or duck. You can drink it now, or cellar it for two decades. We highly recommend buying a six-pack or two and drinking one a year for the next six or twelve years.

This wine is in very limited supply- our allocation is only 45 six-pack cases. Reserve your 2002 Ramiro’s now and build your vertical collection over the coming years!

El Quintanal

Winery: El Quintanal
Region: Spain
Sub-region: Ribera del Duero

El Quintanal
El Quintanal Vendimia Selleccionada

Made from 100% Tempranillo, El Quintanal is a lush red, brimming with black cherry fruit, rich vanillin oak and long, round finish.



Veigadares

Winery: Bodegas Veigadares
Region: Spain
Sub-region: Rias Baixas

Albariño

From Rias Baixas (pronounced Ree-ahs buy-shas), this bright wine is ideally suited for seafood – a specialty where it is produced. 85% Albarino, 10%Treixadura and 5% Loureiro.


Viña Santa Marina

Winery: Viña Santa Marina
Region: Spain
Sub-region: Extremadura

Gargola, Tempranillo, Joven
(No oak)

Torremayor Crianza (Ribera del Guadiana)
(All Tempranillo- 85% French, 15% American oak for 12 months)

Miraculus R
(50% Tempranillo, 30% Cabernet, 20% Syrah- All French Oak 12-14 months)

Established in 1999, this modern estate lies at the base of the Lamoneda mountain range near Meridia, Spain. Currently 58 hectares are farmed in Extremadura and D.O. Ribera del Guadiana. Red grape varieties include Tempranillo, Graciano, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. White varieties include indigenous grapes such as Montua, Cayetana Blanca and Pardina. All grapes are vineyard-selected and hand harvested, table sorted, de-stemmed and very carefully pressed. After vinification the final wines are barrel-selected. A balance of mostly French and American oak is used. Barrel aging ranges from 6 to 14 months depending on the wine. Enjoyable, and terrific value.

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