Bodegas Mauro Tasting at Wine Watch

“Sippin Bordeaux out in Bordeaux Hazard lights flashing on the four-door Switch the Benzo for the Enzo Back to the Benzo when the ends low”

• Rick Ross The Devil is a lie

This coming week is another marathon of great wine drinking opportunities with four events in a row!!

We are in training here at the Wine Watch and it seems like the wine olympics are just around the corner as our events seem to be going to another level.  Check out this two part tasting with the Garcia Family wines here at the Wine Watch on Thursday May 1st.  Talk about serious training we have 20 wines on the table this evening!

This is part of our "Once in a lifetime" series of events and our good friend Fabian set the wheels in motion for this event when visiting the winery last year.  He is a big collector of Bodegas Mauro and we thought it was time to drink some of these wines that he has been collecting over the last decade.  This is another valuable service that the wine watch offers- if you have too much wine and need halp drinking it we are here for you!  We will even come to your home to put on an event like this if necessary!!

Wine Watch Catering Chef Toni Lampasone will be making a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines and we have the Export Manager of Bodegas Mauro Matthew Roberts on hand to give us the history of these three estates and guide us through the tasting.  The fee for this event is $95 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Matthew Roberts Export Manager

Bodegas Mauro Tasting at Wine Watch

Thursday, May 1, 2014

7:00 PM

This tasting is a two part event which includes all of the wineries that the Garcia family represents:

Part One: The Garcia Family Wines Pre-Tasting will include these two properties:

Maurodos - (D.O. Toro) with the wines: Prima, and San Roman.

Astrales - (D.O. Ribera del Duero)   with the wines: Astrales, and Astrales Christina.

Part Two: These wines will be featured at the second part of the evening and they will be presented in a sit down pre-poured fashion with a glass for each wine.

Mauro    -(V.T. de Castilla)   with the wines: Mauro, Mauro VS, and Terreus

Garcia Family Wines Pre-Tasting

Bodegas Maurodos Prima Toro 2011

Price: $23.25       Sale $20.46          Case $238

Quantity in Stock: 16

 The 2011 Prima is a barrel sample, a blend of 90% Tinto de Toro and 10% Garnacha aged in new and used French and American oak for 12 months. The nose is rather reticent with smoky black fruit and a touch of black olive, but the palate appears well-balanced with grippy tannins that segue into a succulent blackberry and spice-tinged finish. I would afford this wine another two years in the cellar once bottled. Drink 2014-2018.

Bodegas y Vinedos Maurodos is one of the leading lights of Toro. Founded in 1997 by former Vega Sicilia winemaker Mariano Garcia Fernandez, they own 60 hectares of vineyard in San Roman de Villaester and Hornija, mainly planted with Tinta de Toro and Garnacha, the average age of vines around 35 years interpolated with vines on un-grafted rootstock. The oak aging here is very prudent, with around 20% renewed each year, both French and American. The present winemaker is Mariano’s son Eduardo Garcia Montana, who trained in Bordeaux and Burgundy among other regions. These exceptional wines were suffused with personality, purity, a life-affirming sense of “controlled opulence” that, to be frank, put many a more expensive Toro wine in its shade. What is more, a bottle of 2001 San Roman testified to a Toro that truly does age with style and panache. Wine Advocate #206, Apr 2013

Bodegas y Vinedos Maurodos San Roman Toro 2010

Price: $48.00       Sale $42.24          Case $490

San Roman comes from 45-year-old bush vines or older in San Roman, Morales de Toro, Arjujillo, Villaester and El Pego between 720 and 760 meters and sees 24 months in new and used French (70%) and American (30%) oak.  This is the top wine from this estate.

Astrales Ribera Del Duero 2009

Price: $63.00       Sale $55.44          Case $643

(91 Points) The 2009 Astrales is sourced from various plots around Ribera del Duero, aged in around 30% new oak, of which a majority is French. It has a fresh, well-defined bouquet with scents of blackberry, raspberry preserve, a hint of crushed violet and crushed stone. The palate is very harmonious with fine minerality on the entry. There is roundness to the wine, but there is still great tension and delineation on the focused, almost razor-ship finish. This is excellent (even if the 2010 might turn out better given the quality of barrel samples). Drink 2014-2020+.

Bodegas Los Astrales made their debut in 2001, but already they are producing very commendable Ribera del Duero wines. Their estate consists of 28 hectares, although only 18 hectares are under vine. Technical director Eduardo Garcia, who works alongside his brother Alberto, is the son of Mariano at Aalto. He trained at Cos d’Estournel and in Burgundy chez Hubert Lignier. He prosaically told me that he likes to produce wines that he likes to drink, which is the best attitude to have in my book. The challenge of the 2009 vintage was a slow malolactic fermentation, but they seem to have overcome that problem without too much difficulty judging by this pair of commendable wines.  Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013

Astrales Christina Ribera Del Duero 2007

Price: $85.50       Sale $75.74          Case $872

(95 Points) The 2007 Astrales Christina was sourced from 87-year-old vines from a single vineyard and aged in new French oak for 24 months before bottling without fining or filtration. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it gives up a super-expressive bouquet of pain grille, Asian spices, lavender, truffle, black cherry, and blackberry. Voluptuous on the palate with gobs of spicy black fruits and enough structure to evolve for 6-8 years, this hedonistic Toro proffers a drinking window extending 2015 to 2037.  Wine Advocate #188 Apr 2010

Garcia Family Tasting Part 2

Bodegas Mauro Vertical Tasting

This is a pre-poured seated part of the event.

Bodegas Mauro 1996

 (92-95 Points) The 1996 Tudela del Duero appears to be the finest Mauro I have ever tasted. A fabulously rich, unctuously-textured, thick, juicy wine with plenty of new oak, it offers jammy, black cherry, berry aromas and flavors with a touch of smoke, tar, and coffee. Huge, thick, and bursting with extraction and promise, it can be drunk now, but will be even better in 5-6 years. Look for this wine to be released in about 10-12 months. This wine, a blend of primarily Tempranillo and old vine Grenache, is produced just outside the Ribera del Duero region.  Wine Advocate #116, Apr 1998

Bodegas Mauro Terreus 1996

(91 Points)  The muscular, broodingly backward 1996 Terreus Pago de Cueva Baja exhibits a saturated dark purple color, as well as a tight but promising nose of minerals, black raspberries, and blackberries. Spicy new oak makes an appearance in this dense, full-bodied, nearly impenetrable wine. It requires 4-6 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades. Everything appears to be well-balanced enough to present fascinating potential for the future.  Wine Advocate #127, Feb 2000

Bodegas Mauro Vendimia Seleccionada 1996

 (90 Points) This offering is produced just outside the appellation of Ribera del Duero from 100% Tempranillo, barrel-fermented, and bottled with minimal clarification. The dense purple-colored 1996 Vendimia Seleccionada exhibits a sweet bouquet of black cherries, toasty new oak, licorice, and smoke. Full-bodied, ripe, and moderately tannic, this internationally styled Tempranillo will be at its apogee between 2002-2015.  Wine Advocate #136, Aug 2001

Bodegas Mauro Vendimia Seleccionada  1998

(95 Points) The blockbuster 1998 Vendimia Seleccionada boasts an opaque purple color as well as huge, full-bodied flavors of sweet creme de cassis, blackberries, licorice, creosote, new saddle leather, and spicy oak. Layered and seamless, with a tremendous finish, it will last for 15-20 years.   Wine Advocate #145 Feb 2003

Bodegas Mauro 1999 

(91 Points) Impressive Spanish reds emerge from this up and coming star of Castilla y Leon, a region just outside Ribera del Duero. The sweet, concentrated 1999 Mauro possesses abundant quantities of blue and blackberry fruit, graphite, smoke, earth, and wood. This big, rich fruit bomb will drink well for a decade.  Wine Advocate #145, Feb 2003

Bodegas Mauro Vendimia Seleccionada 2000

(91+ Points) The 2002 Vendimia Seleccionada, from a less exciting vintage, is nonetheless a superior effort. It is black purple in color with expressive aromatics and layers of blue and black fruits. However, it is more forward than its less expensive sibling as well as less opulent. Give it 3-4 years in the cellar and drink it over the following 6-8 years.  Wine Advocate #169, Feb 2007

Bodegas Mauro 2002

(88 Points) The deep ruby/purple-hued 2002 Crianza exhibits luscious notes of melted licorice, cherries, dried herbs, earth, and a hint of wood. This medium to full-bodied, round, soft Crianza will drink well for 2-3 years.  Wine Advocate #159, Jun 2005

Bodegas Mauro Vendimia Seleccionada 2002

 (91+ Points) The 2002 Vendimia Seleccionada, from a less exciting vintage, is nonetheless a superior effort. It is black purple in color with expressive aromatics and layers of blue and black fruits. However, it is more forward than its less expensive sibling as well as less opulent. Give it 3-4 years in the cellar and drink it over the following 6-8 years.  Wine Advocate #169 Feb 2007

Mauro Terreus Pago de Cueva Baja 2003 

(96 Points) The 2003 Terreus is sourced from a single vineyard and produced only in top vintages. Purple/black in color, it offers a superb perfume of smoky oak, pencil lead, mineral, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry liqueur. Opulent, thick, and layered, it has gobs of spicy, ripe black fruits, and licorice and espresso notes which emerge on the palate. The wine is beautifully balanced and very lengthy. It will reward extended cellaring and drink well through 2030.

Because of its geographical location 10 km from the boundary of Ribera del Duero, Bodegas Mauro does not qualify for the more prestigious D.O. Currently it has 35 hectares of vineyard in production. Winemaking is in the hands Alberto and Eduardo Garcia, sons of renowned Vega Sicilia winemaker Mariano Garcia.  Wine Advocate #175, Feb 2008

Bodegas Mauro 2004 

(92 Points) The 2004 Crianza, from what appears to be a great vintage, is opaque purple in appearance. It emits scintillating aromas of smoke, toast, herbs, kirsch, and black fruits. It is a full-bodied, large-scaled effort with oodles of fruit and enough structure to age effortlessly for 6-8 years and drink well for a decade thereafter. Wine Advocate #169, Feb 2007

Bodegas Mauro Terreus 2004

(95 Points) The 2004 Terreus, a wine made only in top vintages (2004 certainly qualifies), is taken from a single vineyard of old vine Tempranillo. It has a complex nose of toasty oak, mineral, violets, incense, blackberry, and black cherry that leaps from the glass. Thick, rich, and opulent, this powerful yet suave offering will benefit from 4-6 years of additional bottle age and drink well through 2034. This is an impressive set of wines.  Wine Advocate #183, Jun 2009

Bodegas Mauro 2005

(93 Points) The 2005 Mauro is made up of 97% Tempranillo and 3% Syrah. Opaque purple-colored, it reveals a brooding but enticing bouquet of wood smoke, pencil lead, tar, and assorted black fruits. This leads to a layered, plush, mouth-filling, sweetly fruited wine with tons of flavor. It has enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years and its finish is long and pure. It can be enjoyed now but will continue to provide pleasure through 2025.   Wine Advocate #175 Feb 2008

Bodegas Mauro Vendimia Seleccionada 2005

(92+ Points) The 2005 Vendimia Seleccionada spent 33 months in barrel. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it proffers a compelling bouquet of pain grille, espresso, incense, truffle, black cherry, and blackberry. On the palate it has serious volume, outstanding concentration, complex black fruit flavors, and a lengthy, pure finish. Give it another 2-3 years of bottle age and drink it from 2013 to 2025.  Wine Advocate #188, Apr 2010   

Bodegas Mauro Terrus 2006

(98 Points) The flagship cuvee, the 2006 Mauro Terreus is sourced from a single vineyard of old-vine Tempranillo produced only in the better vintages. Like the V.S. bottling, it demonstrates a vibrant, energetic personality complementing its fragrant bouquet of exotic spices, lavender, and black fruits. Plush, rich, and layered, it has terrific volume, precision balance, and enough structure to evolve for 8-10 years. This lengthy effort will provide much pleasure through 2031.   Wine Advocate #195, Jun 2011

Bodegas Mauro Vendimia Seleccionada 2007

(91 Points) The 2007 V.S. is pure Tinto Fino aged for 30-33 months in new and 2nd fill casks (French and American.) It has a very ripe nose displaying touches of fresh prune and fig, and a little volatility is noticeable with time in the glass. The palate is full-bodied with sweet, ripe, fleshy tannins and a surprising softness and finesse not implied by the bouquet. It is very harmonious with seductive raspberry and wild strawberry flavors on the supple finish. This fine Tempranillo is just let down by a little aromatic over-ripeness, but it will appeal to hedonists. Drink 2013-2020.   eRobertParker.com #203, Oct 2012

.

Menu

Crispy Jamone Wrapped Melon with Truffle Honey Drizzle

Jamone & Manchego Croquette with Queso Blanco Finish

Dolce Leche Crème Brulee finished with Jamone infused Sea Salt

The fee for this event is $95 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Other Wines Available from the Garcia Family of wines:

2011 Bodegas Y Vinedos Maurodos Prima Toro 3- Liter

Price: $112.50    Sale $99.00

Quantity in Stock: 2

The 2011 Prima is a barrel sample, a blend of 90% Tinto de Toro and 10% Garnacha aged in new and used French and American oak for 12 months. The nose is rather reticent with smoky black fruit and a touch of black olive, but the palate appears well-balanced with grippy tannins that segue into a succulent blackberry and spice-tinged finish. I would afford this wine another two years in the cellar once bottled. Drink 2014-2018. Wine Advocate #206, Apr 2013

2010 Bodegas Y Vinedos Maurodos Prima Toro Magnum

Price: $45.00       Sale $39.60

Quantity in Stock: 8

(88 Points) The 2010 Prima has a lifted nose of raspberry and wild strawberry, although there is a very slight acetic nose that just disturbs the aromatics. The palate has a slightly pinched entry with firm, robust tannins, a core of sweet, mocha-tinged fruit and a simple agreeable finish that is slightly attenuated. I feel that the 2011 will turn out to be the better wine. Drink now. Bodegas y Vinedos Maurodos is one of the leading lights of Toro. Founded in 1997 by former Vega Sicilia winemaker Mariano Garcia Fernandez, they own 60 hectares of vineyard in San Roman de Villaester and Hornija, mainly planted with Tinta de Toro and Garnacha, the average age of vines around 35 years interpolated with vines on un-grafted rootstock. The oak aging here is very prudent, with around 20% renewed each year, both French and American. The present winemaker is Mariano’s son Eduardo Garcia Montana, who trained in Bordeaux and Burgundy among other regions. These exceptional wines were suffused with personality, purity, a life-affirming sense of “controlled opulence” that, to be frank, put many a more expensive Toro wine in its shade. What is more, a bottle of 2001 San Roman testified to a Toro that truly does age with style and panache.  Wine Advocate #206, Apr 2013

San Román 2007 3 Liter

Price: $390.00    Sale $343.20

(93 Points) The 2007 San Roman is 100% Tinta de Toro aged for 25 months in seasoned French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it gives up an already complex bouquet of toasty oak, pencil lead, damp earth, licorice, tapenade, and blackberry. Layered and multi-dimensional on the palate, it lacks the power of a great vintage such as 2009 but the result is a more immediately friendly wine that can be enjoyed from 2015 to 2022 if not longer.

San Román 2010 Magnum                   

Price: $132.00    Sale $116.16

San Román 2010 3 Liter

Price: $390.00    Sale $343.20

Astrales 2009 Magnum

Price: $133.50    Sale $117.48

Astrales 2009 3 L iter                             

Price: $405.00    Sale $356.40

(91 Points) The 2009 Astrales is sourced from various plots around Ribera del Duero, aged in around 30% new oak, of which a majority is French. It has a fresh, well-defined bouquet with scents of blackberry, raspberry preserve, a hint of crushed violet and crushed stone. The palate is very harmonious with fine minerality on the entry. There is roundness to the wine, but there is still great tension and delineation on the focused, almost razor-ship finish. This is excellent (even if the 2010 might turn out better given the quality of barrel samples). Drink 2014-2020+.   Wine Advocate #205, Feb 2013

Astrales 2010 

Price: $63.00       Sale $55.44

Astrales 2010 Magnum

Price: $126.00    Sale $111.00

Astrales 2010 3 Liter                              

Price: $405.00    Sale $356.40

Astrales Christina 2006                  

Price: $85.50       Sale $75.24

(95 Points) The 2006 Astrales Christina is a single vineyard selection, sees malolactic fermentation in barrel, and is aged in 100% new oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it gives up a superb aromatic array of toasty new oak, pencil lead, lavender, leather, incense, blueberry, and black cherry. Opulent, dense, and layered on the palate, this youthful effort is impeccably balanced and built for the long haul. Give it at least 8-10 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2016 to 2036. Patience will be well rewarded.  Wine Advocate #183, Jun 2009

Astrales Christina 2009 Magnum

Price: $178.50    Sale $157.08

(93 Points) The 2009 Astrales Christina spends the same amount of time in oak, but this time it is entirely new French. It has a ripe, rounded, floral bouquet with macerated black cherries, blueberries, lemon peel and a faint touch of marmalade. The palate is medium-bodied with fine delineation, with crisp clean, edgy tannins. There is certainly palpable structure and grip toward the finish, but it never becomes overbearing and the oak is very well assimilated. Excellent. Drink 2014-2024.   Wine Advocate #205, Feb 2013

Astrales Christina 2010 Magnum    

Price: $178.50    Sale $157.08