Terraspania Spanish Wine Tasting at Wine Watch

When I tasted this distributor’s wines for the first time, I looked over to the supplier, Antonio Gomez-Orodea, and said "Wines like this are the reason that I get out of bed in the morning"!  Antonio is the General Manager of Terraspania, an import company that specializes in Spanish wines.  I like to do business with small companies that specialize in specific regions as they tend to have really good wines- if they know what they are doing.  Well, let’s just say that Antonio knows what he is doing as all 13 wines that I tasted with him on this afternoon were excellent.  Tonight we will be sampling a cross section of wines from this  portfolio and we have Wine Watch catering on hand to bring a few treats to accompany the tasting wines.  This tasting will be a walk around tasting in the store and is limited to 25 tasters, the fee for this tasting is $35 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Terraspania Spanish Wine Tasting at Wine Watch
Thursday April 15th
7pm

Tasting Wines:

Cava Brut 1+1=3
Price: $16.00    Sale $14.08      Case $164

Spicy citrus and pear aromas gain power with air and take a turn to richer apple and pear. Round and velvety, with sweet pear and quince flavors energized by peppery spice. The spicy note repeats on the fresh, nicely focused finish. This blend is 45% xarel-lo, 30% parel­lada and 25% macabeo.

Adegas Gran Vinum Esencia Divina Albarino 2008
Price: $23         Sale $20.24      Case $235

(90 Points) "Bright straw. Highly perfumed bouquet of tangerine, white flowers, brown spices and talc. Vibrant and precise, offering tangy citrus and floral flavors and slow-mounting mineral character. Finishes with very good clarity and mineral cut, repeating the floral and spicy qualities."  International Wine Cellar

Fuente Milano Verdejo 2008
Price: $13.50    Sale $11.88      Case $138

(88 Points) The Fuente Milano 2008 Verdejo expresses bright grapefruit and green apple aromas; vibrant and pure on the palate with a zesty acidity; well balanced and a persistent finish. Stephen Tanzer

Bodegas Santa Quiteria Higueruela Garnacha Tintorera 2008
Price: $12.50    Sale $11           Case $128

Bodegas Santa Quiteria was founded in 2001 and focuses their wine production on the Garnacha Tintorera grape. The vineyard's high elevation provides the perfect growing conditions for this type of Grenache grape. The 2008 Higueruela is composed of 100% Garnacha Tintorera.  Bodegas Santa Quiteria has a wealth of old vine Garnacha Tintorera - they are grown at high altitudes on poor soil, leading to low yields of concentrated, highly aromatic grapes.  Higueruela is made from 30-80 year old vines. The grapes are cold prefermentation macerated with dry ice to maximize color extraction and aroma and to minimize harsh tannin. After the cold soak, the grapes are fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Fermentation temperatures are kept cool in an effort to further minimize the hard tannins. After pressing, the wine is aged briefly in stainless steel before bottling - Higueruela sees no oak.

Bodegas Arrocal Arrocal Ribera del Duero 2007
Price: $18.50    Sale $16.28      Case $189

(88 Points) The 2007 Arrocal is 100% Tinto Fino from estate grown fruit. It was aged in seasoned French and American oak for six months. A glass-coating opaque purple, the nose offers up cedar, tobacco, pencil lead, black cherry, and blackberry. Structured on the palate, it will evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2017. Those seeking a fruity, quaffing wine should look elsewhere. This is serious stuff! Wine Advocate # 181, May 2009

Finca Torremilanos Los Cantos Ribera Del Duero 2006
Price: $22.50    Sale $19.80      Case $230

Wine Watch Review: 20-40 year old vines tinto fino more stone higher elevation 12 months of oak. Good complexity on the nose fresh black raspberry like fruit with dusty earth and dried sausage meat notes. Lovely spice on the tongue with a solid core of black raspberry like fruit plum and zesty fresh acidity holding everything together showing a good deal of tannins, but balanced to the end. Finish 40+ EXCELLENT

Bodegas Escudero Becquer Tinto Rioja 2006
Price: $21         Sale $18.48      Case $215

(90 Points)  Bright ruby. Complex aromas of black raspberry, smoky herbs, spices and tobacco, along with a note of graphite. Full and broad in the mouth, with spicy cut to the sappy red and dark berry flavors and a slow-building peppery quality. Finishes chewy, with lingering smokiness and dusty tannins. I'd give this some air or a little more time in the cellar.  Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 145, July/Aug '09

Viticultors del Priorat Vega Escal 2005 
Price: $24         Sale $21.12      Case $245

(90+ Points) The 2005 Vega Escal is a blend of 60% Carignan, 30% Garnacha, and 10% Syrah aged for six months in French and American oak. Deep crimson-colored, it offers up a spicy bouquet of cedar, mineral, plum, black cherry, and blueberry. This leads to a smooth-textured, layered wine with enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years. This lengthy effort will drink well from 2010 to 2018.  Wine Advocate # 178, Aug 2008

Bodegas Y Vinedos Maurodos Prima Toro 2007
Price: $22.50    Sale $19.80      Case $230

(90 Points) The 2007 Prima is a blend of 90% Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) and 10% Garnacha aged for 12 months in seasoned French and American oak prior to bottling without filtration. With a glass-coating opaque purple color, it reveals an expressive nose of smoke, pencil lead, tobacco, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry. Supple and round on the palate, it has layers of ripe fruit, savory flavors, and enough soft tannin to improve for another 3-5 years. This lengthy effort will have a drinking window extending from 2012 to 2025. In short, it is a serious example of Toro at a nearly frivolous price.  Wine Advocate # 181 Feb 2009

Bodegas Maurodos San Roman Toro 2005
Price: $60         Sale $52.80      Case $612

(95 Points) We would not have expected anything to match the stellar 2004 San Román, but this newest vintage is up to the task. It’s opaque as midnight without a moon, and the nose is a delectable blend of vanilla, spice, hickory, mocha and meaty blackberry. The palate is both magnetic and sly; it pumps black fruit galore, but augments things with controlled choco­late and spice. Finishes a mile long, with cream, intensity and guile. This wine does not mess around. Best from 2010-2016. Editor’s Choice Wine Enthusiast April 2009

Menu

Cheese Plate with Accoutrements

Chicken Feta and Chick Pea Pakoras Offered with Minted Yogurt

Kobe Sliders with Gruyere Cheese and Truffled Mushroom Aioli

Eggplant Caponata on Grilled Toast Points