Vintage Spanish Tasting at Wine Watch

"Appreciating old wine is like making love to a very old lady. It is possible. It can even be enjoyable. But it requires a bit of imagination."

-Andre Tchelistcheff

We do a lot of tastings with older wines here at the Wine Watch as part of our scientific research program that we are conducting with wine.  That is we are trying to drink as much of the good stuff as we can to report back to you, our “wine drinking people” as to just how the world’s greatest wines are drinking at this moment. 

Most wines should not be kept for 50 years even if they are properly stored.  Less than 1% of the wines produced on the planet earth will benefit from such long term aging but one of the best wines to put in the cellar is Rioja. 

Spain provides some of the greatest values in the wine world today and at our vintage Spanish tasting last year the 1950 Berberana Rioja, the old dog stole the show.   This tasting takes us all the way back to the 1954 vintage and everything on the table is over 20 years of age.

Join us as we experience some of the best vintage wines that Spain has to offer and Wine Watch Catering's Toni Lampasone will be making a special meal to accompany the wines, there are only 14 spaces available for this tasting and the fee is $175 per person + tax.  For Reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

Vintage Spanish Tasting at Wine Watch
Friday, June 9, 2017
7:30 PM

1954 AGE Fuenmayor Rioja

Bodegas Age was founded in 1881 in Fuenmayor.The 1954 vintage in Rioja was officially classified as a good year, with some April frosts and a cool summer overall. While it is far from the blockbuster that 1964 would represent, given Rioja's longevity in bottle this would be interesting 60 year-old wine to mark a birthday or other occasion for anyone who is a fan of and has some familiarity with fully mature wines.

1970 Bodegas Bilbaínas Vina Pomal Reserva Rioja

This is a great vintage from Rioja and this old school producer is one of the top values in the world of wine today the current release is only $13 and you can keep this wine for 40+ years.

1970 El Coto De lmaz Rioja

A great vintage from Rioja.  This wine has an average score of 90 Points on cellartracker.

1985 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Riserva

Strikes just the right balance of sweet American oak and rich cherry and plum flavors, with lively acidity and enough tannin to carry it forward. (3/1992)  Wine Spectator

1987 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Riserva
The Tondonia vineyard has to be is the most spectacular in Haro. Situated in a shell-like depression next to the River Ebro which serves as a border with Rioja Alavesa (the part of the Rioja appellation region belonging to the Basque Country), it is characterized by poplar trees.  The soil is alluvial clay with a high proportion of limestone.

1991 Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Reserva

This great classic producer makes wines that are long lived and this wine has an average score of 90.5 on cellartracker.

1995 Artadi Pagos Viejo Rioja
This is a great vintage for Rioja and the Pagos Viejo is a blend of old vineyards.

1995 Finca Dofi Alvaro Palacios Priorat

Alvaro Palacios is one of the founding fathers of the Priorat and this wine has an average score of 91.7 on cellartracker.

1995 Artadi Vina El Pison Reserva

The oldest vineyard that Artadi owns and this is one of the greatest Spanish wines that I have ever tasted!

1995 Bodegas Ismael Arroyo Val Sotillo Gran Reserva Ribera del Duero

A family-run winery in the heart of Ribera del Duero, Bodegas Ismael Arroyo is the creator of Valsotillo, a stellar Tempranillo admired for its ripe berry notes, complexity, and elegant finish. From its base in Sotillo de la Ribera, a small valley village near the medieval city of Burgos, the winery is one of the most respected in the region and was one of the original founders of the DO. Although founded in 1979 (just a few years before Ribera del Duero became an officially recognized DO), winemaking is an old Arroyo family tradition. The family has been tending grapes in the region for more than 400 years and has enjoyed commercial success throughout the 20th century.

2000 Numanthia Termanthia Toro

(95 points) Saturated bright medium ruby. Super ripe yet vibrant aromas of black raspberry, berry liqueur and licorice. Like an essence of berries in the mouth: huge, sappy and super concentrated, with exotic, palate-saturating fruit and strong but perfectly integrated acids. Finishes with extremely ripe, harmonious tannins and mouth staining length. The yield here was a half ton per acre, according to the U.S. importer, and the wine was aged in 200% new oak, having received a second pass in all Darnajou barrels. (ST) (7/2003) Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

1999 Descendientes de Jose Palacios "Villa de Corullón" Mencía Bierzo

(93 points) Highly Recommended* Intense and intriguing. This distinctive red is polished and savage at once, with flavors of ripe black fruit, toasty oak and fragrant wild herbs. The tannins are muscular yet polished, the wine rich yet harmonious. A beauty. Mencía. (TM) (10/2001) Wine Spectator

Menu

Charcuterie and Cheese Plate

Espanola tortas

Sausage Stuffed Spanish Olives

Beef Short Rib and roasted bell pepper Empanadas with mole sauce

Con leche cake with creamy caramel syrup

There are only 14 seats available for this event and there will be a three-course meal served with the tasting wines prepared by Wine Watch Catering.  The fee for this tasting is $175 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.