Vintage Spanish Wine 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 $195 per person + tax.  For Reservations call 954-523-9463.

Vintage Spanish Wine Tasting at Wine Watch
Thursday, June 9th
7pm

Tasting Line-up:

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 CUNE Vina Real Gran Reserva Rioja             

(94 Points) Wine Advocate! The 1970 CUNE Viña Real Rioja Gran Reserva is the poster child for this sunny, legendary harvest. We cracked one of these the other day (Happy early Birthday to me!) and were delighted and surprised by what we found. Dark, sweet, jammy, almost-opulent, funky, earthy (what old Rioja isn’t?), with a fresh mid-palate, loads of color, but with an antique swing to the finish that let you know you were sucking down a red wine that was, ahem, almost 45 years old. It was literally drinking liquid history.

The 1970 Viña Real Gran Reserva was bottled in February 1975. There was a bit of discussion about this wine, as it was one of the most anticipated vintages. At this age, of course, there are no more great vintages, but great bottles. The wine is definitely polished and fully resolved, in fact I think it might be slowly fading out. Notes of iodine, leather and brick dust and a soft palate reveal a wine that is complex and balanced. Other bottles might be less advanced, but based on this one my recommendation would be to drink up fairly soon. - Luis Gutierrez, eRobertParker.com #218

1978 Torres Gran Coronas Reserva Penedes

The rich, sensual aroma is typical of the grape varieties recalling small red and black berries (cherries and blackcurrants), green coffee beans, liquorice and the characteristic vanilla and leather notes from ageing. On the palate the wine is full and silky with dense, well-structured tannins.

1982 La Rioja Alta "904" Gran Reserva Rioja

A blend of 85% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo and Graciano. American Oak.

"Very clean, bright and extraordinary feature of the vintage coat. Very complex and spicy with a fine Foster bouquet and fresh tones conjoined with bottle aging Perfectly structured, powerful and magnificent step and finish. Via highly attractive aftertaste, envelope net and very durable. It will evolve positively in the coming years." ~ La Rioja Alta

1985 Cune Vina Real Reserva Rioja 

Viña Real is owned by Cune, one of the big names in Rioja whose best wines are benchmarks of the region. While Cune is based in Haro, their sister brand Viña Real is located between Logroño and Laguardia in Rioja Alavesa, which is where most of the fruit is sourced. These wines are always a bit more high toned, fruit-driven and Burgundian in style, especially when made in a lovely, higher acid vintage such as 1985.

1987 Bodegas Riojanas Vina Albina Gran Reserva Rioja

Bodegas Riojanas treasures more than a century of winemaking tradition in its Cenicero winery founded in 1890. Its corners are steeped in history and talk of the passion for ageing wines that has always permeated it. This tradition and passion have been transmitted to the team that runs Bodegas Riojanas today. Its most precious legacy is its commitment to quality and the personality of its wines.

The Artacho family already enjoyed a deep-rooted winemaking tradition when it founded Bodegas Riojanas with Rafael Carreras in 1890. A reminder of that tradition can be found in the stone gateway that was built in 1799 to provide access to the family vineyards, which is now preserved at the entrance to the Cenicero winery and, especially, in the awards given to its wines prior to the foundation, such as the gold medal earned at the Barcelona Universal Exposition in 1888.

1990 Cune Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja

(91 points)  Medium red. Warm, inviting aromas of plum, spice and roasted meat. Silky and spicy in the mouth, with plum and redcurrant flavors complicated by meat and tobacco notes. Gentle but firm acidity gives the wine lovely balance, and the ripe but dry finish offers excellent grip. Distinctly claret-like in weight. (10/1998)  Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

1994 Cune Imperial Gran Riserva Rioja

Polished and harmonious, this red shows cherry, plum, toast and tobacco flavors on a generous frame. It's still fresh. Drink now through 2005. 18,000 cases made. –TM (5/2002) Wine Spectator

1994 Pesquera Janus Gran Riserva Ribera Del Duero

(97 points ) "I first wrote laudatory comments about Pesquera over a decade ago, so I am thrilled to see proprietor Alejandro Fernandez continue to build on his noteworthy track record. His new releases are splendid. What a joy it is to write about the 1994 Janus. Fernandez has only made this super-luxury cuvee in 1982, 1986, and 1991. The 1994 Janus may be the greatest Pesquera ever made. This wine is awesome in its richness, intensity, and potential complexity. It is a gentle giant, with no hard edges, and profound levels of rich, concentrated black fruits nicely meshed with smoky, spicy new oak. It is an opulent, accessible yet still unformed wine that should provide fabulous drinking for 12-15 years. Given its sweetness and lush personality, no one will be committing infanticide by drinking this marvelous wine in its youth." (10/97) Robert Parker

1995 Bodegas Muga Torre Muga Rioja

(95 Points) “Beautifully aromatic, with notes of cassis, lilacs, coffee and spices, this sinuous red is polished and elegant, yet dense with fruit, oak and earthy flavors that linger and expand on the long finish. An extraordinary marriage of typicity and sophistication." Wine Spectator

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 $195 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463

Menu

Jamon Di Serrano Charcuterie and Cheese Plate

Grilled Skirt Steak with Mole, Chimichurri and home style Papas Fritas

Mini Vanilla Ice Creme Cones with Pedro Ximenez Chocolate topping