Urban UCO Tempranillo

Location: El Cepillo, La Consulta, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Tasting: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

Tempranillo is the main grape in Spain, but you wouldn’t know it by the wine labels.  Unlike the new world, the grape varieties are not usually on the labels in Spain, generally speaking.    The grape most probably originated in Spain, in particular, the Rioja region.  Although there is one story that says that the grape vine was brought to Spain by monks from Burgundy on their way to Santiago.  The story goes that they gave cuttings of the vine to other Spanish monasteries of their same order.[1]

Why are we talking about Spain when our wine comes from Argentina?  Well, we just wanted you to know a little about the background of this fabulous grape.  You will find Tempranillo in many parts of the world:  Portugal, Australia, South America, Mexico, France, Bulgaria, and the U.S.  Like so many other grape varieties Tempranillo goes by many different names:  Tinto Fino, Cencibel, Tinto Del Pais, Ull de Liebre (Eye of the Rabbit), Tinta Roriz and Aragonez to name a few.  In Argentina, where our wine comes from this week, it is sometimes called Tempranilla.

Bodegas y Viñedos O.Fournier Group was founded in 2000. Their plan is to produce wines in:  Argentina, Chile, Ribera del Duero, Rioja and Douro (Portugal).

This Tempranillo is brimming with red ripe berry fruits, and a touch of earthiness. It is medium bodied with smooth tannins, a refreshing palate of sweet ripe crunchy red fruit and a touch a spice

Food Pairing:

Spicy Lamb and Chorizo Chili; Grilled-Steak Salad with Worcestershire Vinaigrette

CSPC:                   726781
Winesday Price:

$15.29 (Includes Winesday 10% discount)

Regular Price:

$16.99

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice

Urban UCO Sauvignon Blanc

Location: Vista Flores, El Cepillo, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

In the year 2000, the Spanish family Ortega Gil-Fournier founded a small boutique winery at the foot of the Andes in the Mendoza region. Bodega y Viñedos O. Fournier owns three estates in Argentina some 15 km from the Andes Range, covering 286 hectares.  A total of 94 ha are currently planted with vines, some of which are over 30 years old. The region is approximately 3,950 feet above sea level, and the water that irrigates the estates flows from snow melt on the Andes.

The Urban Uco Sauvignon Blanc 2008 was recommended by the New York Times wine panel in July 2009, as the top Argentinian Sauvignon Blanc tasted.[2] That is mighty high praise.  Now, although we are tasting the 2010, we feel confident that you will add your lauds too!

Urban Uco Sauvignon Blanc is soft yellow-green in color with an aromatic nose of citrus, tropical fruits, apples, and floral notes. Light-medium in body with bright acidity and a rich mouthfeel, the wine offers flavors of grapefruit, passion fruit, green apples, and spice. Fermented for 10 days in stainless steel, with no barrel aging.

Food Pairing:

Crabby Crab Cakes; Soft Tacos with Fish and Spinach

CSPC:                   732948
Winesday Price:

$15.29 (Includes Winesday 10% discount)

Regular Price:

$16.99

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice
Cal-a-for-nigh-ay… here we come.

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[1] Grapes & Wines by Oz Clarke and  Margaret Rand

[2] Wine Gems

Writing these articles (ooops, I am showing my grey roots)… I mean ‘blogs’, has been a lot of fun.  It is even more fun when we have some connection to the people and product.  This week we are visiting Bodegas Osborne from Spain.  We haven’t visited the winery (yet), but we have met the winemaker.  She has visited our fair city a few times and on one of those occasions, Richard and I had the pleasure of meeting her.  Her name is Maria Martinez-Sierra.  If we were asked to give one word to describe this incredible woman it would be ‘vibrant’.  The energy and passion exudes from Maria every time you hear her speak.  Although she is relatively soft spoken, she speaks about her wine with enthusiasm and delight.  She is not only a legendary winemaker, she is also a trail blazer.  When she decided to get into the winemaking world in 1968 you didn’t see women in that field.   To say it was a male-dominated field would be just a tad of an understatement.  That did not stop her at all and her involvement has inspired many women since…and I dare say a number of men as well.

You will notice the Osborne wines have a moderate level of alcohol.  She is not a lover of high alcohol wines.  Although in the Rioja region you are allowed to use irrigation, she does not like it either, as she feels that that does not produce vines that are quality,  long-lived  vines.  You know, that is the wonderful thing about the wine industry.  Everyone has their way of growing, producing and bottling that they feel expresses their product in the very best way.  I for one would not disagree, as here is a woman who has lived her passion.  A woman who went into university to study Philosophy and instead became one of the most revered winemakers.  All because of a part-time job that she had at a winery to help pay the bills while going to school.  Once Maria decided to leave the world of Philosophy behind and head into the vineyards, she travelled to Bordeaux, where she worked and studied at the famed Chateau Margaux.  There is a fabulous clip of an interview with Maria that was done earlier this year.  It is very informative and hopefully you will like it.  Click here to view.

Founded in 1874 by the Navajas family, Bodegas Montecillo is owned by Osborne Group, one of Spain’s largest family-owned producers of wine and spirits.  It is the third most ancient winery in La Rioja Alta area.  The Osborne family has owned the winery since the early 1970’s.  They have a full range of delicious wines, some of which we see here in Alberta.  We have Solaz wines, which are a blend of Tempranillo with various grapes like:  Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot.  Then we have the Montecillo line of wines which are comprised of Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva and the final one is Dominio De Malpica Cabernet Sauvignon.

The symbol for Bodegas Osborne is ‘the Bull’.  This has a story all upon its own and we could write a story just on the Osborne Bull.  Click here to find out about this fascinating symbol and how it gained a life of its own.  Go to “The Osborne Bull” tab.

Montecillo Crianza

Winery: Bodegas Montecillo
Location: Rioja, Spain
Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Tasting: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

This wine was our first introduction to the Montecillo wines and it led us right through their marvelous wines.  Now this is a young wine, for sure, but at the ripe old age of 4, it is older than most of the wines that we see on our shelves in Alberta.   Especially in this price range!  This wine is 100% Tempranillo and it has been aged for at least one year in French oak barrels and then it continues aging in the bottle until it is released.  Once the winery releases it, it is ready for us to consume right away.  They have done the aging for us!  Like the full range of the Montecillo Rioja wines, this wine is very food friendly.

This is the way they describe this wine:  Cherry red in colour, clean and bright.  With well-assembled complex aromas of red fruits and fine woods.  Intense and tasty, long in the mouth and lingering.  Thanks to its fruitiness and elegance, it is ideal for serving with white and red meats, as well as with grilled oily fish. It should preferably be drunk at a temperature of around 18º C.
Food Pairing:

Down Home Pulled Pork BBQ; Moroccan-Spiced Lamb Burgers with Beet, Red Onion, and Orange Salsa;

CSPC:     144493
Price:

$16.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice.

Montecillo Reserva

Winery: Bodegas Montecillo
Location: La Rioja Alta, Spain
Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Tasting: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

This wine is also made out of 100% Tempranillo grapes harvested in the sub-Rioja area of La Rioja Alta.  It is aged for at least 18 months in the French oak barrels, which are made at their winery by their own cooper (barrel maker) It is then left to mature in bottles at the winery until it is sold.  This wine is about 6 years old already and it is ready to enjoy with food or just sipping with your friends.

The description:  Deep cherry red in colour.  With an elegant and complex ´bouquet´.  Well-structured, balanced with an extensive retro-nasal effect.  The wine is ideal for bringing out the flavour of every type of meat: duck, chicken, quail and turkey, whether roasted or stewed, and is excellent with red meats and strong cheeses. It should be drunk at 18ºC.

Food Pairing:Braised Duck Legs and Sautéed Duck Breast; Cedar Plank Salmon; Classic Roast Chicken

CSPC:     746529
Price:$20.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice.

We are going to be the ‘green machine’ next week.  April 22^nd is Earth Day, so we are sampling some organic wines.

Ros

STOP THE PRESSES… Our wines were changed at the last minute, which is why this is late being posted this week.  Our apologies.  We are still doing Spain, just a little different than we had planned.  We hope you enjoy our fun funky wines this week!

Winery: Bodegas Mustiguillo
Location: Valencia, Spain
Blend: 50% Bobal, 20% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% each Merlot, Syrah and Garnacha
Tasting: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Bodegas Mustiguillo is known for being one of the pioneers in the Vino de la Tierra El Terrerazo, which is located in Utiel Requena in the southeastern region of Valencia, Spain.

This is a juicy wine with lots of earthy funk to it.  Now you may read that and wonder whether it is a wine for you.  Well, here is what I say… you never know until you try and that is what Winesday is all about.  You get to try some wines that you may see on the shelf and wonder what the heck they are all about.  Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate), is what one may call ‘a wine aficionado’ and he says “While it is not for everybody… but it is unquestionabley avant garde in its aromas and flavours.  I found its weirdness to be a turn-on.”  He gave the 2003 vintage 89 points, which isn’t too shabby.

Food Pairing:

Spanish Beef Stew;  Marinated Beef Flank

CSPC:     718228
Price:

$25.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price subject to change without notice.  Price correct at time of printing.

Winery: Beso de Vino
Location: Carinena D.O. Spain
Blend: 100% Garnacha
Tasting: Wednesday, February 23 - 2011  4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Garnacha, Grenache… you say tomato and I say… well you get what we mean.  These two ‘G’ words are the same grape variety.  It is just that in different languages it may be spelled and pronounced a little differently.

Garnacha is a very friendly grape and this particular wine, because it is aged in oak for such a short period of time (only 4 months in French oak), it maintains its nice fruit flavours.

The winery says this:  “Beso de Vino’s red wines begin with the 2009 Beso de Vino Garnacha V.V. (old vines) which spend 4 months in French oak. It displays super fragrant aromas of black cherry, red licorice, and lavender leading to a dense, layered wine that over-delivers big-time for its humble price. Enjoy it over the next 3 years. Grandes Vinos y Vinedos’ collection is replete with stunning values”.  As with the previous wine, this one also scored 89 Points from Robert Parker.

Food Pairing:

Lentil Soup;  Baked Ham

CSPC:     834846
Price:

$11.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price subject to change without notice.  Price correct at time of printing.

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Winery: Osborne
Vintage: 2006
Location: Spain
Alcohol: 12.5%
Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Tasting: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

This winery was started over 200 years ago, and the Bodegas Montecillo in Rioja came to life 136 years ago, which makes it one of the oldest wineries in the Rioja region.  About 50% of the wine they produce goes to export markets in Europe and North America.  Their emblem, The Osborne Bull, is recognized all over.  The Bull was the idea of the winery’s advertising agency and was born in 1956.  You will see the bull not only on all of their products, but also on billboards and roadside signs.  The largest of the bulls weighs over 4,000 kg and is 14 meters high and is made of metal.  An imposing figure, for sure.  About 16 years ago there was a movement under foot to rid the landscape of various signs and images, one of which was the Osborne Bull.  The Osborne family went to court and the court found that the bull is not just a sign, but after over 50 years, it has also become part of the landscape and culture.

We want you to remember this name:  Maria Martinez-Sierra.  She is a wonderful lady.  When we tell people about her we always say that she is a passionate lady and has a personality a big as all outdoors.  Maria has been the winemaker at Bodegas Osborne for over 30 years.  She is one of Europes’ top winemakers and a huge ambassador for Spanish wines.  There is also a little flirting with what we call ‘the international varietals’, as well.  Grapes such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz/Syrah are on the menu too.  Not in the wine we are tasting this week, however.  It is 100% Tempranillo from the Rioja region.

We had the pleasure of meeting Maria a few years ago when she was visiting Edmonton.  (Actually she has come to Alberta a few times over the past few years.) We could have listened to this amazing lady for hours on end.  When she speaks about her wine, her true passion shows in her eyes.  She speaks about her wine like one would speak about their children. I swear I saw a twinkle in her eye as she was telling us about her wine.  She has a true love of the Spanish varietals, as you will see when you try this wine.

Maria is also very particular about the wood that the wine is aged in.  She picks the wood from a particular area in France, because the grain of the wood is woven much tighter and therefore adds subtle flavours to the wine, instead of overpowering it.  Osborne also employs their own cooper to make these wonderful barrels.  Not an inexpensive venture for sure.

We have a neat story to tell you.  When we attended the talk with Maria, she was telling us the she only keeps the barrels for a certain period of time and then they reach the end of their life with Osborne.  One of the lovely ladies who used to work with us asked what happened to the barrels once she was done with them (thinking that they would be used for planting and the like).  Maria spoke quite softly and said ‘we sell them to wineries who cannot afford new ones’.

The Rioja region is one of Spain’s most recognizable regions.  You can see on the map, that the area is not huge, by any means.  But man, they make some great wine there.  Tempranillo is king.  The wine we are tasting this week, as I said earlier is 100% Tempranillo.  Tempranillo is often referred to as Spain’s noble grape.  The name comes from the Spanish word ‘temprano’, which means ‘early’.  This is fitting, as the grape ripens earlier than most Spanish grape varieties.

The name Crianza that you see on the bottle is a term used to describe how long the wine has aged in wood and in the bottle before it is allowed to be released.  It is the second of a level of four terms used.  Sin Crianza (which we don’t see in Canada), Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva are the four steps.  As you go up the levels, the wine must be aged for a longer period of time in wood and in the bottle before it is released.  You cannot put any of these names on the bottle unless you adhere to certain regulations.

This wine is aged for a minimum of 1 year in the wood and matures in the winery until it is sold.  That is why you see all these wines from Montecillo that are from 2006 and earlier.

This wine is a cherry red in colour, with aromas and flavors of red berries, raspberry and cherry, red plum, a little vanilla.  It is a medium to full-bodied wine and has a nice finish.  This is a very versatile wine and goes great with many different foods.

Food Pairing:

Pork; beef (try either of these roasted or grilled);  pizza; grilled oily fish.

CSPC:     144493
Price: 

     $16.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing. Price subject to change without notice

Richard and I haven’t visited the Australian wines in a while, so I think we will just have to check them out. See you down under next week. Come by and visit with Diana and have a sip and a chat.

Winery: Ironstone Vineyards
Vintage: 2008
Location: California, U.S.A.
Alcohol: 13%
Blend: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Symphony, and Tempranillo
Tasting: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Ironstone Vineyards started with John Krautz in 1948 with only 12 acres of land.  Through the years, those 12 acres turned into 5,000 acres in both the Lodi (pronounced loüdai) region and the Sierra Foothills.  While growing the number of acres, John and his wife Gail gained a reputation for supplying premium grapes to wineries all over the world.  They became one of the top ten wine grape growers in California.  In 1988 the Krautz family then decided that they wanted to create wine of their own.  They brought on award-winning winemaker Steve Miller to launch Krautz Wines, which later became Ironstone Vineyards.

In 1989 on Gail’s family ranch in Murphy’s, California Ironstone’s Wine Aging Caverns were brought to life with dynamite, pick axes, shovels and a crew of miners.  These caverns were also the site of Ironstone’s first tasting room.  Many years into the future to present day and we are now looking at California’s largest winery entertainment complex.

The conditions to age wine are “ideal” inside the caverns.  The temperature is a steady 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 degrees Celsius).  The humidity is 70%, thanks to the natural spring waterfall inside the caverns.  So the wine barrels don’t expand and contract, therefore no leaking wine and “the humidity minimizes evaporation”.

“The caverns hold a maximum of 1,500 French and American oak barrels, each holding sixty gallons of wine.”

“The beautiful wooden doors that grace the entrance to the caverns and the breezeway, as well as the tasting room, are made from 100-year-old redwood fermentation barrels from the Di-Augustini Winery in Plymouth, California, one of the oldest commercial operating wineries in the state.”

You know, our weather outside this week almost seems like we might have (dare I say)… an early spring.  Now I hope we didn’t jinx anything by saying that (cross those fingers).  In keeping with this lovely sunshine and the beautiful temperatures, we are going to taste a sunshine kind of wine from the sunshine state…California.  Ironstone Vineyards calls this wine “Xpression“.

It is a blend of some grapes we know (Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc), but there are also a couple that you may not be familiar with.

Tempranillo is a grape originally from Spain.  It is said to be Spains “noble grape”.  The grape itself is almost blue-black in colour.  On its own, it makes some very tasty wine indeed.

Around the same time that the Krautz family started their vineyards, The Symphony grape was developed by Dr. Olmo at the University of California, Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology. Dr. Olmo crossed a Muscat de Alexandria with a Grenache Gris and came up with this new grape, unique to California, which came to be known as Symphony.

So I bet you are wondering what happens when you mix a very dark grape, like Tempranillo, with the likes of light coloured grapes like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Symphony.  Well, the skins of the dark Tempranillo grape are only in contact with the light coloured juice for a short period of time.  Just enough time to get that lovely Rose colour.  Then the skins are removed.

What do you get when you add all of these nice grapes together?  Well you get a nice semi-dry wine with flavours of strawberries and cherries with a little watermelon, peaches and even some citrus fruit.  Now doesn’t that sound yummy?

As this is a nice easy lighter style wine, it would be best to chill it prior to sampling.

Food pairing:

Spicy foods like Thai, Chinese and Indian; turkey; ham; fresh berries and some light cheeses.  Ironstone suggests:  “try it with a salad of bib lettuce and fresh grapes topped with Roquefort cheese for a light and refreshing meal.”

CSPC:         715576
Price:

$14.75* (Minus Winesday 10% discount)

*Price Correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice.

Come by, have a chat and enjoy a sip.  See you on Wednesday, February 24, 2010.

Next week we are travelling to Australia.