Why is it that every time I write this post, I feel like I am announcing the title for a marvel comics series. In a deep echoing voice, I imagine myself with a cape and megaphone, shouting “Liiiinks Aroouuund theee Weeeeeb!!” while keeping my right hand raised high with a clenched fist as if to pronounce my power.
Maybe I’m just overly excited after the lengthy conversations on Twitter among fellow wine bloggers to form a Wine Blogger Magazine? This is an idea that Ryan and I have been chatting about for quite some time, and to see the conversation finally begin, especially when considering the larger audience it could attract, is great. With the combined efforts of Wine Bloggers everywhere to publish a professional magazine is such a compelling idea and one that could really draw mainstream wine lovers into the blogging world. Whatever the reason for my over zealous imagination, today’s links are great fun and worth your checking out!
For those of you who may have missed John Radford’s article in the International Herald, the renowned British wine writer wrote a comprehensive piece on the range of quality wines currently flowing out of the Castilla y León region located in the heart of Spain. He covers five appellations, Q.W.P.S.R. and Vinos de la Tierra, focusing extensively on the D.O.Ribera del Duero’s rise to stardom as a result of the leading winemaking efforts made by producers such as Carmelo Rodero and Alejandro Fernandez, to name a few. He then continues to tout the successes of D.O. Toro for elaborating wines that are perfectly styled for the international palate, and D.O. Rueda for crafting exceptional dry whites made from Sauvignon Blanc and the Spanish grape, Verdejo. DO Bierzo also gets a …
El Bierzo, has been referred to as ‘the gateway to Galicia’ for its lush green valley that gently guides you between two ominous mountains into DO Valdeorras in the southwestern corner of Galicia. Although I’ve only seen small glimpses of Galicia, I can only imagine how stunning this vision must be. But beyond its fertile planes and lush forests, Bierzo is also known for both its successful mining industry and its fertile vineyards planted primarily with both the red Mencia grape and its lighter, greener counterpart, Godello.
Both of these indigenous grapes tend to make incredible wine when coupled with good winemaking techniques, but Mencia, considered one of the top four Spanish red varietals, has carved quite a name out for itself as of recent. Known as Negra, or ’the black grape’, it thrives in hot, relatively dry climates, and produces a medium to high yield. Physically, a medium-sized thick-skinned grape, ellipsoid in shape and deep purple in color, Mencia is relatively uninteresting if tasted off the vine, but elegant and supple in a wine. It is thought to be identical to Portugal’s Jaen grape variety, and at one time, the direct descendant of the French varietal, Cabernet Franc, known for it’s role in elaborating Cheval Blanc. Although, this rumor has been dispelled with DNA tests.
Historically, winemakers always knew of Mencia’s potential, experimenting in every which way to nurture and coddle it into greatness; but short of playing classical music in the fields and massaging the vines, the results were poor, typically producing light, pale, slightly fruity wines with herbal notes. Not the wine you want to announce to the global market, whereby relegating it to the local shops and bars.
D.O./D.O.C/D.O.Ca:DO Bierzo Address: Calle el Bierzo S/N, Valtuille de Abajo 24530 Spain Telephone: +0034 987 562 044 Fax: +0034 987 562 044 Email: bodega@bodegaspeique.com Webpage: www.bodegaspeique.com Bodega Founded:1999 Hectares of Vines: 44 Grape Varieties Grown: Mencia Production in Liters: 200,000 Enologist: Jorge Peique Valle Wines Elaborated: Peique Tinto Mencia, Peique Vinedos Viejos, Peique Seleccion Familiar Importers:
USA - Vinos and Gourmet Inc.
UK - Not Currently Exporting
History of the Bodega from the Bodega
Bodegas Peique was created by a handful of family members who were dedicated to cultivating and elaborating quality red wine. The family has been intimately familiar with winemaking for generations, having not only lived in region of the bodega their entire lives, but having also owned, cultivated and elaborated wines for centuries. The name of the Bodega is a reflection of both the family name and their character. Their wines carry the familiar mark, Peique, accompanied by the name “Spiritual”, each one baptized as if part of the family.
Catavino’s Experience:
Recently, we both sat down to another relaxing summer evening and opened a bottle of the 2006 Peique Tinto Mencia, an unexpectedly delicious bottle of wine. The first characteristic that caught my eye was its mysterious, dark, rich color. It reminded me of when I swam at sunset in a small lake in Cananda near the Minnesota border. As sun slowly descended into the horizon, it emanated dark pastel colors which spread evenly across the surface of the water, changing the lake into a rich black raspberry hue. It’s a stunning color, made more radiant when swirled in a nice burgundy glass.
The bouquet matched the color in its powerful and dark flavors of blackberry, blueberry, clove and mineral. Nice round aromas that unfortunately, did not match well with the palate. Both Ryan and I felt there was a …
D.O./Region: D.O. Bierzo Address: Los Barredos 4, Polígono Industrial Bierzo Alto, San Román de Bembibre, 24318, Spain Telephone: +34 987 51 45 50 Fax: +34 987 51 45 70 Email: info@dominiodetares.com Webpage: http://www.dominiodetares.com Founded: 2000 Hectares of Vines: 68 Hectares Owned: 20 cultivated by our Bodega and 48 rented out Liters of Wine Produced: 450,000 Winemaker: Amancio Fernández Grape Varieties Grown: Mencia and Godello Wines Produced: Baltos, Cepas Viejas, Bembibre, Tares P3, Godello Fermentado en Barrica Importers: USA - Classical Wines
Description of the Bodega by the Bodega:
Founded in 2000, the Bodega was created with the philosophy of elaborating wines from the native varietial, Mencía, using 40 to 100 year old vines which express the complete terroir of Bierzo. Our philosophy is very different than the Château concept where one only uses grapes located from the vineyards surrounding the Bodega, whereas we rescue and revive the old vineyards throughout the Bierzo to elaborate the single variety (Mencía). However, in order for us to elaborate a single varietal, we are required to meticulously study the grounds and microclimates of Bierzo. Fortunately, we formed an agreement with the University of Leon to offer us both the know-how to study the terroir, and the technology to ensure clean, safe and efficient winemaking facilities. From temperature and humidity controlled rooms to using the best French and Spanish oak barrels, our bodega is committed to creating the best representation we possibly can of our native grape, Mencía.
Catavino: Dominio Dostares and Bodega Lusco do Miño are two projects of Dominio de Tares in Pajares de los Oteros, León. Over the course of the month of June, as we explored wines from Bierzo in our Virtual Tasting, we wrote extensively on these wines; however, we did not provide you with a …
Ok so it’s been awhile since our last Rooftop Tasting, but we’re back. I’m still not a fan of editing, so if any of you out there want to help with that send us a note. We’d love to have some help with it. Otherwise, in this episode we taste a couple of wines from Dominio de Tares for our Virtual Tasting of Bierzo! Hope you enjoy it and the Haikus…Big props for comments in Haiku form!
Cheers,
Ryan Opaz
My notes on the wines we tasted. 2004 Dominio de Tares Bierzo Bembibre - Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo (6/11/2007)Very dark adn inky in color. The nose at first is very tight and concentrated with big notes of black pepper and rich earth. Slowly and after much time this begins to turn to dark berries, chocolate, clove, anise and more. In the mouth this is a big wine with hits of spice and tannin that seems to leave my tongue reeling. With time though this gives way to big fruit flavors and after much decanting the tannins reveal a nice acidity behind them with pure cherry and rapberry fruit. Chocolate, oak, and earthiness remain, and while this is a large mouthfull of wine it really develops with enough air into something more elegant that I would have supposed.
2004 Dominio de Tares Bierzo Cepas Viejas - Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo (6/11/2007)Less inky than it’s big brother Bembibre, this wine is a sexy little number that shows rich spice on the nose and pure cherry fruit. Oak is present but not the main focus …
The end of May’s Virtual Wine Tasting of the Albariño varietal ended yesterday with some fantastic contributions from both people who have been commenting quite regularly like Richard, Bill, Sonadora and Dr. Debs to newcomers like Huevosconvino and John. To all of you who are participating, Ryan and I would like to throw out a big “thank you” and hope you will continue tasting with us in June. And speaking of June’s Virtual Wine Tasting, we have chosen the region of DO Bierzo.
Therefore, if you all will be heading out to your favorite wine shop to look for some Bierzo wines, you may want to know a thing or two about the region. Although the Denominacion de Origen is Bierzo, the region is called, El Bierzo, located in northwest of Spain in Castilla y Léon. Bierzo could be considered the black sheep of Castilla in that it is situated in the province of Leon but it lies quite north of the main famous winemaking area of the Duero Valley, while its western border is adjacent to the eastern boundary of Galicia’s Valdeorras DO.
Cuatro Pasos 2003 - Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo(8/2/2006)100% Mencía, This medium-high intensity, garnet hued wine spends 2 months aging in the barrel (75% French oak and 25% American) and a minimum of 8 months in the bottle. Reminiscent of fresh fruit such as cherries and red plums, accented with the coconuts, vanillas, and smoky hints from the wood. Fun and fruity with soft tannins that reach a good balance with the acidity, a nice medium bodied fresh red.
Martin Sarmiento 2003 - Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo (8/2/2006)The difference that 6-8 months in the barrel makes, comes out in the smoky, meaty, black pepper aromas of this full bodied wine, and the cherry liqueur fruity tones. Very good integration between the fruit and the wood, and herbal and licorice undertones.
2003 Paixar Bierzo - Spain, Castilla y León, Dragonte, Bierzo (6/30/2006)Dark bloody red color with aromas of dark wood, grilled steak, green pepper and cassis. Forceful tannins with medium acidity. Flavors of charcoal and cassis on the palate. Well-balanced wine that went deliciously with a reduced blackberry salsa.
D.O./Region: Bierzo, Castilla y León, SpainAddress: La Iglesia, 11, 24546 Arganza Telephone: +34 987 548054Fax: +34 987 548028Email: pittacum@pittacum.comWeb: www.pittacum.comFounded: 1999Hectares of Vines: 26Wine maker: Elisa GomezTotal Production Liters:Grape Varieties Grown: MenciaWines Produced:Pittacum Barrica, Pittacum AureaExporters in the UK and USA: A.V. ImportsTaken from their website:
Our winery is located in Arganza, a town with a longstanding vine-growing and wine-making heritage, and nestled in the extraordinarily beautiful landscape of the “Bierzo Region”. An area with its own inimitable accents that make it stand apart from any other wine-producing region in the Iberian Peninsula.
A modern building houses everything needed for the processing of our grapes.
While the casks in which we age our wines silenty sleep in a sturdy stone farmhouse.
Search for tasting notes on Vinedos y Bodegas Pittacum S.L. wines here. Vinedos y Bodegas Pittacum S.L. Tasting notes.
