Table of contents for January-March 2016 in Selectus Wines

History is marked by events occurring over time in different places, and in Rioja, there are many wineries which have shaped the history of this famous wine region. In this issue, we wanted to delve into the history of one such winery, one of great international prestige and which has now regained visibility after eight years of reconstruction work. We are talking about Marques de Murrieta. We went along to Rioja to meet them with Selectus Wines contributor, Paz Ivison. They talked to us about their major reconstruction project in great detail. This issue also features a fascinating article from Pedro Ballesteros MW, in which he takes us to a very special part of the world where they are starting to reclaim vineyards and revive the art of making wine.…

A CORUÑA AC Hotel Palacio del Carmen. Santiago de Compostela ALAVA Hotel Marqués de Riscal – A Luxury Collection Hotel ALICANTE Hospes Amerigo AC Hotel Ciutat d´Alcoi ASTURIAS AC Hotel Forum Oviedo. Oviedo BARCELONA Hotel Mercer Hotel Le Méridien Rest. Rías de Galicia Monvínic Santa Eulalia Joyería Rabat Joyería Suárez Hotel Majestic Hotel Omm Rest. Windsor Hotel Palace Celler de Gelida Rest. La Clara Arsenal Masculino Four Points by Sheraton Rest. Via Veneto Rest. Abac Rest. L´Oliana Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I Rest. Gaig AC Hotel Victoria Suites Concesionario Mercedes Cars Barcelona Concesionario Maserati-Ferrari-Bentley Cars Gallery Rest. Bravo 24 Hotel W Barcelona Club de Golf Sant Cugat. Sant Cugat del Vallés Club de Golf Vallromanes. Vallromanes Rest. L´Angle. S.Fruitós del Bages Rest. Sant Pau. Sant Pol de Mar Rest. Can…

RIOJA LIVING MEMORY It is difficult not to think of “Rioja” when the words “wine” and “Spain” are mentioned together. This is because this wine region has long been the reference for quality winemaking in Spain. Many consumers around the world have come to know Spanish wines through Rioja and it is certainly the first point of call for many wine drinkers in Spain. This intrinsic association is due, in large part, to the good work carried out by historic wineries such as La Rioja Alta, S.A., who have been perpetuating their winemaking tradition for a century or more. La Rioja Alta, S.A. has given us some iconic wines, including the 904, whose grand title, “GRAN RESERVA”, is proudly displayed on its label. DENOMINACIÓN DE ORIGEN DE LA MEMORIA Difícil…

JOAN ARBOIX ROURA Mallorca, 1981 @Joanet112 Professional sommelier since 2006. He began working as a sommelier at the Moo restaurant (1* Michelin) in the Hotel Omm in Barcelona in that same year. Balearic Islands Sommelier Champion in 2008. Since August 2013, he has been managing the Arola restaurant in Santiago de Chile (Chile). Sumiller profesional desde el año 2006. Ese mismo año empieza a trabajar como sumiller en el Restaurant Moo del Hotel Omm de Barcelona (1* Michelin). Campeón de Sommeliers de les Illes Balears en el año 2008. Desde Agosto 2013 es el responsable del Restaurant Arola en Santiago de Chile (Chile). ANNA VICENS Girona, 1973 @annavicens Professional sommelier since 1997. She is a member of the Empordà D.O.’s tasting panel and currently works as a sommelier for the…

This is another great winery from the Riojan public imagination which has managed to stay in tune with the times, successfully combining its past with a very promising future. It has never compromised its origin as a wine company founded in the centre of Haro in 1932, later moving to its current location in Haro’s famous “Barrio de la Estación” neighbourhood. The same family has been at the helm since the company was founded by Isaac Muga Martínez. It is among the few Spanish wineries to boast its own cooperage, using oaks of various origins for the ageing of its wines. It owns about 220 hectares of vineyards, which are predominantly Tempranillo with the remainder Graciano, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Viura and Malvasia. Although production is by no means small, all their…

On 13 November, we had the great pleasure of attending a fabulous event organised by Vilaviniteca, at which the delegation from Krug, with international president, Maggie Hernández, at its head, presented the history of the Champagne House through its champagnes. We enjoyed a well-staged event with excellent pairings created by Jordi Cruz (one of three jury members of MasterChef Spain) and his team. Oysters and sea lettuce, corn taco and foie gras with mole ice cream, rice with tuna skins and onions pickled in beetroot juice, were some of the dishes created by the young chef with several Michelin stars to his name. These were accompanied by Krug Grande Cuvée, Krug Vintage 2003, Krug Vintage 2000, Krug Rosé... El pasado 13 de Noviembre, tuvimos el placer de asistir a un…

Codorníu’s history goes back to the 16th century, to the year 1551 to be precise. A document from that time states that Jaume Codorníu, owner of vineyards, possessed presses, barrels and vats for the purposes of winemaking. That year marked the start of the history of the oldest family business in Spain and one of the oldest in the world. La historia de Codorníu se remonta hasta el siglo XVI, concretamente al año 1551. Algunos documentos datados en aquel año dan fe de que Jaume Codorníu, propietario de viñedos, tenía prensas, barricas y cubas para elaborar vino. Ese momento marca el inicio de la historia de la empresa familiar más antigua de España y una de las más antiguas del mundo. Codorníu and Raventós were considered to be the “alma…

We were amazed by this new “jewel of a rum” from the Dominican Republic’s Brugal, a company created by Catalan, Andrés Brugal, in 1888. Even XV’s method of production is surprising as they have blended together two different crianzas, one from a solera system made up of 3-8 year old American white oak ex-bourbon casks and the second, also from a solera, but made up of European red oak barrels that had previously been used to age Pedro Ximenez in Jerez for 2-3 years. The other surprising element is undoubtedly the elegance displayed, from the first sip to the last, by this fine, mellow Hispanic rum. It is distinctive on the eye, with its very bright toasted amber hue, and on the nose, with its rich honey and caramel aromas,…

Turó d’en Mota 2003. D.O. Cava. 11.5%. Xarel·lo monovarietal from a vineyard called Turó d’en Mota, 0.97 ha planted in 1940, pruned “en vaso” and grown biodynamically. The vineyard is located on the north side of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, at the foot of Montserrat, where the vines bury their roots into a soil which is very calcareous and includes silt and clay. Respect for the soil and the vines, along with hand-crafted work in the winery, has made Recaredo one of the icons of the Cava D.O., and Turó d’en Mota, in turn, is one of the icons of Recaredo. There are five Recaredo vintages on the market (1999-2003). Peace, silence, observation, patience, craftsmanship and a minimum of 120 months in contact with the lees, make for a unique cava.…

The Amalfi Coast is a World Heritage Site. It is an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape, one of exceptional cultural and natural value and a rare example of a place where the human hand has embellished nature. The Amalfi Coast is also a landscape fit for great wines. Bacchus amat colles, said Virgil, the wine loves the hills. Few places are as steep as the Amalfi Coast, with terraces on all potential exposures. These ancient terraces transcend the work of those who created them and have become the image of beauty. The soils are mainly limestone, although in Tramonti they are sometimes covered with old lava from Vesuvius. Poor, well exposed soils, which are only valuable when, upon them, grow the wood of fruit trees and vines and not…

The Willamette Valley wine region is located in Oregon. The Willamette Valley has a cool, humid climate, and is recognized worldwide for its Pinot Noir. Beaux Freres’ history begins in 1986 when Michael Etzel, along with his brother-in-law, the famous wine critic, Robert Parker Jr., bought a 35 hectares pig farm in Yamhill County, in the north of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. He was soon planting his first Pinot Noir vines, converting the old farm into beautiful vineyards. In 1990, Michael produced his first vintage. He was joined the following year by a third partner, Robert Roy, and they refurbished some of the facilities, making the winery what it is today. The aim of the winery is to produce a world-class Pinot Noir in small quantities, representing the essence…

Situated in the medieval village of Bats, on the edge of western Catalonia and sitting within the Terra Alta designation of origin, the Celler Piñol family-run winery boasts a long winemaking tradition, producing wines with a markedly Mediterranean character. In this location, almost untouched by time, the ancestral wisdom of its inhabitants has, over the years, created a line of wines renowned fo r t h e i r g e n e ro u s s t re n g t h , l e s s “domesticated” than in neighbouring regions. Celler Piñol practices organic and integrated viticulture. It makes its wines in an artisanal manner yet still applies the latest technology, respecting and inte-grating into a natural environment, which is a haven of peace and tranquility. A…

LAS JOYAS DE LA CORONA The Codorníu Group presented the new products in its Alto Prestigio collection in Monvínic (a cult wine venue if ever there was one) on 2 November. These included some unique wines from Viña Pomal (a white Maturana and a Tempranillo Blanco Reserve), Legaris Calmo, an iconic, author’s Ribera de Duero, and future releases such as the new Ars Collecta 456, which has been a reference in the cava sector ever since its launch. The new vintages of the prestigious collection wines, including those of Scala Dei Masdeu and Vina Pomal Alto de la Caseta, were also presented at the event, attended by all the Codorniu Group winemakers. The winemakers also uncorked some of the Group wineries’ most legendary vintages, such as a Viña Pomal 1978,…

SOLERA SYSTEM AGEING When we talk about methods of ageing and maturing spirits, the methodology whose name is often seen and heard, but whose process is arguably the least understood, is the solera system. This ageing methodology takes its name from the word “solaria” (Latin for ground) and is a complex method of ageing where the contents of the barrels, traditionally arranged in a pyramid shape, are removed via the barrels on the ground (solera) level which contain the older spirits. These barrels are then topped up with liquid from the barrels on the level immediately above, and so on, up to the top level, where the new, clear spirit is usually added. This traditional system is known around the world as it has been used since the 18th century…

This iconic Rioja winery continues to grow at all levels. At the end of a mammoth, eight year renovation project, the winery has become a true “cathedral” of wine in the broadest sense of the world. The reconstruction of the Castillo de Ygay, stone-by-stone, in the same place it has stood since the late nineteenth century, has no architectural equal in the wine world. La emblemática bodega riojana sigue creciendo a todos los niveles. La monumental obra que se ha llevado a cabo durante… ¡¡¡Ocho años!!! la consolida como una verdadera catedral del vino en el más amplio sentido de la palabra. La reconstrucción del Castillo de Ygay, piedra a piedra, en el mismo lugar en el que estuvo desde finales del siglo XIX, no conoce parangón en la arquitectura…

“Krug is more than just a luxury champagne, it is a religion. The different cuvées from this hallowed champagne house are worshiped by discerning champagne drinkers and its finest treasures, Clos du Mesnil and Clos d’Ambonnay, are revered. This is the chronicle of a visit to these two holy sites.” “Más que un champagne de lujo, Krug es una religión. Sus distintas cuvées son objeto de culto entre los sabios bebedores, que reverencian las joyas más excepcionales de esta bendita maison: Clos du Mesnil y Clos d’Ambonnay. Esta es la crónica de una visita a esos santos lugares.” First of all, I apologize to readers for making use of a device that good journalism only allows in exceptional circumstances: the use (and abuse) of the first person. Without trying to…

Vinisud is located in the vineyards of one of the world’s biggest wine producing and export areas. The trade fair offers a fantastic opportunity to discover the sheer diversity of wines produced by the countries of the Mediterranean Region and Southern Europe, including Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Lebanon, Tunisia and Morocco. Over 1,700 exhibitors, large and small producers, winegrowers, wineries and traders present their native soils and the nuances of their designations of origin. This year and for the very first time in its long existence, Vinisud has decided to make the trade show a not-to-be-missed event in the diaries of Spanish wine producers, placing them at the centre of the fair in the area with the highest footfall. Buyers from all over the world (one-third of the fair's 30,000…

One of the wine companies that automatically springs to mind whenever Rioja is mentioned, is Marqués de Murrieta and, as usually happens with wines of this designation of origin, it has now become part of our public imagination. This is particularly the case when we come across a bottle of Castillo de Ygay in, say, a boutique in New York or on a restaurant wine list in Hong Kong. Marqués de Murrieta has long been one of the most appreciated “classic” Rioja companies by wine connoisseurs around the world. This is not least due to the fact that, over the last 20 years, they have been skillfully combining tradition and modernity, in a very elegant fashion and without fanfare, never breaking with the past and never attracting undue attention to…

Wine and film came together for a weekend of festivities in the coastal resort of Sitges (Barcelona) for the second consecutive year. The Harvest Festival, now in its 54th year, coincided with the International Fantasy and Horror Film Festival of Catalonia and both were sponsored by Bodegas Torres. Peter Vives (Velvet, El tiempo entre costuras), Cristina Brondo (18 comidas, Penumbra), Mariona Ribas (Días de gloria, El Internado), were among the prominent actors, directors and other personalities from the film industry, who gathered in the Port d’Aiguadolç on 9 October for the opening dinner of the Festival. Torres wines remained present throughout the Sitges Film Festival, which came to an official close in the Melia Hotel’s VIP room on 18 October. This closing event attracted some of the most famous names…

For the sixth consecutive year, Monvinic was home to a fusion of theatre, music and wine, as part of the 47 Voll-Damm International Jazz Festival of Barcelona. 125 attendees enjoyed performances from a very special trio: Gonzalo Rubalcaba, one of the leading figures in contemporary jazz; Carlos Latre, humorist, actor and presenter; and Quim Vila, the co-owner of Vilaviniteca and the man behind the wines served at the event. Each of the wines, the very best of which were served blind, was accompanied by a word denoting a concept. It was a night of surprises. Por sexto año consecutivo, tuvo lugar en Monvínic una fusión de teatro, música y vino. Esta actividad, integrada dentro del 47 Voll-Damm Festival International de Jazz de Barcelona, ofreció a los asistentes (125 personas) la…

The origin of gin may be Dutch, but if gin is known and enjoyed around the world today, credit must go to the British, who created a revised version of the spirit, referred to as London Dry Gin. With No 3 London Dry Gin, (“No 3” refers to the “No 3, St. James Street” address in London), the maker wanted to pay homage to the extreme purity of the authentic London Dry gins of almost 200 years ago. The distillery where No. 3 is produced has over 300 years of experience and knowhow. The result, bottled in a London green bottle and featuring a key inspired by the key to the door of the company’s “parlour”, is simply impeccable. It is distilled from wheat and flavoured with a perfect blend…

Distilling apple cider is not so common unless you happen to be in Calvados, a small area in the Normandy region of northern France, where jewels like this Pere Magloire XO are fashioned. It is created from the finest selection of Pays d’Auge apples and aged for 9 years in centuries-old, fine French oak barrels in order to express the essence of one of the least known quality spirits in the world. Its amber hue is elegant and seductive, as are its distinct aromas of toasted apple, vanilla and salted nuts which endow it with richness and complexity. Showing surprising length and depth, this Calvados will take possession of your palate for several minutes revealing a powerful and authentic character yet without loss of elegance. Calling on almost 200 years…