Table of contents for April-June 2023 in Selectus Wines

@selectuswines With the arrival of spring, a new vegetative cycle begins afresh in the vineyards, although we could argue that the vegetative cycle is continuous and that it is always starting at some time or another depending on the hemisphere you find yourself in. But Alma Carraovejas has made it quite apparent to us that, with the change of equinox, we should rejoice at the return of the colours to the vineyards, mark the appearance of the first shoots, and, in short, celebrate how the earth offers us its most prized fruits, in our case, grapes. And for some years now, Alma Carraovejas has been marking the arrival of spring in a very special manner, which we are not going to divulge in this editorial, but which you can read…

INTERVIEW WITH MERITXELL JUVÉ Interview ENTREVISTA A MERITXELL JUVÉ @rtroyano www.ruthtroyano.cat ruthtroyanopuig “Hay un interés grande por la bodega y la fidelidad es may alta” She’s chosen the perfect spot to be interviewed. La Capella is not only the renowned Paraje Calificado cava that ages for 108 months and is crafted with precision and rigour by Juvé & Camps, it is also a mystical part of the wine cellar in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Penedès) where they age their most-prized bottles of sparkling wine. She walks quietly toward this hallowed location praising the work of her ancestors, who built it by hand. “Here is the true Juvé & Camps,” says Meritxell Juvé. She’s the fourth generation of the family and runs the winery at just 38 years of age. She does it with…

TARIMA AL NATURAL 2021 • VOLVER BODEGAS Y VIÑEDOS D.O. Vinos de Alicante / Pinoso - Alicante - Spain / www.bodegasvolver.com / P.V.P.: 7,50€ / 100% Monastrell / 14,50° The Bodegas Volver winery is located in Pinoso, in the province of Alicante. With each vintage, it has been building a name for itself among the Alicante D.O. wineries. It was founded by Rafael Cañizares in 2004 and although today we are looking at a Monastrell wine made in Alicante, they also produce wines in Jumilla, La Mancha, Almansa and Tierra de Castilla. Tarima al Natural is a wine that, as its name suggests, is derived from sustainable viticulture, in which the vines are worked in an eco-friendly manner using only natural fertilisers of organic origin. Harvesting is carried out by hand.…

PINOT GRIGIO 2021 • LIVIO FELLUGA D.O.C. Friuli Colli Orientali / Corno di Rosazzo, Udine - Italy www.liviofelluga.it P.V.P.: 28€ / 100% Pinot Gris / 13,00º / Diprimsa / www.diprimsa.es This wine is born in a land of natural beauty, in a harmonious landscape of vineyards interspersed with woodland. The sweet floral aromas of this single varietal Pinot Grigio, Friuli’s flagship grape variety, are transformed on the palate into broad, fresh, crisp and lingering fruit flavours with an abundance of ripe citrus notes. Its intensity and lovely enveloping aromas invite us to enjoy this wine either now or at some time in the future, as it will acquire a magnificent complexity with age. Un vino que nace en una tierra rica en belleza natural, en medio de un paisaje donde se…

D-12 2017 • BODEGAS LAN D.O.Ca.Rioja / Fuenmayor, La Rioja - Spain / www.bodegaslan.com P.V.P.: 12,75€ / 100% Tempranillo / 13,5° This is the 11th release of this wine from a selection of Tempranillo vines from small vineyard plots that only fills a single tank, tank N°12. The 2017 vintage was produced with grapes from Viñaspre (Rioja Alavesa) and Fonzaleche (Rioja Alta). This is a different way of presenting a wine, adding value through authenticity and essence, demonstrating that Lan is adapting to the times. After fermenting in stainless steel, this wine wasagedfora year in new American and French oak barrels. It shows nice fruit on the nose, a fantastically silky texture, pleasant tannins and extremely smooth ageing. Es la undécima edición de esta selección de cepas de Tempranillo de pequeñas…

BIONDI-SANTI TINTO 2019 • BIONDI-SANTI D.O.G. Montalcino / Montalcino, Siena - Italy / www.biondisanti.it P.V.P.: 77,59C / 100% Sangiovese rosso / 13° / SV Wines - Alma Carraovejas www.sv-wines.com This wine is a Sangiovese from Finca Greppo’s fruitiest grapes. It has been fermented in concrete and then aged in Slavonian oak barrels for 12 months. It is fairly aromatic, with a bouquet of fresh red fruit, balsamic and spicy notes, floral overtones and aromatic herbs. On the palate, the wine is flavoursome and elegant, full-bodied, deep, and long. It is drinking perfectly now but will acquire greater roundness and complexity with cellar-ageing. It will be a superb match with some fine-quality stewed or grilled meat. Un Sangiovese elaborado con las uvas más afrutadas de la finca Greppo. Fermentado en hormigón y…

SW EDITORIAL REDACCIÓN SW This year, the Best Sommelier in Catalonia Competition was held in the Tarragona region, as part of this annual event’s rotation through the four Catalan provinces. This time, the Reus Chamber of Commerce hosted the event. The sommelier competition is an event organised by the Associació de Sommeliers de Catalunya, the objective of which is to develop and raise awareness of the profession of sommelier and of wines and gourmet products from around the world, but with a special focus on Catalan products. It also aims to reinforce the ties of friendship and collaboration between professionals in the wine world. The Associació de Sommeliers de Catalunya, which has close to 700 professional members, is a non-profit organisation that mainly works to promote the profession of sommelier and…

JOAN ARBOIX ROURA Mallorca, 1981 @Joanet112 Professional sommelier since 2006, he began his career as a sommelier at the Moo restaurant (1* Michelin) in Barcelona. He has also worked for the Ritz Carlton in Spain and Chile as a sommelier and maître d’. Sommelier and Director of beverages in the Santi Taura Group. Balearic Islands Sommelier Champion 2008. Sumiller profesional desde el año 2006. Trabajó como sumiller en el restaurante MOO de Barcelona (1 *Michelin). Ha trabajado para Ritz Carlton en España y Chile como Sumiller y Jefe de Sala. Actualmente, Sumiller y Director de bebidas en el Grupo Santi Taura Campeón de Sommeliers de les llles Balears en 2008. ANNA VICENS Girona, 1973 @annavicens Professional sommelier since 1997, she is currently President of the Catalan Association of Sommeliers, a…

FINCA MONTEVEIGA 2018 • MAR DE FRADES (GRUPO ZAMORA) D.O. Rías Baixas / Arosa, Pontevedra - Spain / www.mardefrades.es P.V.P.: 33,95€ / 100% Albariño / 13,30º If a landscape can be tasted, then Finca Monteveiga is a perfect example of this. This wine hails from vineyards growing at an altitude of 160 metres altitude in the Ribera del Ulla sub-area, the most northerly area and furthest from the coast, and from 20-year-old Albariño vines. It represents the evolution of the Albariño towards wines that are aged on lees and that demonstrate this varietal’s potential. Thanks to the quality of the grapes and the high standards applied to the winemaking process, this wine takes you on a journey through the local terroir, an experience in which freshness and salinity combine with exceptional…

GRAN RESERVA 2014 • RAMÓN BILBAO (GRUPO ZAMORA) D.O. Ca. Rioja / Haro, La Rioja - Spain / www.bodegasramonbilbao.com P.V.P.: 21,25€ / 90% Tempranillo, 7% Graciano, 3% Mazuelo / 14° The great strength, in addition to the great quality, of this Gran Reserva, is the ease with which it connects with the drinker. It is a thrilling, seductive and intense wine, in which the fruit and the ageing have been brought together in the best way possible. It presents aromas derived from its ageing through an abundance of smoky and spicy notes. On the palate, the tannin has been honed by time yet retains a certain power, while the fruit blends with the tertiary aromas and adds complexity. This wine is slightly warm on the finish and very persistent. Su enorme…

SPAIN ALAVA Hotel Marqués de Riscal - A Luxury. Elciego Collection Hotel Restaurant Zaldiarán. Vitoria-Gasteiz ALBACETE Rest. Maralba. Almansa ALICANTE Hospes Amerigo Restaurant Quique Dacosta. Dénia Rest L’Escaleta. Cocentaina Rest. Tula. Xàbia ASTURIAS Restaurant Casa Marcial. Arriondas Restaurant La Salgar. Gijón Restaurant Auga. Gijón BARCELONA Hotel Mercer Hotel The Serras Hotel Le Méridien Restaurant Rías de Galicia Restaurant Hofmann Restaurant Moments Santa Eulalia Restaurant Xerta Joyería Rabat Joyería Suárez Hotel Majestic Hotel Omm Restaurant Windsor Hotel The Palace Celler de Gelida Rest. Angle Barcelona Restaurant La Clara Restaurant Nectari Restaurante Cine Sentits Arsenal Masculino Restaurant Via Veneto Restaurant Abac Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I Restaurant Gaig Restaurant Bravo 24 Hotel W Barcelona Club de Golf Sant Cugat. Sant Cugat del Vallés Club de Golf Vallromanes. Vallromanes Rest. L ‘O. S.Fruitós…

KRUG X LEMON: EL NUEVO SINGLE INGREDIENT Krug ha elegido el Mediterráneo para su evento anual de homenaje a un Single Ingredient. En esta ocasión, la isla de Mallorca ha recibido a varios Chefs de las Embajadas Krug y algunos miembros seleccionados de la prensa especializada y generalista, entre los que nos encontrábamos. Krug chose the Mediterranean for its annual event paying homage to a single ingredient. This year, the island of Mallorca welcomed several chefs from the Krug Embassies and some select members of both the specialist and general press, including this publication. This is the eighth year that Krug has paid homage to individuality through its Single Ingredient programme. It began in 2015 with potatoes as the star ingredient. Then came eggs (2016), mushrooms (2017), fish (2018), pepper…

DIARIO DE UN SUMILLER, MONASTRELL XAVIER AYALA @DiariSommelier @diarisommelier.cat In Spain, we know the Monastrell as a grape variety hailing from the Levante region. But it can also be found in the Rhône or Provence regions (France), in California or Washington State (USA), and even in Australia, under the name of Mataró or Mourvédre. This varietal is said to have been introduced into Spain in Sagunto (Valencia) in 500 B.C. but it also has an important heritage in other regions. In Catalonia (Alella) it takes the name of Mataró and not only has it been known by this name in the region for years, but it goes by this name in Australia too. It is also found in France, in the Roussillon, Provence and Rhône regions, where it is called…

ANNA VICENS/ Sommelier @annavicens anna.vins anna_vi FINCA MONTICO 2021 • MARQUÉS DE RISCAL D.O. Rueda / Rueda, Valladolid - Spain / www.marquesderiscal.com P.V.P.: 13,90€ / 100% Verdejo / 13,00º / Diprimsa / www.diprimsa.es True to its pioneering spirit, Finca Montico has refreshed its image, highlighting the wine’s two main features on the label: its ageing on the lees and its focus on organic growing, reflecting the winery’s commitment to producing wines with less intervention. This modern-style Verdejo seeks varietal complexity through ageing and shows elegance after 8 months of ageing on its fine lees. This is a fresh and very aromatic wine with notes of white flowers and yellow fruit against a herbaceous backdrop that will develop well with cellar-ageing. Fiel a su espíritu pionero, Finca Montico se presenta con una imagen…

ROSADO 2021 • RAMÓN BILBAO (GRUPO ZAMORA) D.O.Ca. Rioja / Haro, La Rioja - Spain / www.bodegasramonbilbao.com P.V.P.: 7,95€ / 85% Garnacha, 15% Viura / 12,50º Here we have the delightfully full expression of the Garnacha’s lovely primary aromas, although they remain fairly discreet: fresh red berries, fragrant white flowers, grated orange peel, aromatic herbs and cherries. On the palate, the wine is fine and fresh, fruity and floral, lively and elegant, neither too powerful nor too deep, with a lovely light mouthfeel and a very well-balanced and pleasant finish. This is a very versatile and gastronomic rosé perfect for an aperitif or paired with starters, salads, pasta, risottos, Iberian hams, carpaccios, … as well as being the perfect quaffing wine. El deleite de los aromas primarios de la Garnacha en…

RESERVA ESPECIAL 2018 • CONDE DE SAN CRISTÓBAL D.O. Ribera de Duero / Peñafiel, Valladolid - Spain www.marquesdevargas.com / P.V.P.: 45€ / 100%Tinto Fino / 14,5° This wine, the winery’s shining jewel, comes from a selection of grapes from the finest vineyard plots, seeking to bottle the essence of the land and allow the passage of time to demonstrate the wine’s great quality and potential. It offers up an intense nose of black fruit aromas and spicy notes. It is fresh on the palate where it brings us an enveloping and concentrated mouthfeel with smooth tannins and nice body. We find a wide range of sensations and nuances that will continue to develop over time. This wine is elegant and well-balanced with a suggestion of sweetness that comes from its…

TURÓ D’EN MOTA 2008 • RECAREDO Corpinnat / Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Barcelona - Spain / www.recaredo.com P.V.P.: 1 20€ / 100 Xarel.lo / 11,00° This is a sparkling wine unlike any other. In each bottle, we find beauty and simplicity, but also high standards, craftsmanship and patience. What really sets it apart is its respect for the fruit and its ability to remain so powerful over time, no less than 15 years in this case. This achievement takes the form of tremendous freshness and complexity, an honest and natural character, confidence and determination, emotion and pleasure. The wine is made entirely from Xarel.lo grapes originating from a single plot of less than one hectare of bush-trained vines planted in 1940. Here the grapes are carefully monitored and grown with minimal intervention,…