Table of contents for January-March 2018 in Selectus Wines

A YEAR ENDING... At the end of every year we sometimes have the feeling that the world too is ending. We start to think about the next year after the Christmas holidays, and it seems very far away, but it’s really just around the corner. And year after year, in most cases, we repeat our traditions of having dinner with our family on these most cherished days and of starting the new year with our closest friends. For these occasions, we try to look for some wine (wine, champagne, cava, etc.) that will surprise our guests. In this Christmas issue we give you a few ideas for wines that are sure to impress whoever tries them. Obviously, sparkling wines (cava, champagne, franciacorta, etc.) are popular at this time of the…

SPAIN A CORUÑA AC Hotel Palacio del Carmen. Santiago de Compostela ALAVA Hotel Marqués de Riscal – A Luxury Collection Hotel Restaurant Zaldiarán . Vitoria-Gasteiz ALICANTE Hospes Amerigo AC Hotel Ciutat d´Alcoi ASTURIAS AC Hotel Forum Oviedo. Oviedo Rest. Casa Marcial. Arriondas Rest. La Salgar. Gijón BARCELONA Hotel MercerHotel Le MéridienRest. Rías de GaliciaMonvínicRest. MomentsSanta EulaliaJoyería RabatJoyería SuárezHotel MajesticHotel OmmRest. WindsorHotel PalaceRest. CaelisCeller de GelidaRest. La ClaraArsenal MasculinoFour Points by SheratonRest. Via VenetoRest. AbacRest. L´OlianaHotel Rey Juan Carlos IRest. GaigAC Hotel Victoria SuitesConcesionario Mercedes Cars BarcelonaConcesionario Maserati-Ferrari-Bentley Cars GalleryRest. Bravo 24Hotel W BarcelonaClub de Golf Sant Cugat. Sant Cugat del VallésClub de Golf Vallromanes. VallromanesRest. L´Angle. S.Fruitós del BagesRest. Sant Pau. Sant Pol de MarRest. Can Jubany. CalldetenesRest. Sala. OlostGolf El Montanyà. El BrullRest. L´Estany Clar. Cercs-BergaSala VIP Pau Casals…

DOENNHOFF KAHLENBERG RIESLING TROCKEN DRY 2015 White / DÖNNHOFF 2015 / Doenhoff / Oberhausen an der Nahe - Germany / www.doennhoff.com / P.V.P.: 30,61€ / 100% Riesling / Vins Alemanys, s.l. Appearance: Bright yellow, glints of green, clear and somewhat dense in the glass. Good legs. Nose: Vegetal aroma, noticeable hydrocarbons, menthol, a hint of geranium, marked terpenes. Palate: Dense and full-bodied, acidic and bitter finish, reminiscent of lemon peel. Vista: Amarillo brillante, reflejos verdosos, limpio y algo denso en copa. Buena lágrima. Nariz: Aroma vegetal, claros hidrocarburos, mentol, algo de geranio, marcados terpénicos. Boca: Denso y profundo, final ácido y amargo, recordando la piel de limón. BODEGA PAZO SEÑORANS PAZO SEÑORANS COLECCIÓN 2013 White / PAZO SEÑORANS COLECCIÓN 2013 / D.O. Rías Baixas / Pazo Señorans / Meis, Pontevedra…

The ancestors of the Giró Ribot family are closely tied to the Penedès region with links that go back over several generations of wine, cava and spirit producers. Previous generation devoted themselves to the production of liquors and spirits in particular. In 1990, they joined forces with the Remy Cointreau group, producers of high-quality products and an important producer in the Champagne region. By combining the best of champagne culture with the distinctive cava tradition, they were able to produce wines and cavas of great personality. Since 2000, the Giró Ribot family has had full ownership of the estate, preserving the quality to which they owe their strong position in the market. This cava was made with grapes from the oldest vineyard on the Can Bas estate, where the vines…

BODEGAS FERNANDO REMÍREZ DE GANUZA. TRASNOCHO 2009 Tinto / Trasnocho 2011 / D.O.Ca. Rioja / Bodegas Fernando Remírez de Ganuza / www.remirezdeganuza.com / P.V.P.: 75,00€ / 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 5% pieles de Viura & Malvasía Appearance: Very bright red with maroon tints, intense, clean and brilliant. Nose: Ripe black fruit, sweet spices, and oaky notes. Palate: Silky, long, powerful and lingering. Elegant tannins. Round, with great cellaring potential. Notes: Tempranillo and Graciano, from vines that average 60 years of age, and aged for 21 months. Vista: Color rojo con reflejos granate, capa alta, intenso, limpio y brillante. Nariz: Frutas negras maduras, especies dulces, y notas de madera. Boca: Sedoso, largo, potente y persistente. Taninos elegantes. Redondo, con gran capacidad de guarda. Observaciones: Tempranillo y graciano, de viñedos con una…

Since it was planted in 1966 and first produced in 1970, Mas La Plana Cabernet Sauvignon has been one of the most recognized wines in Spain. Though it initially contained some Tempranillo, its main grape variety has always been Cabernet Sauvignon. It was planted in yellowish-brown, deep and well-drained alluvial soil with a moderate water retention capacity, made of alternating layers of gravel, sand and clay. The beginning of 2012 and a large part of the growth cycle were quite dry, with the exception of a very rainy April and some rainfall in October. At the end of the cycle, these conditions had resulted in a significant decline in production, but the health of the grapes could not have been better. The temperatures were fairly normal during the growth cycle…

After the wood ageing, the wines rest in the bottle for a minimum of six months in order to round out and continue their development in bottle after reaching their final destination. Tasting the old vintages, with many years’ bottle ageing (if you can get hold of any, that is) is an almost religious experience. These white wines attain an admirable degree of elegance and complexity, on a par with the great French whites. The decision to attempt to turn Rueda into a kind of Spanish white Burgundy has clearly paid off for his brand and reputation. Didier has not yet succumbed to the temptation to make a single vineyard wine, despite the quality he encounters in some of the plots and barrels. He insists that he came to Rueda…

A NEW ATTITUDE TAKEN TO ITS LOGICAL CONCLUSION Back in 1982, Françoise Bedel, a wine producer in the Marne Valley in Champagne, was distraught to find that her son’s illness could not be cured by traditional medicine. This lack of a solution led her to seek out alternative methods. She was finally able to cure her son using homeopathy and this caused her to completely rethink her attitude towards modern medicine, and, with it, her attitude towards her winemaking. Thus began the revolution in her then-seven hectares of vineyards, where she took her new attitude to its logical conclusion, illustrating her new identity and understanding of the rhythms and energy of nature. Between 1996 and 1999, she gradually converted all her vineyards to biodynamic growing, allowing the energies found in…

Pedro Bonet Ferrer (born in Barcelona in 1946) is about to close one of the most productive periods for the Cava Regulatory Board, which he has presided over for four years. An alumnus of the Jesuitas de Casp School and a graduate of the University of Barcelona with a degree in Economics, he joined the family company after finishing his university studies. He became the Managing Director, then President, of the historic Henri Abelé Champagne “Maison” (1986 to 2007), with offices on Rue Sillery in Reims. He is currently a Member of the Board and Director of Communications and Public Relations of the Freixenet Group, a world leader in quality sparkling wines produced according to the traditional method. In 2005, he took over from Joan Juvé Santacana at the head…

Visiting Domaine Weinbach is like travelling back in time. The winery is located in a majestic monastery built in 1612 by Capuchin monks. It lies at the foot of Schlossberg hill amid vineyards and roses. Weinbach means “stream of wine” and refers to the small stream that runs across the property. In 1898, the estate was acquired by the Faller brothers, who bequeathed it to their son and nephew, Théo. A great figure of the Alsatian wine industry who championed the wine’s recognition as an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, Théo Faller dedicated his whole life to improving the quality of the wines of Alsace. Since his death in 1979, his wife, Colette, and daughters, Catherine and Laurence, have carried on his work and commitment to quality, preserving his terroirs and the…

BODEGAS MAURO. MAURO 2014 Tinto / MAURO 2014 / Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla y León / Bodegas Mauro / Tudela de Duero, Valladolid-Spain / www.bodegasmauro.com/ P.V.P.: 26,00€ / 94% Tempranillo, 6% Syrah Appearance: Cherry red, glints of garnet, deep intensity. Nose: Ripe red fruit, liquorice, spices, chocolate. Palate: Dairy notes, silky, mouth-coating, long aftertaste, deep, broad. Vista: Rojo cereza picota, reflejos granates, capa alta. Nariz: Frutas rojas maduras, regaliz, especies, cacao. Boca: Notas lácticas, sedoso, envolvente, postgusto largo, profundo, amplio. BODEGAS MAS ALTA. LA BASSETA 2012 Tinto / LA BASSETA 2013 / D.O.Q.Priorat / Bodegas Mas Alta / La Vilella Alta, Tarragona - Spain / www.bodegasmasalta.com / P.V.P.: 59,95€ / 60% Garnacha Negra, 20% Cariñena, 20% Syrah Appearance: Ruby red, clear and bright. Nose: Ripe red fruit. Palate:…

Enofusión, el Congreso Internacional del Vino, celebrará su octava edición dentro de la Cumbre Gastronómica Madrid Fusión: el escenario ideal para posicionar al vino dentro de la gastronomía a través de catas de excepción, conferencias técnicas, espacios de degustación y novedades a cargo de bodegas, denominaciones y empresas del sector de perfiles diversos. Enofusión, the International Wine Conference, will hold its eighth edition within the Gastronomic Summit of Madrid Fusion: the perfect stage to promote wine within gastronomy and through prestigious tasting sessions, technical talks, tasting areas and also novelties thanks to wineries, designations of origin and a wide variety of companies from the sector. Adovin DO Catalunya DO Rueda Grupo Freixenet González-Byass Grupo Faustino Grupo Olarra Juve &Camps Makro Vinventions Pago de Otazu Prosecco DOC DO Ribeira Sacra Riedel…

At the end of September, Dom Pérignon presented the 2000 vintage of its Plénitude 2 champagne in Spain. Dom Pérignon has created the ultimate experience in the Presidential Penthouse of the Hotel Arts Barcelona, a unique venue located on the top floors of this luxury hotel. The Champagne House has personalized all its rooms with many elements from its prestigious brand. The new Dom Pérignon gastronomic and sensorial experience is a combination of an overnight stay in the Presidential Penthouse of the extraordinary Hotel Arts Barcelona and a Dom Pérignon “2000 P2” champagne dinner with a tasting menu created by Michelin-starred chef, Paco Pérez. The tasting menu can also be enjoyed in the Hotel Arts Barcelona’s Enoteca restaurant. Selectus Wines had the privilege of enjoying the experience with other members…

The seed was sown for this new winery in 2012. Anna Velázquez, Vardon Kennett's winemaker, tells us "Miguel and Mireia Torres convinced their father to make a sparkling wine in the Penedès, taking advantage of the family’s experience making sparkling wines using the traditional method in its Chilean winery". Mireia Torres (5th generation of the Torres family) is in charge of the technical aspect of the project, and they are very clear about wanting to create a different type of product that "expresses the character of the land and the grape variety". To this end, they selected the best plots and grape varieties in order to craft a wine that they had conceived from the very beginning. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the varieties that were finally selected for the…

For the third consecutive year, Ruinart, the oldest champagne house in the world (founded in 1729), held the RUINART CHALLENGE SPAIN in Madrid. The purpose of this competition is to spread the culture of champagne. It also aims to support sommeliers and generally deepen their knowledge of champagne and its region, its vineyards and its producers, as well as its symbolic place within the wine world. The members of the jury are all industry professionals. This time the jury was made up of Amélie Chatin, Ruinart’s winemaker, Javier Gila, President of the Madrid Association of Sommeliers (in a personal capacity) and Rafel Sabadí, a contributor to Selectus Wines and winner of the second edition of the RUINART CHALLENGE in 2016. The competitors had to carry out a sensory analysis of…

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’. He currently works at the Andreu Genestra (1* Michelin) restaurant in Mallorca. 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 en el restaurante Andreu Genestra (1*Michelin) en Mallorca. Campeón de Sommeliers de les Illes Balears en 2008. ANNA VICENS Girona, 1973 @annavicens Professional sommelier since 1997, she is currently President of the Catalan Association of Sommeliers, a member…

RAVENTÓS I BLANC TEXTURES DE PEDRA 2013 Cava / TEXTURES DE PEDRA 2013 / D.O. Cava / Raventós i Blanc / Sant Sadurní d´Anoia, Barcelona - Spain / www.raventos.com / PVP.: 40,00€ / Xarel·lo Rojo, Bastardo Tinto, Sumoll Appearance: Medium pink hue. Nose: Geranium, soft oaky notes. Palate: Tart finish. Vista: color medio pink. Nariz: geraniol, notas suaves de madera. Boca: final amargo. RAVENTÓS I BLANC MANUEL RAVENTÓS NEGRA 2013 Cava / MANUEL RAVENTÓS NEGRA 2013 / D.O. Cava / Raventós i Blanc / Sant Sadurní d´Anoia, Barcelona - Spain / www.raventos.com / PVP.: 73,00€ / 70% Xarel.lo, 20% Macabeo, 10% Parellada Appearance: Deep gold, fine bubbles. Nose: Very balsamic, slight hints of Mediterranean herbs. Palate: Earthy, flavourful, long finish. Vista: Oro intenso / burbuja fina. Nariz: Muy balsámico, con…

Protos 27 pays tribute to the 11 visionaries who founded the winery and label in 1927. This wine has arrived on the market to commemorate the 90th anniversary of its creation. It is the result of 10 years of hard work by the winery’s technical team, which included research into improving growing techniques, the profiling of vineyards and barrels and, for the first time, the use of select native yeasts to bring out the soul of the land, which was one more step in the pursuit of excellence and differentiation. The Tinta del País vineyard that produces Protos 27 was planted 50-70 years ago. The grapes were individually selected on the sorting table and pre-fermentation cold maceration was used to extract a maximum of varietal aromas. The wine was fermented…

TENUTA DI TRINORO. CAMPO DI MAGNACOSTA 2013 Tinto / Campo di Magnacosta 2013 / Tenuta di Trinoro / Sarteano, Sicilia - Italy / www.trinoro.it / P.V.P.: 96,80€ / 100% Cabernet Franc Appearance: Garnet, clear and bright, medium-deep intensity. Nose: Liquorice, coconut, tobacco, leather, green notes. Palate: Fresh, long, acidic, dry. Vista: Rojo granate, limpio y brillante, capa media alta. Nariz: Regaliz, coco, tabaco, cuero, notas verdes. Boca: Fresco, largo, ácido, secante. LEOVILLE-LES-CASES. CHATEAU PONTESAC 2012 Tinto / CHATEAU PONTESAC 2012 / A.O.C. Médoc / Domaines Delon /Saint Julien Beychevelle - France / www.domaines-delon.com / P.V.P.: 18,00€ / 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc Appearance: Ruby red, glints of garnet, deep intensity. Nose: Candied red fruit, vegetal notes, hint of metal. Palate: Medium tannins, fresh, lingering. Vista: rojo rubí,…

Didier Belondrade first tasted the wine from Rueda when he happened to be in Spain around 25 years ago and it was a revelation, love at first taste. He was working for Air France at the time and, because of his senior position and everything that goes with it, he was already something of a wine connoisseur. He particularly enjoyed the wines produced in his home country, especially the fine white wines from Burgundy and the Loire Valley. He immediately started thinking about the feasibility of creating a great Spanish white wine made exclusively from the Verdejo grape and he resolved to make it happen. He started by visiting the Castilian plateau to get to know the area. He then rented an industrial warehouse in Nava del Rey, which is…