Table of contents for January-March 2021 in Selectus Wines

We have now come to the end of what has been a disastrous 2020 with a glimmer of hope that we will soon have the vaccine(s) that will eliminate the virus that has wreaked havoc around the world at every level: personal, economic, social,... As we have already commented in previous editorials this year, the appearance of Covid-19 led to the automatic cancellation of many wine fairs and events that are the lifeblood of the sales and marketing activity in our sector. Then, with the subsequent closure of bars, restaurants and hotels, the sale and consumption of wine slowed to almost a trickle and, for several months now, the wineries, distributors and wine stores have been sitting on stock that has hardly budged. Some have been saved from disaster by…

SPAIN A CORUÑA AC Hotel Palacio del Carmen. Santiago de Compostela ALAVA Restaurante Zaldiarán (Vitoria) Hotel Marqués de Riscal – A Luxury. Elciego Collection Hotel Restaurant Zaldiarán . Vitoria-Gasteiz ALBACETE Rest. Maralba. Almansa ALICANTE Hospes Amerigo AC Hotel Ciutat d´Alcoi. Alcoi Restaurant Quique Dacosta. Dénia Rest. L´Escaleta. Cocentaina ASTURIAS AC Hotel Forum Oviedo. Oviedo Restaurant Casa Marcial. Arriondas Restaurant La Salgar. Gijón Restaurant Auga. Gijón BARCELONA Hotel Mercer Hotel Le Méridien Restaurant Rías de Galicia Restaurant Hofmann Monvínic Restaurant Moments Santa Eulalia Restaurant Xerta Joyería Rabat Joyería Suárez Hotel Majestic Hotel Omm Restaurant Windsor Hotel Palace Celler de Gelida Restaurant La Clara Restaurant Nectari Restaurante Cinc Sentits Arsenal Masculino Four Points by Sheraton Restaurant Via Veneto Restaurant Abac Restaurant L´Oliana Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I Restaurant Gaig AC Hotel Victoria…

This year, despite a global pandemic, Dehesa de los Canónigos has something to celebrate: Decanter magazine has awarded its Luis Sanz Busto Gran Reserva 2010 “97 points”. This wine is a tribute to the father of the family who owns this winery located in Ribera del Duero and is only produced in exceptional years (the last was 2001). It is crafted from grapes grown in an 80-year-old vineyard. Today, Luis Sanz’ sons Iván and Beln are at the winery’s helm. Iván handles the sales side and Belén attends to the work in the vineyards and winery. They took over a few years ago and the winery is now one of the Ribera del Duero’s top wineries. As Ivan told us, “it is a recognition of which we are proud, but…

At this time of year (although this year is obviously different due to the pandemic), families will be gathering together in their homes. In Spain, these gatherings all feature similar components: the finest crockery, cutlery and stemware, as well as delicious meat, fish, nougat, etc., and, of course, the still and sparkling wines needed to accompany the meals. One of the very special moments during any festive season is when we raise a toast to Christmas and the New Year. We have therefore selected some of the most interesting sparkling wines currently on the market. Our selection includes sparkling wines from around the world such as Champagne, Cava, Corpinnat, Clàssic Penedès and Conca Riu Anoia but we also crossed the pond to bring you some sparkling wines from North America…

VIÑA MONTY BLANCO RESERVA 2016 · BODEGAS MONTECILLO D.O.Ca.Rioja / Navarrete, La Rioja - Spain / www.bodegasmontecillo.com / P.V.P.: 35,00€ / 90% Viura, 10% Tempranillo Blanco / 12,5º The sweet wood interwoven with vanilla notes on the nose shows us that this is a white Reserva. This is a wine with character, but which is nevertheless delicate and elegant and suits a wide array of dishes and drinking occasions. It is a wine that tells you about its production but can mislead you in terms of its area and varietals. 85-year-old Viura vines planted at high altitude combined with a young Tempranillo Blanco. The wine’s acidity and low alcohol content are balanced by very aromatic grapes that lend it complexity. La madera dulce con las notas de vainilla en nariz nos…

LA AGUILERA 2016 · LEGARIS (Grupo Codorniu) D.O. Ribera de Duero / Curiel de Duero, Burgos - Spain / www.legaris.com / P.V.P.: 32,00€ / 100% Tinto fino / 15º Just over 2,000 bottles of this wine were produced in September 2018. This wine was made in the same way as the village wines used to be made, in an open press, with native yeasts, spontaneous fermentation and no temperature control. This work has been done with one objective: to ensure that what the drinker finds in the bottle is a genuine expression. Nice aromatic intensity of black fruit, liquorice, spicy notes against a smoky backdrop, elegant tannins and plenty of complexity. This is a new style of wine that is emerging strongly. Poco más de dos mil botellas se elaboraron de…

There is nothing in the world which is not judged by people responding to every object, happening or circumstance in a particular way. This is why some things are considered petty, insignificant and without importance while other people discover in them a treasure greater than El Dorado. Quantum theory holds that an object will be influenced by the fact of being observed, this is known as the observer effect. All this leads to the value of human appreciation, to the conflict in which reality is suddenly different for every person: no-one sees things in the way that others do, because they interpret them in their own way. This is why it would be absurd to talk about the tedium of everyday life as something absolute, as if the situation did…

The world’s most awarded Champagne House, Louis Roederer has broken another record by being the first House to repeat this accolade. Robert Parker recently awarded 100 points to the Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé 2008, putting it at the pinnacle of all sparkling wines and making Roederer the first producer to be able to boast of two champagnes with 100 Parker points. Created by Jean-Claude Rouzaud in 1974, Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé is a champagne crafted from a selection of old Pinot Noir vines, today grown biodynamically. This is a little gem whose tiny production makes it legendary and which is unanimously considered to be the best Champagne in the world by wine critics. Composed of 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay, Cristal Rosé 2008 underwent an average of 8 years…

MADEIRA SERCIAL 15 YEARS OLD HENRIQUES & HENRIQUES D.O. Madeira / Madeira - Portugal / www.henriquesehenriques.pt / P.V.P.: 33,00€ / 100% Sercial / 20º / Distribuidor en España: O Lusitano A surprising fortified white wine, initially somewhat sweet with aromas of nuts and almonds on the palate, along with vanilla, orange peel and smoky notes, aromatically very complex with a dry finish and notes from the ageing process. The native Sercial grape grows in the coldest vineyards and undergoes a long evolution in the bottle. It is one of those wines that can be enjoyed when it is very old. It can be served as an aperitif with nuts or paired with spicy oriental food or a dessert of oranges dipped in chocolate or simply enjoyed as an after-dinner drink.…

GARNACHA We continue our journey around the world via its different grape varieties. Today it is one of my favourites, the Garnacha. When wine people talk about “old world” and “new world” countries, they are referring to those countries who were pioneers in the cultivation of the vine and, consequently, in winemaking, versus those who introduced the model without having any previous wine culture or heritage. I would venture to say that the Garnacha perfectly fits the description of an old world variety as it is found in all three countries of the Mediterranean basin: France, Italy and Spain. It is an important grape from the Southern Rhône region through to Catalonia, Aragon, La Rioja and extending to Murcia in the Levante region. In Sardinia, it is known as Cannonau,…

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 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…