busy tonight and French favs...

** FYI, There is a big group coming in tonight @ 6 PM - only the lounge will be available and there is a reservation for it at 7:30.

** The French wines that were favs from the class Wednesday:
Domaine Malandes Chablis Chardonnay AOC 2006 $21.99
Chat. Grand Tertre Bordeaux (right bank - Merlot, Cab S & Cab Franc) AOC 2003 $12.99!
Chat. Peymorin Bordeaux (left bank -Cab S & F, Merlot) AOC 2005 $25.99

Flight for today thorugh Thurs

1 Choice of whites (lots of Chardonnays including a budget Chablis)

2 Byron Santa Maria Vly Pinot Noir 2007 ($21.99)

3 *?* wild card *?* (probably one of the new Spanish reds)

4 Atrea Old Soul Red 2006 Mendocino ($20.99)
WA 91 pts.

5 Robert Craig Affinity 2005 ($40.99)

Oscars

Tonight we're going to alternately ridicule and applaud the show that tries to honor our SoCal industry. The pre-show starts at 3 PM and the actual show at 5:30.

Join us for a wine flight, glass, or something else. You are welcome to bring finger food to share or buy cheese and/or appetizers from us.

Flight $16
1 Choice of whites

2 Mo 2006 ($14.99)
WA 90 pts.(Mourvedre, Syrah, Cab Sauv, Tintorea)

3 Atalaya Almansa 2007 ($15.99)
WA 91, Tanzer 90 (Mourvedre, Garnacha, Tintorera)

4 Juan Gil Monastrell 2006 ($15.99)
WA 91 pts.

Jumilla

Yes, this is a vineyard!...

From Spain 2009-02

I've been fascinated by the wines from Jumilla, Spain for a few years now. It stated by buying a few budget bottles at the recommendation of a wine at a shop without tasting them. I really liked them and had not tasted anything quite like it before. I found out that these wines which listed Monestrell as the grape were made from Mourvedre. All I knew about Mourvedre was that it was blended in other wines, primarily from the Rhone in France. As I keep running into wines from Jumilla the QPR was consistently great.
When ChrisAnn and I started to plan this trip and I realized we would be in the "neighborhood" we had to visit! We scheduled appointments with Bodegas LUZON and Juan Gil. We found a couple other vineyards to visit along the way.
LUZON is a growing operation producing good QPR wines. I particularly liked their higher end wine and their Petite Verdot (which is not imported to the US.) At Juan Gil we spent the better part of the day with Loren Gil, the 4th generation family member overseeing the vineyards and winery. Their namesake wine has been a staple in my home and the Lab. 100% Monestrell sees 12 months in oak - it is a great QPR wine that every wine lover must try.
The above pic of vineyard is a Juan Gil vineyard in Jumilla - no trellising - the rocky soil and arid climate has produced grapes of amazing flavor intensity. They are planted far apart because there is little water. The vines are organically dry farmed.

[pic below: ChrisAnn and Loren Gil at the vineyard - notice the wind mills in the background - Jumilla has an aggressive wind and solar energy program...these and solar panels were everywhere!]

From Spain 2009-02

A few years ago, Jorge Ordonez (an eponymous winemaker and entrepreneur) brought Chris Ringland (another eponymous winemaker and entrepreneur from Australia) to Loren to collaborate on a pair of higher end wines: CLIO and EL NIDO. CLIO is 70% Monestrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. EL NIDO flips the blend. CLIO sold out at the lab in a week and I only have 2 bottles of EL NIDO. It was sold out all over Spain too.

[pic below: ChrisAnn and I getting ready to taste barrel samples of Monestrell, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah which may be blended in the next vintages of CLIO and EL NIDO. They were amazing, world class wines!]

From Spain 2009-02

Great wines are being born out of this region. One I tasted in this lab, ATALAYA, will be at the Lab shortly! We could not have felt more welcome by these winery owners. We will visit Jumilla again.

Grenada, Spain

Alhambra (a wonder...)

From Spain 2009-02

From Spain 2009-02

From Spain 2009-02

Toledo - Adolfo family y collection

In 2008, Roger and I departed from the Wine Lab after 7 months of straight work to attend Hospice Du Rhone in Paso Robles. We attended all the sessions but a most memorable for me was the Conquistadors: The Reign of Spain. At the event, I tasted the "best" Syrah ever. I mean this really in the best sense: The Pago del Ama Syrah from Toledo. So my goal was to return to Spain to visit the Viñedos Cigarral Santa Maria -- the makers of Pago Del Ama and taste the wine again. To my surprise and welcome, Javier and Adolfo, welcomed us here. Today, we woke up to Nieve (Snow). So spectacular, you know how it is when you wake up to snow as a child....very much the same. So Bello (beautiful) - you want to lay down in it. It only snow's here a few times a year...so you must absolutely wallow in it. We met Javier at the vineyard and family home at 11 am - Adolfo and Julita were there.

From Spain 2009-02

There is a fun picture here of Adolfo, me, and Javier, we are in the vineyard, outside the house. The vineyard only has 4 hectares planted...but I have to re-state...this is the best wine I have ever tasted. So Javier took Rog and I on a tour in the snow.... pics below...just look at them...we are all so thrilled to be in the snow in the vineyard...this is only the beginning. Lunch pics. then dinner pics are next. If you don't know Pago del Amo, you will .... either from us or the wine world....We love wine and this is the exceptional...after 25 + years of wine tasting...I cannot find a more satisfying, complex, wine in the world or the most loving and passionate people. This is true love and passion for sharing, enjoying, and loving food and wine.

From Spain 2009-02

At the start of the dinner tonight, Javier showed us his parents passion...a 40,000 bottle wine cellar...don't get me wrong..this is a wine cellar that was dug out of the Jewish settlement of more than 400 years ag0. We stood in front of a collection of a wall of first growths....but my memorable was the 39 bottle of 02 Pago del Ama Syrah...what can I say... this family is passionate...so are we...but to love and hold them in our hearts and minds forever...and we will return.

From Spain 2009-02

We had dinner at Adolfo Restuarante on Granada (pomegranate lane). Our 10-course dinner began with sherry paired with pomegranate fruit...then off to the 2001 Chardonnay Pago del Amo...now I read that this vineyard after this year was torn out because of a DO restriction (but not so clear on the history). OMG! Best Chard...we have ever tasted! Javier selected it out of the personal cellar...so very generous. It tasted the soil of the Syrah, yet very elegant and fruit forward....oh... I cannot do it justice. But if one ever has the possibility of tasting this Chard....you may have died and gone to heaven. Then on to a pairing of 05 Pago del Ama Merlot (never to be found outside of Espana)....497 bottles OMG again...so especial.

From Spain 2009-02

Feb 6, 09 will be a spectacular day in my life.
CAR-

Flight for today through Thursday

(while CAR and I are in Espana - please enjoy the following wines - including whatever our fantastic staff decide to open for you for the wild card - I hope it is the 2007 Janesse Cote du Rhone we got in last week!)

Flight $18
Choice of whites

*?* wild card *?*

Byron Pinot Noir Santa Maria Vly 2007 ($21.99)

Parcel 41 Merlot Napa Vly. 2006 ($16.99)

Mantra Cabernet Sonoma 2006 ($17.99)


[as an aside - it's snowing in Toledo and we had a great time - if you care to get a peek:]
http://picasaweb.google.com/richards.roger/Spain200902#

From Spain 2009-02

Our most authentic experience in Spain yet - spontaneous invitation to taste wine from Sierra Salinas: 2006 Mo (will be coming to the Wine Lab), 2004 Puerto and 2004 Mira (not yet available in the States.) These were all Mourvedre dominated blends and they were delicious! Along with ChrisAnn, there is Javier Muñoz, (a friend of Muñoz), Adolfo Muñoz, and Guillermo Quetglas from Bodegas Castano. The place is Adolfo Collection (Vinoteca Tapas y Tienda!) (Reminded me a bit of our Lab only nicer!)

Nice lunch in Madrid

At about 14:30 the restaurants fill up. This is a nice traditional meal at a not so traditional restaurant. I've got to get some of that Elias Mora for the Lab. (Yes, that is CAR hiding from the shot.) Now, time for a siesta!