I welcomed 62 members to the first tasting of the new year – and the last of my term as president. Another innovation, this tasting we called “Whose wine is it anyway?” It was based on the TV series “Call my Bluff”, which spread to the USA as “Liars’ Club”. We tasted 5 super wines and each was presented by three members – and for each wine one of them told the truth. But our “bluffers”, Kathy Johnson, Hugh Epsom and Colin Donadio, did not themselves know who was telling the truth until after members had a show of hands to indicate which description they felt to be true, for each wine a bottle was uncovered and the presenter who described the wine correctly took a bow. Once uncovered each wine was scored by the members.

Hugh introduced the first wine as the Vielle Ferme blanc de Provence that I presented as the first of my wines at the February tasting last year. Kathy announced that it was the The Oro de Castilla Sauvignon Blanc that Barry and Pam Burnett order for us each spring on their journey here through Spain. While Colin told us that it was the Mo Blanco from Sierra Salinas, here in Alicante.  There was little consensus among the members about who might be telling the truth about this wine, with marginally more thinking that it was Colin.  It was unveiled to be the Sauvignon blanc from Oro de Castilla. From the Bodegas Hermanos del Villar, The grassy, fresh, citrus aroma and flavor profile is quite similar to Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire, except that with Oro de Castilla there’s also a firm minerality that recalls the best examples of Sancerre.

 

The second wine was introduced by Kathy as Coroa Doscientos Cestos (200 bins), a 100% Godello – the “other” grape from Galicia. Hugh told us that this 2011 wine was called Etra comes from Bodega Eidosela. And Colin told us that this was the white wine that we were introduced to in May last year from Vera de Estenas in Utiel Requena. The vote from members was in favour of Macabeo from Vera de Estenas, but the “reveal” showed that Hugh was correct. This is a classic Albariño from the DO Rias Baixas. Decanter says of this wine “Typical and well made with a fresh, grassy hint, plus basil and lemon curd on the nose. Wonderful palate of stone and green fruits. Needs time to soften and integrate but has a lovely, grapey finish; a very food-friendly example.”

Kathy told us that our 3rd wine was the  2007 Marques de Valdueza Crianza from Toro in Extremadura. Colin introduced it as  the Vizcarra Senda del Oro that Andrew served last year and Hugh said it was the 2008 Glorioso crianza that past president Keith presented in the same room a year earlier. The members voted correctly that it was Hugh, once again who told the truth. The 2008 Glorioso crianza, from Bodegas Palacio is a beautiful Rioja wine. It is 100% Tempranillo, aged for 12 months in Bordeaux oak barrels. It shows plenty of ripe, dark fruit aromas, balanced by the smooth and elegant tannins from the French oak.

For our fourth wine Hugh introduced it as the 2011 DIVUS from Bodegas Bleda of Jumilla that we tasted in October. Colin told us that it was a favourite of King Juan Carlos, the Pesquera 2010 crianza. And Kathy reported that it was the 2009 Casa Don Angel Bobal, from our friends at Vera de Estenas in the Utiel Requena DO.  Members correctly decided by majority that it was the Pesquera described by Colin. On last May’s trip we visited the beautiful Condado de Haza estate, a part of Alejandro Fernández’s Grupo Pesquera. King Juan Carlos described the wines from Pesquera as the equal of Chateau Petrus – and he was endorsed by Robert Parker. Pesquera is voted as one of the five best reds in the world. Patricio Tapia, Wine & Spirits magazine says “Massive and grand, this feels rabid with energy, as if caged…. holding a cache of ripe red fruit and spice; give it three more years in bottle to calm down.”

It was Colin’s  turn to introduce the final wine, as The 2005 Emina E-400 from Ribera del Duero. Kathy told us that it was The Domaine Les Yeuses, the Val d’Oc that Andrew presented last February. And Hugh presented it as the Pozuelo Reserva, from Bodegas Castaño. It was uncovered as the Ribera del Duero wine descibed by Colin. A classic Tempranillo, it is a sweet, intense, aromatic red, made ​​by the Emina Wine Interpretation Centre, located in the “Golden Ring” of this great DO backed by the quality of the great wines of the parent company, Matarromera. It takes its name from the French oak barrels of 400 liters in performing its aging for 16 months. The palate has blueberries, tobacco, dairy, spices with smoky and mineral notes. The members had thought that it was the wine from Castaño, described by Hugh.

Past President Keith Pacey proposed a vote of thanks to the presenters.

This was a really enjoyable evening – and our members correctly identified 2 of the 5 wines.

Also had the pleasure of presenting awards left from the December event.   The third prize for Wine Taster of the Year was shared between Renate Pluis (90% for 9 tastings) and Per Ramvall (90%  for 6 tastings).

The scores for the wines tasted were:

Wines tasted January 2013                                                 Prices                                Average

2012 Oro de Castilla, Sauvignon Blanc                                 5.00€                                     81.9

2011 Etra, Albarino                                                              7.01€                                     83.8

2009 Rioja, Glorioso Crianza                                                5.60€                                     85.9

2010 Pesquera Crianza                                                      18.55€                                     88.9

Emina E400,05,Elmundovino                                              17.90€                                     88.1

Andrew Johnson President