The February tasting took place immediately after the Society’s Annual General Meeting.   As is traditional, the newly elected president of the Society, Gordon Sellars presented his President’s Choice.   The tasting took place in the Café del Mar in Moraira and 64 members gathered to listen to Gordon presenting five wines (two white, three red) based on unfamiliar regions and also in some cases unfamiliar grapes.

The first wine was Bolo 2012 from Bodegas Rafael Palacios from the relatively obscure DO Valdeorras located in North West Spain and the grape was an equally unfamiliar local variety called Godello (see notes below).   In commenting on the wine he quoted Jancis Robinson, a world-renowned wine authority and Master of Wine who said “I was convinced of the nobility of this grape which combines the structure of white Burgundy with the finesse of a juicy mineral grape”   Gordon suggested we look out for the fruity aromas and slatiness typical of Galicia and the balanced flavour.   The wine has an Alcohol by Volume (ABV) of 13%, scores 91 points in the Guía Peñin and retails at 9.5€.

The second white was Ailalá 2012, from the Bodega of that name in DO Ribeiro in the Avia valley.   The grape variety was 100% Treixadura (see notes below).   Again Gordon quoted Jancis Robinson who said “This young winemaker, Inma Pazos (the Bodega owner) believes that Treixadura has real potential as a single varietal wine.   I found the wine very appetising with a rather smoky nose and citrus notes and it is definitely bigger and less nervy than a typical Godello”.   It was this opinion that persuaded Gordon to serve it as the second white.  The wine scored 89 points in the Guía Peñin and cost 8.5€

We then started on the red wines, the first being Habla Silencio 2011 from Bodegas Habla in Extramadura.    The grape varieties are 50% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Tempranillo and the wine is aged for 6 months in French oak.   The colour is cherry with a violet rim.   On the nose Gordon noticed red fruits with some pepper, balsamic and mineral notes.   On the palate it was full bodied with a long finish.   With a score of 88 in the Guía Peñin, this wine had an ABV of 14½% and costs 10.96€ from Bodegas Aguilar in Ondarra.

The fourth wine was a Vino de Tierra also from Extramadura and had been tasted by the society a couple of years ago.   It was the Marques de Valdueza 2009 Crianza made from 53% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot and was matured in French oak barrels for 12 to 14 months.   It had an intense cherry colour and a powerful nose suggesting mountain herbs and matured fruits.  On the palate Gordon found it fruity with rounded tannins and a long finish.  With an ABV of 14% and costing 7.95€ it was given 90 points and excellent value for money in the Guía Peñin.

Finally the last wine, which Gordon suggested was the star of the show, a César Príncipe 2010 produced in the DO of Cigales located between Palencia and Valladolid in Castilla y Leon.   The grape was 100% Tempranillo and the wine had been aged in oak, 80% French 20% American, for 14 months.   Gordon and Caryl thought this wine stunning, dense and powerful but incredibly elegant.   They found ripe fruits and spice on the nose, with a touch of coffee.  On the palate it was toasty with good round tannins and the finish was endless.  The excellent 94 points given by the Guía Peñin was reflected in its price of 19.50€.   It had an ABV of 14.5%.

All the wines except the third can be purchased at A Catarlo Todo in Teulada at a discount of 5% for Society members

A vote of thanks was proposed to Gordon by former President Andrew Johnson.

The average scores attributed to each wine by Society members were:

1. Bolo 2012                           83.1

2. Ailalá 2012                         81.8

3. Habla Silencio                    83.3

4. Valdueza Crianza 2009      85.1

5.César Príncipe 2010           89.6

Notes

Godello is a white variety of wine grape grown in northwestern Spain, in particular in Galicia. The Gouveio found in northern Portugal is thought to be the same grape variety.   Godello can produce fine white wines, and yields the best results in Valdeorras, where plantations have increased after having previously been in decline

Treixadura or Trajadura is white Portuguese wine grape variety grown primarily in the Vinho Verde wine region of northeast Portugal and the Galician wine regions of Ribeiro and Rías Baixas in Spain where the variety is known as Treixadura. The grape is primarily a blending variety that adds body and light lemony aromatics to wines.

Gaby Ferenczy                                                                                                                                                                                                                           21^st February 2014