members enjoying pre dinner drinks
President Tim Fawle introducing the tasting
“Whose wine is it anyway?” is becoming an institution in the Society and is based on the TV series Call My Bluff. The event was held for the third year in succession in Restaurant Punta Negra, MR Les Rotes, Denia and 58 members and 11 guests tasted five wines each of which was presented by three members: Gillian Ashworth, Gordon Sellars and Tony Cabban. However only one of them was telling the truth about the wine we tasted and members had to decide which one was correct. Even the three bluffers were unaware as to who was correct for Tim and Sandy Fawle had written their scripts and the wine bottles were covered as in a blind tasting. Each table was asked their opinion as to who was telling the truth and once uncovered and the truth revealed each wine was then scored in the normal way by members.
Tony Cabban introducing his wine
Tony introduced the first white wine as a Rueda Mantel Blanco 2014 100% Sauvignon Blanc grape from Bodega Alvarez y Diez. Gillian was sure everyone would know the Borsao Seleccion Blanc 2015 from DO Campo de Borja, while Gordon was convinced you would easily recognize the Montespina Sauvignon Blanc 2014 from DO Rueda. It was Tony who presented the correct wine the Rueda Mantel Blanco 2014 made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grape by Bodega Alvarez and Diez, a family bodega which has been producing wine in Rueda since 1941. The Colour is bright straw and the nose is of intense fruit with tropical notes. The taste is fresh, intensely varietal fruit with citrus touches and a good acidity. It is recommended to drink this wine up two years after its release. The Guía Peñín awarded it 87 points and it costs 8.15€ .
Gordon presenting a wine
Gordon introduced the second wine as a Urbezo Chardonnay 2015 from Cariñena. while Tony said it was a Fan D’Oro 2014 a delicious 100% Chardonnay produced by Bodegas Arzuaga in Ribera del Duero and finally Gillian stated it was of course the Vegalfaro Chardonnay Blanc 2014 from Utiel Requena in DO Valencia. It was Gordon who presented the correct wine the Urbezo Chardonnay 2015, a young white wine from Bodegas Urbezo in Cariñena. It is a pale yellow straw colour with green tones. The taste is of citrus fruits, with an elegant structure and a distinctive finish. With an Alcohol by Volume of 13.5% it is a “meaty” Chardonnay and is one of the President’s favourites. Previous vintages have been included twice in tastings over the past 2 years, so you should all recognise it! It received 89 points in the Guía Peñín and is rated as very good value for money costing 7.65€.
Tony then introduced wine number three a CBWS favourite La Planta Crianza 2013 from Ribero del Duero, but Gordon contended it was the 2008 Rompsedas from DO Toro which we tasted at our tutorial tasting last March. Gillian presented the memorable Rioja wine Glorioso Crianza 2006 and was sure members could easily distinguish this wine from the others. Tony’s wine La Planta 2014 was the correct wine. It is certainly one of the President’s favourites, It is produced with Tinto Fino grapes (or Tempranillo as we know it) that are over 20 years old. They all come from the La Planta estate, located in Quintanilla de Onésimo, right in the heart of Ribera del Duero and the wine takes its name from these vineyards. A clayey limestone soil over unbroken bedrock within one meter down the surface and an altitude of about 900 metres of altitude give La Planta wine its special features. It is aged for 6 months in French and American oak casks and is a cherry red colour with violet notes. A nose of fresh blackcurrant and licorice with touches of toasted noble wood, such as cedar. Velvety in the mouth with full fruit flavours producing a mature and elegant fruity wine. A classic wine from Bodegas Arzuaga at a cost of 8.85€.
Gillian introducing her wine
The fourth red was presented by Gillian, Castell De Raimat Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 This is a classic wine and the 2010 vintage was presented by Gaby Ferenczy in October. Uncompromising in her choice she was sure everyone would clearly distinguish this wine as the correct one. Tony however was equally sure that the Finca Antigua Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 was the wine as Gordon had presented the 2010 vintage again in October alongside Gaby. Gordon, knowing about the other wines assured everyone that the Borsao Tres Picos which we tasted at the Christmas event was undoubtedly that wine, The correct wine was Castell de Raimat Cabernet Sauvignon in the DO of Costers del Segre, a bodega which the Society has visited several times. Raimat makes all its wines from grapes from its own estate. Most of the vineyards are designed for mechanical harvesting which is done at night and it takes only an average of 18 minutes to get the grapes to the press. The wine is aged for a minimum of two years in oak barrels and bottle. The wine is a deep red with violet hues. It has a powerful aroma of wild berries such as black cherry and blackberries with a hint of vanilla and chocolate. It is an elegant full bodied velvety wine with a pleasant and long aftertaste. It has 13% alcohol. The Guía Penín gave it 88 points and the price is 11.9€.
Gordon introduced the last wine as Pesquera Crianza 2011 from Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez. Their superb Tempranillo grapes that go into this wine make this a strong contender that for sure everyone will see is the correct wine. Tony convincingly told us that his wine was El Regajal Seleccion Especial 2013 from Madrid and never disappoints. Members will remember this as “The Butterfly Wine” It has become one of the great wines of the Communidad de Madrid. Gillian, however was adamant that Domaines Lupier de Terroir was the outstanding fifth wine from the DO Navarra and was presented by none other than Jose Peñin on his visit to us in September last year. The correct wine was Pesquera Crianza 2011 from Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez. The Tempranillo vineyards, the “queen of grapes”, the delicate variety so skillfully mastered by Alejandro, furnish the Castilian soils that are watered by the River Duero. The vines, which are always trained on low espalier trellises, “to better capture the heat from the ground” are factories of sensations and pleasures that are passed on to his wines. The vines grow in poor, well-drained soils, composed of sand and gravel over a limestone and clay subsoil, an ideal combination for rootstock. With the help of the wind, the rain and the sun the plants manufacture aromas and flavours beset with nuances, which they deftly amass in the grapes. Pesquera wines are always made from the whole fruit, after destemming. Temperature controlled fermentation lasts two to three weeks. Afterwards, and without clarifying, the grape pulp is directly transferred to an astute and subtle combination of French and American oak barrels that have been subject to various degrees of toasting. Where, in between frequent pump-overs, the wines are left to stand. Tinto Pesquera wines are aged in oak for 18 months. From his 200 hectares of breathtaking vineyards, Alejandro makes wines in which the wood has great respect for the fruit. Over time, the wines become more complex and nuanced without losing their original character; a phenomenon that has made the name Tinto Pesquera synonymous with fine wine from Ribera del Duero. It costs 18.75€.
Everyone agreed that the selection of the wines, made by Tim and Sandy was outstanding and the food also proved to be a winner. Gaby Ferenczy proposed the vote of thanks to Tim and Sandy for an excellent evening and a fitting way for Tim to round off his term as President. He also thanked the three presenters for their excellent bluffing throughout the evening.
