Members and Guests enjoying pre Tasting drinks

74 Members and guests assembled at Ca La Iaia for the November tasting given by Bodegas Patrocinio from the DO of Rioja.   President John Sloggie introduced the speaker Matthias Pawlita who is the export area manager for the bodega.   Bodegas Patrocinio is the driving force behind Uruñuela a town of 967 residents located in the heart of Rioja Alta.   They started out as 200 grape growers with small vineyards in Uruñuela who decided in 1985 to join forces to produce and market their own wines and so the co-operative Bodegas Patrocinio was born.  70% of the vineyards are located in Uruñuela and the rest between the neighbouring municipalities of Cenicero and Huércanos and they benefit from the typical Rioja Alta climate which is predominantly Mediterranean with significant Atlantic influences.    

We were set to taste 4 wines one white, and three reds.  Three of the wines were from their brand Lagrimas de María, which was created in 2008 and named after their oenologist María Martinez.  The fourth wine was from their Zinio range created in 2005 as a new range of high quality wines from a select group of their oldest plots.  The cost of each wine and where it can be purchased and average score given by members is shown in the list of wines tasted in 2017, which can be found by clicking on Wines Tasted in 2017

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The white wine was Lagrimas de María, Viura and Tempranillo Blanco 2016.  Tempranillo blanco is a recently developed grape variety being only grown in Rioja.  Both grapes are grown on vines that are over 30 years old.   Both grape varieties are vinified seperately and macerated at a low temperature in the press for 6 hours and then a contolled temperature fermentation for a week.   After fermentation was complete the wine was left to rest on its fine lees in a stainless steel tank.   Its appearance is a clear bright yellow-green hue and on the nose has aromas of flowers and fruit.   Its taste is sweet and fresh with notes of pear and citrus fruit and it has an Alcohol by Volume (ABV) of 13%.

The first red was Lagrimas de María Madurado 6 meses 2015 and is 100% Tempranillo.   As the name implies, the wine is matured for 6 months in American oak.   The grapes are obtained from vines planted at an altitude of 450-490 metres on the lower terraces of their vineyard.  The wine has a violet-red colour characteristic of its youth, with intense aromas of ripe cherries and vanilla.   In the mouth it exhibits medium body and a combination of sensations of red fruit and spices.   Thanks to the time spent in barrel it has soft tannins and a smooth finish.   The wine has an ABV OF 14.5% and cost 5.95€

We then moved on the the Zinio range with a Zinio 200 Tempranillo Graciano 2014.  It is made of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Graciano from vines situated at 550-590 metres.   Both grapes were developed separately and once malolactic fermentation was complete both wines were blended.   50% of this blend was aged in American and French oak barrels specially toasted for this wine.  The rest was placed in stainless steel tanks until the final blending.   After bottling it was rested for three months before going on sale.   The wine has a picota cherry red colour and high aromatic intensity with forest fruit complemented by 

 notes of vanilla and spices.   It is balanced, sweet and rounded on the palate.   It has an ABV of 13.5% and costs 7.50€.                                                                                                    

Finally we returned to Lagrimas de María Tempranillo Crianza 2014 another 100% Tempranillo.  The wine was developed using the classic traditional Rioja method of pre fermantative maceration for 24 – 48 hours and a short fermentation at about 25ºC.   After malolactic fermentation the wine was placed in American oak barrels for 12 months.   Finally the wine was bottled and left  to rest for a further 6 -10 months.   The wine has an attractive bouquet of black fruit, sweet spices and aromatic herbs.   It is balanced, elegant and well structured, has an ABV of 14% and costs 7.50€. 

The Vote of thanks to the speaker was proposed by Tony Cabban 

Diners enjoying the tasting

Text and Photos by Gaby Ferenczy                                                                                                                                                                                                                             November 2017