One might call this a sort of counter culture event.
The name is a play on the humorously irreverent “ignoble, let’s push the
boundaries” attitude of the young winemakers versus Vinoble, the more staid
biennial event in Jerez. It was a showcase of mostly small, mostly young and
dynamic producers of the really interesting wines Cádiz is more than capable
of. And they were not by any means only from Cádiz, though mostly from Spain.
Organised by Armando Guerra and his chums Buena Uva, it was always going to be
a brilliant event - yet very serious as far as the wine was concerned - and it
was deservedly a huge success, full of lovely people.
The venue was the beautiful hotel Posada del
Palacio right opposite the colourful palace of the Duke of Montpensier (now the
city council) and a stone’s throw from Barbadillo. The rear of the hotel is a
rambling array of patios, passageways and a huge hall, all in classic Andalusian
architecture and a terrific place for the different wine stands. An excellent
jazz band played discreetly and very competently as glasses were swirled and
acquaintances made or re-kindled.
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| Paola Medina is a Sherry fan |
As is often the case, it was an almost
impossible challenge to taste everything and speak with people as well, and I
only managed the wines from Cádiz, those closest to my heart and of which there
was certainly no shortage. The quality of all the wines was excellent, as one
might expect. There were three sessions; morning and afternoon, each with
different stands, and the evening session was a team blind tasting competition.
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| The Blanco brothers (Callejuela) and Alajandro Narvaez (Forlong) |
Morning:
Viña El Armijo is in the pago Miraflores and
belongs to the Florido family who sold Bodegas Gaspar Florido to Pedro Romero
who later went bust. Some of the very old wine stayed in the family, and they
are producing excellent Manzanilla, Amontillado and Oloroso and also have tiny
stocks of wine from the famous GF25 and Ansar Real soleras.
Viña Callejuela go from strength to strength. The Blanco
brothers have quite a range now and were showing their single vineyard table
wines Las Mercedes, Hacienda Doña Francisca and La Choza, Manzanilla en rama
and the latest 3/11 release of their unique vintage Manzanilla.
Mayetería Sanluqueña is a group of three ”mayetos” or
growers, who have been encouraged by Ramiro Ibáñez to make their own wine,
rather than sell grapes. These new 2016 wines have the same label, Corta y
Raspa, which is a kind of pruning cut and are great examples of how different
vineyards give different styles even when all else is equal. They call
themselves “titans of albariza”!
Williams & Humbert winemaker Paola Medina was enthusiastically
showing a range of their amazing new añada wines as well as Pando, Don Zoilo
and the classic Dos Cortados.
There was also a man making and selling the
traditional venencia of Sanlúcar, made from cane.
Afternoon:
Primitivo Collantes from Chiclana impressed many with
their Socaire and Amontillado- Fino Fossi from magnums, among others.
Ramiro Ibáñez (Bodega
Cota 45) skilfully explained
his two (and the forthcoming third) Ube de Ubérrima wines, Encrucijada and the natural PX Pandorga. Ramiro is one for more soil and less flor...
Willy Pérez (“The Jerezano who always wanted to
be a Sanluqueño”) was showing his lovely Tintilla, Marismilla rosé and the new
Triángulo and Muelle de Olaso.
Barbadillo Armando was showing the Zerej
range, Manzanilla Pastora from a double magnum, La Pastora, Mirabrás and Nude,
the carbonic maceration red.
Forlong Alejandro Narváez waxed lyrical
about their organic wines made in albariza near El Puerto de Santa María. Every
one is delicious.
The other ten bodegas present were:
Niepoort (Douro, Portugal)
Justina de Liébana (Cantabria)
Daterra Viticultores (Galicia)
Quinta Milú-Casa Aurora (Ribera del Duero/Bierzo)
Arizcuren (Rioja)
Suertes del Marqués (Tenerife)
Chateau Paquita (Mallorca)
Julia Casado (Murcia)
4 Monos (Madrid)
Luis Seabra (Douro/Minho, Portugal)
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