30.7.13 Tio Pepe Sign; Barbadillo Nomination

Remember the famous illuminated Tio Pepe Sign? Well, at last it has a new home! Madrid town council is about to award planning permission for it to be erected at number 11, Puerta del Sol. The sign has been homeless since the owners of number 1 Puerta del Sol (the old Hotel Paris, and soon to be Apple’s Madrid HQ), on which it has been situated since 1936, decided they no longer wanted it there. The new site, on the corner with Calle Preciados is owned by the department store El Corte Ingles. Everyone is now happy that the iconic sign has a secure home.

The sign at its old location

 Bodegas Barbadillo has been nominated for “Best Spanish Bodega” by Guia Peñin for the 2014 edition, for maintaining the highest quality in a large number of brands. Three other bodegas have been nominated: Artadi (Rioja), Descendientes J Palacios (Bierzo) and Sierra Cantabria (Rioja), and we will have to wait until Wednesday 9^th October to know the result.  This will be announced at the XIV Salon de los Mejores Vinos de España, promoted by Peñin, Spain’s leading wine guidebook. The Salon, which is the top event in the world of Spanish wine, with over 3,000 Spanish and foreign professionals in attendance, will also see the announcement of El Mejor Vino Revelacion del Año. To date, 140 of the very top bodegas have confirmed their attendance.

Fino 15%, Valdespino

Appearance
Fairly pale golden straw, a shade darker than some Finos, legs.
Nose
Quite full, dry with some Flor bitterness, bread dough, almond and a trace of oxidised apple and a hint of dry scrub in the background. At a guess, about 4-5 years old. The barrel fermentation of the wine can be seen, as there is that hint of oxidation and fullness of character.
Palate
Similar to nose, quite full and generous, and nicely rounded, some gentle yellow fruit balances nicely with the dry Flor character, and there is a gentle texture and good length.
Comments
A very decent wine. This is Valdespino's entry level Fino, but it is less basic than many. Next up their list is the 10 year old Inocente.
Price
4.50 Euros in Spain, but I haven't seen it in the UK. Importers are Liberty Wines.

(grapechoice.wordpress.com)

27.9.13 Three Jerez Bodegas in World Top 100; Mauricio Gonzalez Gordon Dies

Eight Spanish bodegas are among the world’s one hundred best of 2013 in a ranking by Wine and Spirit Magazine’s tenth “Top 100 Tasting Event”. Prizes will be awarded in San Francisco on the 15^th October. Naturally, bodegas from Jerez were included, notably Osborne, Pedro Romero and Valdespino.

The death has been announced of Mauricio Gonzalez Gordon y Diez in Jerez at the age of 89. Born at Hampton Hill, England in 1923, he was president of Gonzalez Byass till he handed over the reins to his son, also Mauricio Gonzalez Gordon.

Mauricio was the son of the legendary Manuel Maria Gonzalez Gordon, who, among other things, wrote the best ever book about Sherry. Milagros Lopez de Carrizosa y Eizaguirre, Mauricio’s wife died just recently. They had two children, Bibiana and Mauricio.

(Imagen Diario Jerez)

Mauricio was a well-educated man, respected in the Sherry trade, and had diverse interests, especially Nature and its conservation. He donated land for the establishment of the Coto Doñana National Park, where he liked to indulge in ornithology.

He was a Hijo Predilecto de Jerez, a member of the Gran Orden de los Caballeros del Vino, and held a gold medal for Oenological Merit, among many other awards.

26.9.13 European Wine Tourism Day

European Wine Tourism Day will be celebrated in Jerez between the 7^th and 10^th November. An extensive list of activities has been announced, including “open doors days” at various bodegas, tasting courses, wine and food matching, Tabancora (tabanco route),  tasting of non-Sherry wines from the area etc. It would definitely be a good time to be in Jerez.

25.9.13 Wine Gang Tastings

Three fantastic Christmas wine fairs are to take place in Britain. They are amazing value events run by the Wine Gang, a group of wine journalists/fanatics/experts who are – at the very least - Tom Cannavan (World of Fine Wine Magazine, Decanter Magazine, Wine-Pages.com), Joanna Simon (House & Garden, ex Sunday Times), Anthony Rose (Wine Correspondent for the Independent, Wine Competition Judge-and who was involved in the Gonzalez Byass Palmas range selection), Jane Parkinson (Restaurant and Stylist magazines) and David Williams (The Observer & World of Fine Wine magazine).

The events will take place in November, firstly in Bath at the Guildhall on the 2^nd, then in London at Vinopolis on the 9^th and then in Edinburgh, at the Assembly Rooms on the 30^th. Five members of the Gang will be on hand all day, along with (up to – steady, now!) 600 quality wines to discuss and recommend. There will be Masterclasses too, and wines will be available for purchase at a discount at some great pop-up shops. Tickets cost £20 per person, but followers of this Blog will get tickets at just £12 and get 10% off Masterclass tickets by quoting the code Blog40. For further information look at the following link: http://www.wineganglive.com/  Just in case you’re worried that it will all be table wine, (not that there's anything wrong with that!) Gonzalez Byass will be there, and if I have any influence, there will be even more Sherry! (At least in Edinburgh).

24.9.13 More Sherry Educators

23 new Sherry Educators have been appointed after this summer’s course. They come from all sorts of related backgrounds, such as sommeliers, writers and restaurateurs, and are from 13 different countries. They undertook a three day intensive course of total immersion in the Sherry business consisting of theoretical and practical sessions, seminars, tastings, bodega and vineyard visits in the three main Sherry towns, ending with an exam for the title. The Consejo Regulador has been running these courses very successfully since 2004, two every year, one in English and one in Spanish. The idea being to disseminate knowledge of and enthusiasm for Sherry.

Amontillado 51-1a 19% VORS, Osborne

Appearance
Quite deep mahogany amber fading to a trace of green at the rim, legs. Looks very old.
Nose
Full, old and complex.Strongly nutty, particularly toasted hazelnut and almond, along with old wood notes and that classic amontillado apparent marzipan sweetness. It has the faintest whiff of savouriness and astringency which is more than balanced by that sweetness, and merely shows how old the wine is. Lovely.
Palate
Full, "punzante" (incisive), dry with a trace of the astringency of age, but mellows on the palate. Immensely tasty - nuts, wood and marzipan again with hints of polished antique furniture - and really quite tangy, which gives it amazing length. Would be lovely with a fine farmhouse cheddar.
Comments
From a solera of that name laid down in 1830, probably by Pedro Domecq himself. After the dismantling by Pernod Ricard of the Allied Domecq empire, the VORS soleras were bought by Osborne and moved to El Puerto de Santa Maria, where they now form part of the bodega/museum along with other amazing soleras. Amo 51-1a , while sold as a VORS (guaranteed minimum age of 30 years) is at least twice that age, and probably older. These old wines have been beautifully looked after by oenologist Ignacio Lozano, despite their lack of real profitability. They could never be sold for their real value, but help give prestige to the bodega and its other products. And to Sherry in general. In case of any confusion, there are still some of these wines around in the slightly different Domecq bottles. No problem at all!
Price
About £35.00 at Drinkmonger, Edinburgh and Pitlochry. UK importer: Emporia Brands