{"title":"Big Red Spain - 10-3-24","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"d101","title":"Mustiguillo Mestizaje Tinto Bobal","description":"","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45720263655657,"sku":"401102","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_3d295ad6-61b7-44eb-bc35-75c533f0cec2.png?v=1631650630"},{"product_id":"e23","title":"Bhilar Phincas Rioja","description":"","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44848436904169,"sku":"430005","price":32.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_1032b10c-ecdb-4737-a0fe-772c9dc12429.png?v=1631719063"},{"product_id":"2020-cachazo-carrasvinas-verdejo","title":"Cachazo \"Carrasvinas\" Verdejo 2024","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhen you go out to eat in any Spanish restaurant in Spain, I guarantee you that two wines will be on the list – Rioja, and this one, Felix Lorenzo’s Cachazo Carrasvinas Rueda Verdejo. It’s true!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBut you sense a fallacy. Rioja is a religion, whilst the other, with that long Spanish name, sounds like (’cause it is) a single wine. But my story is still true.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEvery restaurant in Spain, no matter its locale, will always stock a really good, deep selection of Rioja, plus local wineries. It’s kinda funny, but that’s how it is. And they are kinda insistent on the fact that Rioja is good, and local is better, and anything \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003enot\u003c\/em\u003e local (or Rioja) is crap. Except for this Verdejo. Why?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBecause of its amazingly chuggable, crushable deliciousness: spellbinding aromas of pineapple, grapefruit, white peach and kaffir lime leaf come bursting from the glass. When they first taste this wine, many people will immediately think that it’s a really good Sauvignon Blanc. But as much as Verdejo deserves its own category, this wine is a category-buster. The midpalate is vivid and crisp, continuing with flavors of honeydew melon, fennel, and white flowers. If you want to look for it, there is a real depth of character here. But I didn’t bother, I simply chugged it down – it was hot, I was thirsty, and this was delightfully thirst-quenching.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAnother reason it’s so popular in Spain: respect. Respect for the man and his family that makes it, as well as respect for its compadre price. Story time:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFelix Lorenzo is a third-generation generation winemaker, born at his family-owned winery Cachazo (founded in 1946). Back in the day, the winery produced “Amontillado-style wines.” Remember “The Cask of Amontillado?” It’s that wine. Haven’t drunk one of those in a while (nor read Edgar Allen Poe recently)? You’re not alone. While Sherry-styled wines can be great, hardly anyone—anywhere—drinks them. Felix saw this trend coming in the late 1970s and not only led his family winery to change, but the entire region as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHis new approach included winemaking techniques of preserving freshness of fruit, modern equipment to bottle and maintain the lively, crisp, gleaming distinctiveness of Verdejo, traditional techniques in the vineyard preserving their ancient heritage of now some 100-year-old vines. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eYou’ve heard this kind of of story before, because it’s one that we at Waterford seek out continually.  It’s a recipe for great wine, and this bottle proves it. In the early 1980s what Felix was doing and proposing created a sensation. However, thoughtful winemaking and careful persuasion led him to success, bringing seven other local wineries with him and founding the DO of Rueda. In a sense – although he would never claim this himself – it’s justified to say that Felix Lorenzo is the father of modern Rueda.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThat may not mean much to you, but to Spaniards it means that this guy took a region that was fading away into the scrolls of time and turned it into one of Spain’s greatest wines. And not only that, but he and his family toe the line on pricing. Tasting at their winery, my note was “rather obnoxiously underpriced.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e You’ve heard of inflation and logistical problems? Well, here is a winery where those aren’t a consideration. The quality speaks for itself in the glass. Now that’s respect we can all enjoy. Salud!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCritical acclaim:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"93 points. Medium yellow in the glass, this wine offers pineapple, passion fruit and jasmine aromas. Its gorgeous texture fills the mouth with vivid white peach, apricot preserve, orange blossom and river rock flavors with a soft hint of iodine on the post-palate. \" - Wine Enthusiast\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Misa","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43265158512873,"sku":"","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_a736856f-3621-4710-846e-e5e3f7b5562d.png?v=1657557359"},{"product_id":"comando-g-rozas-1er-cru","title":"Comando G Rozas 1er Cru","description":"","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46166305407209,"sku":"S51030","price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"pirates-del-erbo-chatxo-rioja-alavesa","title":"Piratas del Erbo Chatxo Rioja Alavesa","description":"","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47343565471977,"sku":"S26630","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"farina-bodegas-gran-colegiata-reserva-toro-copy","title":"Bodegas Farina Primero Toro","description":"","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47403029233897,"sku":"S12200","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/Website-photo_template_20240712_115308_0000.png?v=1720803383"},{"product_id":"2016-la-fluer-vivaltus","title":"2016 La Fleur Vivaltus","description":"","brand":"Syriana","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47454071128297,"sku":"","price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-9029.png?v=1719427282"},{"product_id":"solanera-vinas-viejas","title":"Solanera Viñas Viejas","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePerhaps it is possible for a “wine professional” to get jaded.  Meaning roped into the syllogism that a wine, wine region, or even a whole wine country just isn’t good enough anymore.  And then comes along Solanera, and rocks me to the core, dropping me to my knees.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSolanera, as a wine, doesn’t have a highfalutin story.  Sometime around 1999, the Castano family (pictured above) found a plot of very old vines of Mourvedre in Almansa, on the Mediterranean side of Spain. Their American importer, Eric Solomon of Priorat fame, encouraged them to build a blend, framing the Mourvedre with Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Tintorera.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eOpening with aromas of crème de cassis, kirsch, and blackberries, it seamlessly melds into an incredibly layered palate of blueberries, wet stones and spice box. Like all powerful Napa Cabernets it is muscular, having enough brawn to support its powerful fruit character. At six years old this powerful beauty is at the perfect point of muscular, fruit driven maximum expression. This bottling is from the 2015 vintage and it has been perfectly matured for you - ready to drink, with all its powerful expressive fruit characteristics on full display, its amazing right now. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSadly, it seems that the Castano family and their American importer may have recently cut ties, leaving this wine in need of a happy home. Which is perfect for us, because we've got it at an amazing discount. Take advantage now. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eCritical acclaim:\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\"92 points. In this wine, from the joint venture with U.S. importer Eric Solomon that started in 1999, they used part of full clusters and sourced the grapes from Casa Marta, a nine-hectare, head-pruned, dry-farmed plot on very stony soils in the north of Yecla at the foot of the Mount Arabí. It fermented in concrete vats and open-top barrels and matured in barrique, each variety separately, for some ten months, after which it was blended and bottled. This is the vintage of the big change in this wine, where, as with the majority of its siblings, there is better balance and more integrated oak, more freshness and better balance. The nose is quite captivating, especially after some time in the glass, when it starts developing some floral aromas, perfect ripeness, no warmth or alcohol and a powerful, yet terribly balanced palate with concentration and elegance, fine-grained tannins and clean, focused flavors. This is my favorite Solanera to date.\" - Robert Parker's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWine Advocate \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Winebow","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47493442076905,"sku":"30201442","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-9081.png?v=1719854813"},{"product_id":"matilda-nieve","title":"2020 Matilda Nieves Mencia","description":"","brand":"AVA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47589837242601,"sku":"6229","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-9243.png?v=1721853874"}],"url":"https:\/\/waterfordwine.com\/collections\/big-red-spain-10-3-24.oembed?page=2","provider":"Waterford Wine and Spirits","version":"1.0","type":"link"}