MN- Swirl Spainish Wine

SEPTEMBER 2020 WI NE CLUB

FROM ISLAND TO INLAND: Exporing The Grapes of Spain

T hink of Spanish wine, and International grape varieties probably don’t come to mind. While Cabernet, Chardonnay and others are grown on the Iberian peninsula, there are hundreds of other native varieties that set the wines apart. This month we’ll take you across the country tasting some classics and some little known varietals. From hippie natural winemakers on the Island of Mallorca to a hundreds of years old monastery in the heart of Ribera del Duero, we will explore Spanish history and culture through the lens of wine. As always, we have chosen wineries whose motivation is earth friendly, sustainable winemaking practices. Set the table, pop a cork (or two) and enjoy!

the REDS

Convento San Fransisco Roble 2018

Retail Value 19.99

[RIBERA DEL DUERO]

Convento San Francisco was founded in 1998 in a restored 13th-century monastery in the fortress town of Peñafiel. Roble is a pure expression of Tempranillo manually harvested from the old, gnarled vines of high altitude vineyards in the Ribera del Duero. This area is celebrated for its rich cultural history—a component that contributes greatly to the essence of the final wine. Roble translates to “wood” in Spanish, bearing testament to the 10-12 months of refinement in French and American oak barrels. A brilliant dark ruby in color, Roble exhibits a beautiful, perfumed nose of intense black cherry, violet, sweet spice, and leather. This wine boasts a full body with velvety tannins that develop into a long, persistent finish.

RED #1

Marqués de Griñón ‘El Rincon’ 2015

Retail Value 22.99

[DO VINOS DE MADRID]

El Rincon comes from the Falco Family of Marques de Grinon. Referred to as the father of Spanish wine, Falcó pioneered the modernization of vine growing and winemaking in Spain. Falcó graduated from the University of California Davis with a degree in viticulture and oenology in 1964. He returned home and began making wine, all the while pushing the boundaries of winemaking as set by Francoist Spain. In 1974, he introduced the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grape varieties as well as drip irrigation and night harvesting. El Rincón estate vineyard is in the region of the DO Vinos de Madrid. The family strives to capture the unique terroir in the bottle of each wine they make, and El Rincón is no exception. Here, the vines are grown in decomposed granite, which they believe lends an unmistakable elegance and precision to the final wine. The Wine is made from 100% Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet).

RED #2

Ànima Negra ‘AN2’ 2017

Retail Value 24.99

[ISLAND OF MALLORCA]

Ànima Negra was founded in 1994 when two self-taught friends decided that the wines of their native Mallorca weren’t reaching full potential. Taking advantage of some unused milk tanks at the family’s dairy farm, they made two barriques of wine from Callet grapes (a native Mallorcan varietal) they’d purchased from local farmers. Ànima Negra prioritizes natural farming and winemaking, sourcing its grapes from more than 135 carefully selected parcels of land that the partners either own or control. Virtually all of these parcels are within a six-mile radius of the winery, and most of the vines are 50 to 85 years old. This unique red is made from old vine Callet, Mantonegre-Fogoneu and Syrah fermented in a combination of stainless steel and concrete—macerated only briefly to retain the freshness and flavors of the fully ripe fruit. Aged for just over one year in a combination of 80% French barriques and 20% American oak. Deep ruby-red in color, ÀN/2 has complex aromas of savory spices, wild raspberries, dark cherry fruit and a hint of violets and smokiness. On the palate the wine is silky and elegant with intense flavors of mature fruit.

RED #3

©2020 Selected and Imported by Winebow Inc., New York, NY

Licia Albariño 2018

Retail Value 19.99

[DO RÍAS BAIXAS]

Lícia is a shortening of Galicia, the autonomía in northwest Spain known for its Celtic influence and overall greenness due to the maritime climate. This refreshing, flavorful white is made from 100% Albariño, sourced from the subzones of Condado de Tea and O Rosal in DO Rías Baixas. Situated along the border with Portugal, vineyards in these subzones benefit from the drier climate and warmer growing season. Straw yellowwith greenish hues, the Lícia Albariño has strong varietal characteristics with hints of grapefruit, candied fruit, quince jelly, notes of fresh herbs, green apples, and minerals. It is fullbodied and wellbalanced, highlighting the aromas of citrus and green apple, with a long and persistent finish.

WHITE #1

the WHITES

Ànima Negra ‘Quibia’ 2018

Retail Value 18.99

[ISLAND OF MALLORCA]

Quibia gets its name from an aspirational worry-free state of mind. The wine is the brainchild of Miquelangel Cerda and his partner, Pere Obrador celebrating the versitility of the indigenous red grape, Callet, which is the common thread through all their wines. The Callet lends texture and tartness. The Premsal adds roundness while Giro Ros gives the backbone of acidity. The three grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks followed by 4 months of lees aging. The influence of the Mediterranean sea gives this wine its salinity. The winery uses only native yeast from their vineyards to strengthen the character of the wine giving a clear voice the indigenous varieties from Mallorca. The color is an enticing straw-lemon in color with greenish highlights. Quíbia has aromas of white peach, pear, sea brine and jasmine. On the palate the wine is weighty with silky olive oil texture and concentrated flavors of ripe peach, Anjou pear and capers. Crisp, lively and well balanced.

WHITE #2

©2020 Selected and Imported by Winebow Inc., New York, NY