Priorat

Unmistakable!! The style of Capcanes in the Montsant. The other evening we only wanted a glass each to enjoy with a movie and I grabbed the last 0,375l bottle of Costers del Gravet 2003 from Capcanes, it´s really at it´s best point.

Brand: Costers del Gravet

Winery: Capcanes

Vintage: 2003

Varietal: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Garnacha, 20% Cariñena

Winemaking: temperature controlled fermentation (27º C - 29º C with natural yeast), maceration for 14 - 21 days, all varieties vinified separately. Malolactic fermentation started in tank and finished in barrel, after blending aged for 3 months in tank before bottling. 12 months in new oak, after this 12 months in old barriques (mainly French).
Alcohol: 14%Average

Price: € 15,00 (for a 0,75l bottle)

Tasting Notes: elegant and complex, rich nose of red cherries, but also dark fruit, wonderfully integrated cocoa and vanilla flavors. Rich also in body, great sweet tannins and suprisingly “cool” fruit, perfect freshness and length.

Drink now through 2014

Food Pairing Suggestions: red meat slightly marinated, grilled vegetables, new potatoes with olive oil and rosemary

General rating: 4 tastevins - Categories: Authentic, expresses extremely well it´s terroir and region

Winery notes: the winery has grown to be a symbol for the entire region… Capcanes already existed before the Phylloxera which devastated the densely planted area entirely at the turn of the 19th century. After the plague about one fifth of the former plantation was replanted and some of those vines still exist today, many of them are 100 years old now. The Cellar Capcanes as it is known today was founded in 1933, at that time a change was needed to compete in a completely different wine market. Five families from the village collaborated in order to handle large quantities of wine economically and efficiently and formed the Coop. Until the end of the 80-ties wine was sold in bulk, although over the years people recognized more and more the amazing quality of the grapes grown in the Priorat area. In 1995 the real change came: the Cooperative Capcanes was asked by the Jewish Community of Barcelona to make Kosher wine. This demanded the installation of new equipment etc. The ground was laid for not only production of kosher wines but in general for wines of extremely high quality.

Pinot Noir

I had given up on finding great Pinot Noirs in Argentina. At least I never really found the style that I personally like (smooth structure, earthy silky mouthfeel with aromas of strawberry style, lush but still complex, not missing the freshness) , so here is the absolute exception, so excited about it!!
Brand: Mudai
Winery: Palo Alto
Vintage: 2006
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Winemaking: traditional winemaking method with long fermentation and maceration (29 days) in steel tanks (use of selective yeasts). 100% of the wine is then aged in new French (60%) and American (40%)oak barrels for 3 months. Winemaker is Luis Martinez. Only 4000 bottles made!!
Alcohol: 13%
Average Price: € 15,00
Tasting Notes: aromas are beautifully present from the beginning: strawberries, blackberries, a soft earthy note as well as a bit of smoke, and what I completely love about it …. hints of orange peel which gives it a fresh touch! This same complexity and freshness is repeated on the palate, well combined with rich red fruit and presenting a wonderful soft structured, velvety ending. And the alcohol is not even that high. Wow, the bottle was empty so quick…

Drink now through 2011

Food Pairing Suggestions: had a glass of it yesterday with some Brie cheese and it was a damn good combination. The wine just cleared out the palate entirely , no problems at all with the sticky texture of the cheese, the fruity flavors were delicious with the creamy flavors, dream team!
General rating: 4 tastevins - Categories: Fun sit down bottle:-)
Winery notes: Inside an old winery in Maipú with cane ceilings, adobe walls and long subterranean cellars obtained from former tanks, the latest technology being used is surprising. A modern mobile crusher, temperature controlled stainless steel tanks and first use oak barrels are the tools available to the enologist Luis Martinez who specialized at wineries in California. The first vintage was in 2004 and the winery counts with vines up to 35 years old.

Zind-Humbrecht 'Clos Hauserer' Riesling 2006

Winery: Zind-Humbrecht

Vintage: 2006

Appellation: Alsace (Clos Hauserer)

Varietal: Riesling

Oak: No

Average Price: €40

Tasting notes: Very intense ripe yellow color. This is a very classic Riesling. You pick up flowers, honey, fresh nuts and elderflower. The taste is rich with a hint of Riesling sweetness, but the overall attack is pleasantly dry. One of my favorite Rieslings in the world.

Food Pairing Suggestions: I tried this with Cauliflower crème and scallops – and it was very memorable. I think though, that I will spend the most of my summer in Kings Garden (Copenhagen) with a bottle or three, my closest friends and family – and some shellfish. If you ever come by, call me and I will invite you over.

Winery Notes: Domaine Zind-Humbrecht is a very special Domaine. This wine is made from the Clos Hauserer part of the famous Grand Cru vineyard of ‘Hengst’. The Domaine is very strict biodynamic, and all their wines are very enjoyable. Try every wine in their range – the Pinot Gris and Gewurz are also among the best in the world.

Rating: (3 out of 5) Party!

Cava at its best

Pares Baltà, Blanca Cusinè Brut 2006, Penedès

Simon Juhl Olesen is a 24 year old Sommelier from Denmark. He currently works in the heart of Copenhagen, in the restaurant Le Sommelier. All his gastronomic education was gathered in Spain, where he has lived most of his life. The last two years before coming to Denmark he was a teacher/Restaurant chef in a restaurant school “La Fonda” in the south of Spain. He also spent time in the 1 star Michelin restaurant Guggenheim in Bilbao. Among other things he is a three time winner of the Andalusian championship for Sommeliers and in top 10 Spanish Sommelier. In his free time he enjoys playing golf if the weather allows it. If you want to contact him you can do so on: simonjolesen@gmail.com

Winery: Pares Baltà

Vintage: 2006

Appellation: D.O Penedes

Varietal: 59.5 % Chardonnay. 40.5 % Pinot Noir

Ageing: The Pinot Noir goes through the malolactic fermentation and then 2 month ageing with the lees. The Chardonnay stays on stainless steel tanks. The second fermentation in bottle goes on for 26 month.

Average Price: 15 €

Tasting Notes: Yellow color with golden tints. On the nose complex and subtle aroma with delicate notes of almonds, hazelnuts, honey and prickly pear. In the mouth it is fresh and round. Notes of preserved fruit together with flavors of almonds and honey. Long and complex finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions: This Cava can be enjoyed as the welcoming drink with the typical spanish tapas like the Iberico ham and Manchego cheese. Used in a menu, I would pair this great Cava with something tasteful and with a natural sweetness. For example; Roasted Scallops with a carrot pure white asparagus and a lobster bisque.

Winery Notes: Pares Balta was started in 1790, when the first wine plants were planted. In 1978 the bodega was bought by Joan Cusinè Hill. Joan Cusinè Cusinè, son of Joan Cusinè Hill took over after his dad and today there is the second generation running the bodega. Grandsons Joan and Josep Cusinè Carol brought a more modern aspect to the bodega and to the Penedes area.

Vintage Notes: 2006- After a normal autumn and winter concerning rain and temperatures, the spring was extremely dry, this only made the plants stronger and better. The summer was very hot as usual. The result of a very hot year was that the fruits maturation was slightly advanced.

Battle of the First Growths

David Grega is a certified sommelier and wine consultant living in the Napa Valley; In addition David is the consulting winemaker and national sales manager for Carlotta Cellars. For more information e-mail david@carlottawines.com


Wearing my favorite Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran T-shirt, I find my self staring down at two glasses of deep ruby red wine. A battle in itself was about to ensue. The 2000 Chateau Margaux vs. 2000 Chateau Latour in a battle to the death, or should I say digestion! I learned a lot about these wines while tasting them over a one hour period. My initial thoughts were that the Latour was much more impressive and dense, and I felt that the Margaux was a bit lack luster on the palate but showed impressive aromatics. Over the next hour both wines saw improvement with the Margaux gaining ground on the Latour. The Margaux began to really show it true colors, this is a wine about aroma and flavor, there were layers of complex aromatics and tons of fantastic tastes to discover on the palate. There is a certain grace to Margaux that I don't believe is matched by anyone else. The Latour stayed true to its pauillac Cabernet roots. This wine was dense and full of classic Cabernet backbone. The structure and quality of fruit were impressive to say the least. The Chateau Latour made a clear statement of pedigree and position among the greatest in Bordeaux and quite possibly the world. These wines do require a lot of thought to get the most out of them but I find that an equal amount of humor is required too. I was happy to be enjoying such wonderful wines and made it a point to laugh, enjoy, and relax to better savor the moment. Grand wines deserve adoration but it's important to remember that having fun with it is just as much apart of the enjoyment of wine as tasting. Notes to follow:

2000 Chateau Latour- A layered and complex nose full of blackberry, rhubarb and plumb aromas followed by hints of black raspberry, vanilla and a touch of caramel. The palate is bold and impressive. Sporting a seriously complex mid palate of ripe baked fruits and long well structured finish, this wine has made a statement. I AM THE BEST AND I'LL ONLY IMPROVE WITH TIME.
Rating: 4.5 of 5 (Sit down wine, Classic wine, Special occasion wine)


2000 Chateau Margaux- A truly ethereal nose of lavender, black cherry and ripe strawberry complemented by hints of oak spice and vanilla shortbread. On the palate More succulent red and black fruit flavors with floral complexities and well balanced, beautifully structured, mouth feel. This wine is powerful and elegant at the same time, what a lovely treat.
Rating: 4 of 5 (Classic wine, Special occasion wine)