Alfredo Arribas, That Old Black Magic in DOQ Priorat

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

339/365 – Catalonia – DOQ Priorat – Priorat – Clos del Portal – Negre de Negres 2012

That Old Black Magic……..,

Negre de Negres 2012, Garnacha Tinta, Carignena, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah

Down and down I go, round and round I go, like a leaf that’s caught in a tide….., Black Magic is found in abundance in this Super Catalan that Alfredo Arribas had created by most probably using magic? This is a wine that shouldn’t exist, at least not in this region, because it defies all sensory logics when it comes to what the Priorat region equals and what wines from here in general are all about. Even the price is magical, an absolute value for money! And that, my friends, is why it is a Super Catalan.

Lovely, intense, dark cherry color. Clean and Bright. Nice slow tears. Intense and fresh aromas. A great background with notes of herbs and carob, it…

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Vins Padró, Turn me on in D.O. Tarragona

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

147/365 – Catalonia – D.O. Tarragona – Brafim – Vins Padró – Ipsis 2012

Turn me on……

The winery was founded in 1898 by the brothers, Joan and Daniel Padró Valldosera, though old documents which have been unearthed prove that wine had certainly been grown here for a long time before that. The history of Vins Padró spans five generations, through which the work and dedication of their ancestors has survived and continues to this day. Now the new generation is in charge of contributing its knowledge and applying it to making wine and the cultivating the vines.

Over the yeas they have managed to improve and adapt the existing facilities, adding the latest wine making technology to produce high-quality wines. Ageing takes place in American and French oak casks. Since 1960 they have been bottling the wines in a plant set up at their own winery. Crianza wines are made with the…

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Satisfy My Soul and 15 Delicious Reds from Catalonia!

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

412 – 426/365 – Catalonia – 15 Delicious Reds

Satisfy My Soul……….,

I haven’t quite decided what to write about tomorrow and I can’t really say what I am going to do with the blog in 2015. That it will continue, in one way or the other, is clear and I am thinking that I might post once a week and then only do videos, as to change the theme somewhat. As for New Years Eve…., there will be wine, that’s for sure and there will be Cava, no Champagne! So, I’ll either do a piece on a good red or a Cava, or why not both? Catch me tomorrow and you’ll see, but whatever it is, it will Satisfy My Soul and hopefully yours as well! Thank you Bob! And now for some of the great reds from Catalonia! Enjoy!

La Llopetera, 100% Pinot Noir

Just the fact…

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Cooperativa Vila-Rodona, Sweetest Thing in D.O. Tarragona

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

169/365 – Catalonia – D.O. Tarragona – Vila-Rodona – Cooperativa Vila-Rodona – Vi Ranci

Sweetest Thing….

Vi Ranci, fortified wine

The color is glossy, mahogany brown. Nose shows light alcohol, pickled fruits in liquor, nuts, spices, cocoa bean. The mouth is powerful, slightly sweet, sour with good acidity. A very dry white wine aged over a long period in oak casks, it is a typical product of this appellation of origin D.O. Tarragona. Its distinctive bouquet and flavour make this a perfect wine to accompany sweet desserts. To enjoy at its best, serve at around 9°C.

The Agricultural Cooperative of Vila-Rodona is now an association of various local agricultural cooperatives forming part of the Appellation d’Origen Tarragona, and situated right in the middle of the Cistercian Route, just next to the Santes Creus Monastery. Founded in 1919, the cooperative wine cellar, of modernistic style, the work of the Valls architect Cèsar Martinell, is of significant architectural interest…

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Castillo de Perelada, Bom Dia, Boa Tarde, Boa Noite Amor in D.O. Emporda

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

118/365 – Catalonia – D.O. Emporda – Perelada – Castillo de Perelada – La Garriga 2010

Bom Dia, Boa Tarde, Boa Noite Amor………

…., good morning, good day, good night my Love, in Castillo de Perelada you’ll have the opportunity to say all three, spending a couple of days here is a minimum and the best way to get here is by vintage car. If you, like me, choose a vintage Alfa Romeo, you get a bonus! If you get hold of a rare Hispano-Suiza, I’ll personally treat you to a two night stay at the castle! 248 km. or two and a half hours is the distance/time it takes us to travle by car from yesterdays small castle to Perelada, but once here, you can relax and enjoy, why not start with one of their Cavas!

1924 Hispano-Suiza H6 C Dubonnet ‘Tulipwood’ Torpedo

Miguel Mateu was a unique person. He was born…

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Almond blossom, Spring Fever in DOQ Priorat

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

69/365 – Catalonia – DOQ Priorat – Priorat – Clos Figueras – Clos Figueres 2004

Spring fever….,

…., spring is everywhere, love is in the air! Short one today. Have a wine tasting to get ready for tonight and kind of in a hurry! Won’t be any Catalan wines, as it is a tasting of 4 wines from other amazing wine making areas of the world. Tuscany, Douro, Central Coast and Mendoza will be represented!

The beautiful village of Porrera!

Sorry, but you’ll have to be there to know which wines they are, and what they taste. Only Catalonia is covered on this blog. But, anyhow, I hope you enjoy the pictures of Priorat in bloom and my tasting notes of one of my absolute favorites from the area!

Almonds blossoming straight out of the Licorella!

Does it get more beautiful? Only thing missing is a bottle of wine!

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Caves Recaredo, Together in D.O. Cava

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

268/365 – Catalonia – D.O. Cava – Sant Sadurni d’Anoia – Caves Recaredo – Recaredo Turó d‘en Mota 2002

Together……..,

Recaredo Turó d‘en Mota 2002, 100% Xarel.lo

Straw yellow colour, very bright and clean. The bubble rise steadily forming a very thin crown. Surprising with its great intensity, expressiveness, complexity after such long ageing. Very cool, with lots of ripe fruit, especially citrus, interspersed with soft and delicate roasted nuts. Subtle mineral background.  A seductive Cava. A Cava which fills the mouth with total expression, intensity, elegance. Very thin, with a long dry run, nuanced and very fresh. Carbonic perfectly integrated. Full harmony, lively, very nice. Extraordinarily long after taste.

Turo d’en Mota represents the elegance of simplicity: a single vineyard, single variety per each vintage and very limited production. It is a champagne terroir in the broadest sense, ie, with the expression of limestone, Mediterranean microclimate and Xarel·lo…

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Pascona Pirate Party, Drink Up Me Hearties in Falset

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

136/365 – Catalonia – D.O. Costers del Segre – Battliu de Sort – Borda de Cebria – Biu Blanc 2012

Drink Up Me Hearties…..,

….., “Drink up me hearties, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me! A toast to piracy and its many shiny rewards. As a career, what could be more rewarding?”  Are YOU in your happy place? Your office? My happy place is  my office! Yesterday, this was the best party to be at, only wish that all of you scallawag goat-herders were here!

This is my office, or one of many office spaces I occupy. Welcome to my life! Where is the best place to be on a Thursday afternoon? Right here in my office! This time in Falset, Pascona Montsant Estate, where Toni hosted a Pirate party, with a twist?

Well yes, since the rum wasn’t flowing bit the wine…

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I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas!

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

381 – 395/365 – Catalonia – 15 Selected Great Whites

I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas!………,

The end is nigh and so I recap on some of my favorite wines from Catalonia. The whites below are a few of many excellent wines found in my neck of the woods and in no particular order. As you might know, if you have been following my blog, I don’t give scores and so shall it remain. Just some good wine to enjoy on your own or with friends! Have a great Saturday and make sure you have something nice in your glass!

Nun Vinya dels Taus 2013, 100% Xarel.lo

One of the most elegant and impressive wines, all categories, I have and the good fortune to try this year. Attractive yellow color with delicate gold reflections. Clean and bright. Glyceric tears. My first impression was that of indecisiveness, I couldn’t get my…

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Sicus, Bang Bang in D.O Penedes

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

87/365 – Catalonia – D.O. Penedes – Bonastre – Sicus, Terrers Mediterranis – Sons 2012

Bang Bang…..,

…., if I haven’t been shot down by now, I don’t mind being shot anytime from now. This might be the most unique wine I have ever tried. Not the best, not the best elaboration but the combination of elaboration, location, wine maker skills and the amphoras! Wine have been made in, transported in and kept in amphoras for ages, what is nice to see, is the return of such an ancient vessel, and what a return!

Massis de Bonastre 100%, Rocks! Sicus Rocks! And the winemaker, Eduard Pie Rocks! It is not only Massis de Bonastre 100% it is also 100% crazy and 100% likable, it is a massive wine and I’m fortunate, lucky and very happy to have consumed bottle number 75 out of 300 produced. This kind of wine should…

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