Piñol Winery, This Is Halloween in D.O. Terra Alta

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

326/365 – Catalonia – D.O. Terra Alta – Batea – Piñol Winery of Terra Alta – Raig Raïm Red 2011

This Is Halloween……..,

….., or is it? Halloween is celebrated in Catalonia, and even though the children go trick or treating and make Jack O’Lanterns etc. the Catalans have their own tradition as well, eating Chestnuts in amazing quantities. It is known as The Castanyada, celebrated in Catalonia and Galicia respectively, mainly on All Saints’ Day. Like Halloween or the Celtic Samhain, its origins are in an ancient ritual festival of the dead. 

From Wikipedia

“In Catalonia consists of a meal of chestnuts, panellets, sweet potato and preserved fruits, typically with moscatell to drink. Around the time of this celebration, it is common for street vendors to sell hot toasted chestnuts wrapped in newspaper. In many places, confectioners often organise raffles of chestnuts and preserved fruit.

It seems that the tradition of eating these foods comes from the fact that during All Saints’ night, the night before All Souls’ Day in the Christian tradition, bell ringers would ring bells in commemoration…

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Singular Wine by Cal Batlle and Celler Mas Candi, The Way of the Future in D.O. Penedes

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

320/365 – Catalonia –D.O. Penedes – Viticulture by Cal Batlle & Elaboration by Mas Candi – El Vesper de la Gloriosa 2013

The Way of the Future……,

El Vesper de la Gloriosa 2013, 50% Xarel.lo and 50% Macabeu

This is NOT a Cava,this is a Sparkling wine produced using the “Ancestral Method”. Pale yellow color with soft green iridescence, constant bubbles and a fine steady flow. On the nose there are aromas of white fruit (pear), hints of citrus (lemon) which provides a very refreshing background. Some creamy notes of pastries, brioche, soft nuts (almonds), presence of yeast with hints of warm bread and croissant, a touch of herbs. Pleasant coolness during its entry, tasty overall presence with fresh and ripe white fruit, light touch of a bitter taste, dried fruit notes, good acidity, spacious, light creaminess. Refreshing sparkly. Long and a aftertaste of white fruit and some citrus.

Ancestral;

adj.

1.

pertaining to

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Bodegas Roura, You Sent Me Flying in D.O. Alella

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

302/365 – Catalonia – D.O. Alella – Alella – Bodegas Roura – “Tres Ceps” 2006

You Sent Me Flying……..,

“Tres Ceps” 2006, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah

Cherry to ruby red color, bright surface and garnet rim. Elegant ageing aroma, candied fruit with some creamy oak notes, sweet/oriental spices and a background of roasted touches. Good intensity. Spicy. Sweet-toothed on the palate, very flavorful,fruity and meaty. Good balance between acidity-tannins. Velvety, with a large after taste and good persistance. Would need some nice cured meats, game and/or creamy cheeses. A red winner from Alella!

This is a region which used to be renowned around the world for high quality wines and I for one know that to be the case nowadays as well. I am discovering new wine cellars in this urban region, where some wineries have their vineyards amongst houses of the  small towns in the area. Certainly a…

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L’infernal, Combier, Fischer y Gerin, Mama Roux in DOQ Priorat

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

357/365 – Catalonia – DOQ Priorat – Torroja del Priorat – Trio Infernal – L’infernal Fons Clar 2012

Mama Roux……,

L’infernal Fons Clar 2012, 100% Cariñena

Purple red color with dark cherry red edge. Lovely, seductive and elegant nose of mature red and black fruit. Black fruit jam, nice roasted notes, balsamic and Mediterranean herbs. Mineral and spicy background. In the mouth it is juicy, concentrated, but quite soft. Greedy and persistent. Good structure. Very pleasant and highly drinkable. 100% Carignan from vines aged between 10 -12 years, planted on slopes facing west. at an altitude of between 300-500 meters above sea level. Aged for 12 months in oak barrels.

…., if you haven’t watched Treme, the series, you should! Likenesses in the culture of New Orleans, the food and the music can be, with imagination, related to the Priorat wines. They carry the same kind of Ooh Poo Pah Doo, makes…

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Celler Mas Llunes, Samba para Vinicius in D.O. Emporda

Catalan wine in a nutshell!

292/365 – Catalonia – D.O. Emporda – Garriguella – Celler Mas Llunes – Emporion 2006

Samba para Vinicius……..,

Emporion 2006, 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Syrah

Garnet colour, lovely depth, quite dense and dark. Intense aroma of balsamic and spices, mature fruits of the forest, red mature fruits, the oak is very well-integrated. Some raspberry. On the palate it is tasty, powerful, round and full bodied, well constructed, elegant and balanced. First taste reminded me of milk chocolate. The tannins are ripe and the after taste is long and fruity. A red favorite from the Emporda!

Emporion is the name of the oldest Greek colony, founded by the Phoenicians, now called Ampuries, where we can find the oldest viticulture references regarding the wines on the Iberian Peninsula, dating back to VI century BC and this is where the name Emporda derives from, which indentifies the region and the ‘Denominacion de Origen’, the appellation of Emporda. The…

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