CONSOLACIÓN. A DELICIOUS HOTEL & RESTAURANT

BRUNUS 2008 18€

Winery: Portal del Montsant D.O./Area: D.O. Montsant Alcohol (% vol): 12.5 Grape variety: Garnacha

This is one of those rosés that are perfect for red wine lovers who sometimes fancy something fresh and different but with a certain complexity. A 100%-Garnacha rosé made with grapes from 18-year-old vineyards. 90 Parker

JO! 2008 13€

Winery: Celler Mariol D.O./Area: D.O. Terra Alta Wine type: Non-crianza white Alcohol (% vol): 13 Grape variety: 100% Verdejo

I don’t know what this land of Batea has that it can create such special people. The producer of this wine is Miguel Angel Vaquer, brother of the oenologist, and son of the winery owners. Following a stint in communications and fashion he came up with the idea of making a wine that was different, as regards taste, how it was bottled and how it was marketed. The result of this was JO!, the first single varietal Verdejo to be grown in Catalonia, and sold in an original-style bottle. At the beginning everyone doubted it so much that, rather than merely a wine, it is a proposal to live without complexes.

PORTAL 2008 14€

Winery: Vinos Piñol D.O./Area: D.O. Terra Alta Wine type: Non-crianza white Alcohol (% vol): 12.5 Grape variety: 70% White Garnacha, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Viognier, 5% Moscatel

We visited this winery in Batea, near Consolación on a windy day with no electricity, to try out their wines. We fell in love with the owner of the winery, Josefina, and with her wines too. This Portal white is really good, a combination of different varieties but predominantly the native grape, Garnacha, with delicious fruity and floral aromas with a tasty, dry flavour. 90 Parker

VENTA D’AUBERT VIOGNIER 2008 20€

Winery: Venta d'Aubert D.O./Area: Aragón - No D.O. MATARRAÑA! Wine type: Non-crianza white Alcohol (% vol): 13 Grape variety: Viognier

I like wines that tell a story of difficulty and survival and the Viognier grape variety certainly has a complicated past. Originally from the Rhône region in France it is a very delicate variety, which almost led to its disappearance in the early 60s. Now, recently rediscovered and as delicate and with as low a yield as ever, it is used to produce white wines for those who like to discover new flavours. Furthermore, the grape is grown almost on CONSOLACIÓN’s doorstep.

DIDO2008 22,5€

Winery: Venus la Universal D.O./Area: D.O. Montsant Wine type: Crianza white Alcohol (% vol): 13.5 Grape variety: White Garnacha and Macabeo Production: Short time in the barrel (4/5 months)

Many years ago, on a wine buffs’ tour of the Priorat region, José Luís Pérez, a gentleman whose name is synonymous with the Priorat, opened up his winery to us and amazed us with his expertise, his knowledge and his humility. His daughter, whom we didn´t get to meet unfortunately, seems to have inherited these incredible genes and has produced one of our favourite whites.

ANGOSTO 2008 12€

Winery: Bodegas Angosto D.O./Area: D.O. Valencia Wine type: Non-crianza white Alcohol (% vol): 12.5 Grape variety: Moscatel, Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay (in equal proportion)

Our Valencian white. On our journey through our border wines we go a little beyond Castellón because we love this wine which, as its winemaker says, is for playing at guessing riddles: which has the strongest aroma – the grassy Verdejo, the floral Chardonnay or the sweet Moscatel? If not for playing with, you can fully enjoy its complex but harmonious blend. This D.O. Valencia winery gets the highest rating in the Guía Peñin 2010 wine guide.

PARDAS 2006 27€

Winery: Celler Pardas, S.L. D.O./Area: D.O. Penedès Wine type: Crianza white Alcohol (% vol): 13.5 Grape variety: Xarel.lo Production: 6 months in French oak barrels (90%) and chestnut barrels (10%)

Another white with some history behind it. If you want to know how a spectacular wine can be made with a variety thought only appropriate for cava, and which María Teresa Campos renamed one day as Xarel-10, then you have to try this wine. Strange on the first tasting but hooks you on the second.

HERMANOS LURTON 2008 15€

Winery: Jacques & François Lurton, S.L. D.O./Area: D.O. Rueda Alcohol (% vol): 12.5 Grape variety: Verdejo Production: Selected vines with very low yield

A Verdejo is a Verdejo: frivolous, fresh, lively, fruity and fun (can a wine be fun?). Sometimes it’s a pleasure to taste this Verdejo made in Rueda by the hands of French winemakers who provide a new slant to understanding good Spanish Verdejos.

CRECIENTE 2008 15€

Winery: Viñedos Singulares D.O./Area: D.O. Rías Baixas Alcohol (% vol): 12.5 Grape variety: 100% Albariño

Creciente is the third vintage of a personal project. A 60-hectare vineyard planted exclusively with Albariño, beside the Miño river in the interior of Galicia. This wine has the best of Albariño and shows that not all Albariños have to be so astronomically expensive.

VENTUS 2005 19€

Winery: Venta D'Aubert S.L. D.O./ Area: Aragón – Bajo Aragón Alcohol (% vol): 13.5 Grape variety: 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 22% Garnacha, 6% Syrah

For us, this is the best red from this winery, with Swiss owners who love the Matarraña as much as we do. It certainly has all the ingredients to make it a red to suit all tastes, through the use of a balanced blend of the grape varieties our palates have become accustomed to.

CAMINS DEL PRIORAT 2007 24€

Winery: Álvaro Palacios D.O./Area: D.O.Ca. Priorat Alcohol (% vol): 14 Grape variety: 50% Samsó, 40% Garnacha, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz

Álvaro Palacios will try anything. With grapes from the most important areas in the Priorat, he has produced a young wine of only eight months in the barrel, recommended for drinking now in order to savour the full taste of the grapes. Like a little taste of Priorat, enclosed in essence in a beautiful bottle.

LAS ROCAS DE SAN ALEJANDRO 2008 14€

Winery: Bodegas San Alejandro D.O./Area: D.O. Calatayud Wine type: Crianza red Alcohol (% vol): 14 Grape variety: 100% Garnacha

Let’s not fool ourselves, if it weren´t for one of the most reputable wine distributors from the US turning up one day at this winery in Calatayud and buying the entire production of this wine, we would never have gotten to even sample it. But we were lucky. A wine for the hard-to-please, who don´t want anyone to fool them by masking the flavours of our area’s excellent Garnacha grape. Go on, try it!

LUDOVICUS 2008 12€

Winery: Celler Piñol D.O./Area: D.O. Terra Alta Wine type: Crianza red Alcohol (% vol): 13.5 Grape variety: 35 % Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo, 25% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

We would be deluding ourselves if we told you that we chose this wine because it has the same name as our dog, the most fantastic animal in the world, a cocker spaniel who has shared our lives for the past 12 years. This fact alone would not be enough. We´re talking here about an extraordinary wine that, without losing the full strength of each one of its grapes, spends a short but interesting time in the barrel. Yet another Ludovicus to enjoy in our lives! 90 Parker

ORERO SELECCIÓN 2006 15€

Winery: Masía de la Hoya D.O./Area: Vins de la Terra de Castelló Wine type: Crianza red Alcohol (% vol): 13 Grape variety: Tempranillo and Merlot

There are some initiatives that deserve general applause. It’s not easy producing a wine in an area as little known in the sector as Castellón is and daring to do so after only seven years is certainly worthy of praise. This beautiful estate in the fantastic surroundings of the Segorbe boasts a truly special production. This red, highly rated in all the guides and said to have a certain magic, is a pleasant surprise and proof that work well done has its reward.

LA TRIBU 2008 12€

Winery: Bodega El Angosto D.O./Area: D.O. Valencia Wine type: Crianza red Alcohol (% vol): 14 Grape variety: Monastrell and Syrah

Once again, coincidence led us to a wine. The Angosto white that we had already decided on came with some bottles of red from the same winery, two of which were selected by Peñin as the best of Valencian DOs. But we preferred the third one, the La Tribu, a blend of Monastrell (the more Valencian grape) and Syrah, which surprises with each mouthful.

ABADÍA RETUERTA SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL 2006 27€

Winery: Abadía Retuerta D.O./Area: No D.O. - Castilla y León Alcohol (% vol): 14 Grape variety: 75% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot Production: 18 months (in French and American oak)

A Special Selection as it’s made from the best grapes from the vineyards of this already legendary and rebellious winery. I must admit I’ve never been keen on Abadía Retuerta wines but I’ll have to swallow my words on this one and just enjoy it. How great it is to be surprised and to allow yourself to break down your prejudices!

CUATRO PASOS 2007 15€

Winery: Martín Codax D.O./Area: D.O. Bierzo Alcohol (% vol): 14 Grape variety: 100% Mencía Production: After vinification it spends 2 months in French and American oak

Don’t expect a crianza, this is a young wine with all that that entails. For one of those days when we don’t want anything to be hidden from us and we want to appreciate the flavour of such a powerful grape as Mencía. Wild as a bear that has left its tracks in the vineyards, it provided the inspiration for the name and the illustration on the wine’s label.

BARON DE OÑA 2004 19€

Winery: Torre Oña S.A. D.O./Area: D.O. Rioja (Álava) Alcohol (% vol): 13 Grape variety: Tempranillo and some Mazuelo from the vineyards of Pago de San Martín. Production: Matured 2 years in French and American oak

A Rioja classic from a winery started up by a Cuban and which now forms part of the Rioja Alta group. It’s a really good reserva, with an excellent quality-price ratio. One of those classics where you close your eyes and it reminds you of your first glass of wine in your parents’ house.....but without them and with a bottle robbed from the winery!

REMELLURI RESERVA 2004 26€

Winery: Remelluri D.O./Area: D.O.C. Rioja Alcohol (% vol): 13.7 Grape variety: 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 5% Garnacha

If you don’t want to take any chances today, if you want everything to be nicely rounded and to appreciate a well-made classic wine then forget about the rest of the list and go for a bottle of this Remelluri 2004. A difficult vintage in which only the best show what they are really worth.

ALLENDE 2004 26€

Winery: Finca Allende D.O./Area: D.O.C. Rioja Alcohol (% vol): 13.5 Grape variety: 100% Tempranillo

Robert Parker, wine guru where wine is grown, gives it a 92. It’s an exceptional score for any wine but almost miraculous for a Rioja at this price. Ask us to open a bottle for you, let it breathe a while, and then you’re ready to taste one of those wines that make you understand why Rioja wines are so successful.

CASA GUALDA - Plus Ultra 2005 16€

Bodega: Ntra. Sra. de la Cabeza
D.O./Zona: D.O. Ribera del Júcar
Graduación (% vol): 13.5
Varietales: Petit Verdot y Bobal

Nos gusta probar vinos elaborados con variedades fuera de lo común. La Bobal una uva autóctona de las zonas levantinas y la Petit Verdot, una variedad cada vez más en auge y como su propio nombre indica originaria de Francia. Parker le da a este vino 90 puntos y al probarlo no te deja indiferente.

CASA GUALDA- Syrah 2007 12€

Winery: Ntra. Sra. de la Cabeza D.O./Area: D.O. Ribera del Júcar Alcohol (% vol): 13 Grape variety: Syrah

We came across this wine one day with friends in Inòpia and the truth is we thought it was pretty good. It’s not easy to make a great single varietal wine from Syrah and this Casa Gualda, although not among these, strongly shows all the expressive power (the colour is fabulous) of this variety.

ROSAT TREPAT 2007 21€

Disgorgement date: April 2009 Winery: Agusti Torello Mata D.O./Area: D.O. Cava (Catalonia) Alcohol (% vol): 11.5 Grape variety: 100% Trepat

AGUSTÍ TORELLÓ MATA BRUT RESERVA 2007 18€

Disgorgement date: June 2009 Winery: Agustí Torelló S.A. D.O./Area: D.O. Cava (Catalonia) Alcohol (% vol): 11.5 Grape variety: 46% Macabeo, 26% Xarel-lo, 28% Parellada

BERTHA 2007 19€

Disgorgement date: March 2009 Winery: Josep Torres Sibill D.O./Area: D.O. Cava (Catalonia) Alcohol (% vol): 11.5 Grape variety: 50% Macabeu, 30% Xarel•lo, 20% Parellada Production: Traditional method

ANDRÉ CLOUET 36€

Winery: André Clouet D.O./Area: Champagne Country: France Alcohol (% vol): 12 Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir Production: Made in the terroir of Bouzy. 36 months in a cave of 10 metres depth. Manually stirred and disgorged

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