FFW 2021 Wine Catalogue

Spain

SPAIN

Spain boasts more vineyard than any other country with over 3million acres under vine, and therefore offers a huge variety of wines. The best areas are controlled and defined by the DO (Denominación de Origen) systemwhich, much like France’s Appellation d’Origine Contrôllée, ensures quality control is inflicted on every aspect, fromvineyard to wine. Some world-famous wines herald fromRioja ( CVNE , La Rioja Alta ). Named after the River (Ri) Oja, this diverse region based around the Tempranillo grape yields some very divergent wines. Many producers resort to old-school ways, whilst others adopt amodern approach using new oak barrels of 225 litres. The Crianzas require a year of ageing inwood, Reservas two years, and Gran Reservas, three years, all with additional time in bottle to conform to the DO requirements (equivalent to the French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée), so there aremany different styles of wine produced. We are wild about the wines of La Rioja Alta and their top cuvée, the 904 Gran Reserva, is mind boggling, having succeeded in gaining 96 Parker points in the 2001, 2004, 2005, and 2010 vintages (dipping to ‘only’ 95 points in 2007 and 2009). We are delighted to represent the delicious wines of Bodegas Sajazarra in the Rioja Alta, and look forward to sharing themwith you, and indeed if you are visiting the region, I know they would love to show you around. Equally a really fascinating visit can be had at La Rioja Alta, which boasts an excellent shop too, full of brilliant wine paraphernalia. Lots of temptation! Ribera del Duero neighbours Rioja and shares the same principal grape variety – themighty Tempranillo. Here the grape oftenmanifests itself in amore structured and serious fashion, and I often find the wines here are less expressive on the nose than in Rioja, but more expressive on the palate. DOwas granted in 1982 and ageing

requirements are the same as in Rioja. Again, different schools of thought exist relating to the use of oak, with certainwine-makers adopting more American oak which tends to produce a creamier texture, more vanilla and plum, while Slovenian and French oaks tend towards more subtle expression in the wines. Very often a combination of all of themare employed, thus ensuring the best of each! Of the wineries here, amongst themost celebrated are Vega-Sicilia , which we are happy to offer, and Pingus . Some fascinating white wine is made up in Galicia fromAlbarinho – youmust try our La Trucha . And on the east coast can be found the precipitous slopes of Priorat, fromwhere come some extraordinary wines from Alvaro Palacios . Spain, of course, is a wondrous place to eat and drink - Jamón Ibérico is a thing of beauty, and a wonderful accompaniment to a glass of Rioja. Saffron and olive oil are a huge part of the culinary economy, and tapas late into the evening is a fine way to spend quality time! And of course, lingering over a glass of sherry is time honoured Spanish tradition. Jerez is Spain’s first DO, created in 1933. This beautiful region in the southern region of Andalusia is famed for both Flamenco and sherry, a rather potent combination. Sherry is themost delicious and versatile of drinks, but one that has suffered image problems over the last decades. This of course means that there is tremendous value to be had, and equally some wonderful drinking all the way through from the Finos andManzanillas, which are easy quaffing, much like a glass of white, to the more oxidative, darker, nuttier Amontillados and Olorosos. Rarely do Sherries carry vintage years, as they are a blend of different years, aged in the Solera system. Julian Chamberlen

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WINE CATALOGUE