Don Quixote Invades San Diego with the Wines from La Mancha!
On July 9th, Don Quixote invaded Balboa Park San Diego with his Castilla-La Mancha US Tour 2012. Twenty-six of the best wineries from La Mancha poured their wines for the San Diego trade. Along with the traditional tasting, Karen MacNeil (author of the Wine Bible) hosted an informative seminar about the wines and terroir of La Mancha, Spain.
I have decided to make this post more like the way that I learn. For those that know me, I will doodle throughout our operations meetings. It might seem that I am not paying attention; however, I tend to soak up the information a whole lot better. So today I present to you the wines of La Mancha through (my doodles), as I listened to Karen MacNeil’s seminar. Enjoy!
“If the grape talks louder than the place,
then it’s not a very good place”
-Karen MacNeil
8 Comments
CPlummer
Good notes, almost felt like I was there
Maurice
Thanks, The wines were really cool. I was a big fan of the un-oaked tempranillo. Later at the tasting there was a Graciano that was also very good. Unfortunately the majority of these wines are still trying to make it into the States.
Bernard Kenner
Very interesting. I was at the east coast version in NY, hosted by Doug Frost.
The line up at the seminar was completely different, and included some Tempranillo/Bobal blend. And several 100% Bobal at the walk around. A cross between iron rust and sanguinity. No Arien, which I wanted to try, seeing that it represents about 60% of the Mancha’s production and it gets turned into lots of brandy, used just about everywhere to fortify everything.
A Spanish wine agent contacted me to help him produce a trade event here (NY) July 30th for importers and distributers – featuring wines from La Mancha (Bodega Alcardet and Bodega Jesus Recuero), Toro (Bodega Valbusenda), Ribera del Duero (Bodega Benito Rodrigo) and Rias Baixas (Adegas Castrocelta.) The Alcardet Brut Reserva is one that will be poured. I haven’t tried it yet, samples are in transit as of now. They also have one with edible gold flecks and an organic as well. Not a clue about the others as of now.
Maurice
From what I hear, they were going to show different wines at each seminar. I wish there was more Bobal at the San Diego tasting, since it is one of the most important red grapes in the region. Did you try the Gracianos? Really cool stuff. I’ve seen many Riojas use Graciano, one or two doing 100% but never from another Spanish region. I hope the invasion was a success. I’m always excited to see different wine regions, especially if they taste this good.
Milagros
El testaje es muy acertado.
Hay un vino en especial que es algo impresionante. Es el catalogado por ti en su cata como excelente y la marca es AURUMRED.
Nunca probado algo igual. Coincido con tigo.
Maurice
El Aurum Red es muy bueno,, pero caro…$500. Tambien tienen un Sauvignon Blanc que me soprendio! No tiene el sabor de Sauvignon Blanc. Tiene cuerpo, textura y todavia tiene buena acidez. Si tienes la oportunidad de probar, lo debes de hacer.
Bernard Kenner
It is over a year later…was checking something else and this thread came up.To answer your question, have had many gracianos, but more from Navarra. They remind me of Cab Franc. I’ve since had a few Airen, as well. I hope you have seen some Bobal…more interesting than Airen, to be sure…but I ‘m more a red person.
Maurice
Yes, you are right Bobal is an interesting grape. I have been seeing it more and more on wine lists. Airen, not so much.