Award Murviedro Rosado 2006, 2006 Viñamalata Blanco Blanco Suave, 2006 Vermador Ecológico Monastrell, Laudum Barrica 2002, 2005 Sequiot Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Baronia Seleccion de la Familia Tempranillo Merlot, Pontos Cepa 50, Castillo Hermoso Reserva 2004, Vega Libre Reserva 2004, Corolilla Crianza 2004, 2006 Torre Del Reloy Rosado
Here is what the 2007 Decanter Wine Awards had to say about the wines from the Comunidad Valenciana that they commended:
Bodegas Enguera Dis-Tinto 2006 Valencia, Spain (Red) Ruby red. Slightly confected nose but some lovely fruit. Nice meaty fruit, good weight and nice fruity finish. Drink from now. UK price: £4.99 Raisin Social
Bodegas Enguera Megala 2005 Valencia, Spain (Red) Ruby. Big powerful nose, liquorice fruit and pepper. Big fruit, damson, and well rated tannins. Drink from now. UK price: £9.99 Raisin Social
Castillo de Anna Gran Reserva 2001 Valencia, Spain (Red) Broad cherry fruit, hint of vanilla, pleasant. Complex, full bodied style, well balanced cherry fruit, well integrated oak, very good value. Drink from now. UK price: £6.99
Castillo de Requena Red 2006 Valencia, Spain (Red) Ruby, clear. Attractive, bright fruit nose, some smoke and spice. Ripe, soft fruit, juicy. Well balanced, quite simple but well done and very good for price. Drink from now to one year. UK price: £4.49
Covi Valencia, Spain (Rose) Mid pink. Red berries on nose. Off-dry, good body. Drink from now. UK price: £2.99 ADI
Dominio De La Peseta CRIANZA 2004 Valencia, Spain (Red) Smoky, blackberries on nose. Strong, earthy, dry and medium tannins, spiciness n medium palate, long. Drink from 2009. UK price: £6.99 Anthony Byrne Fine Wines Ltd US price: $14.00 DIVINO GLOBAL IMPORTS (Orlando
HISPANO-SUIZAS IMPROMPTU SAUVIGNON BLANC 2006 Valencia, Spain (White) Pale lemon. Smoky notes on nose. Ripe apples, smooth style and oily finish. Drink from now.
Murviedro Estrella Rosado NV Valencia, Spain (Rose) Ripe juicy raspberry colour. Rose petal and raspberry sherbet nose. Hint of sweet lemon and honey.
Torre Oria Riesling Reserve 2006 Valencia, Spain (Rose??) Nice mouthful, racy character, quite full. Will develop petrolly character quite rapidly. Should be a belter to quaff in 12-8 months. Do not cellar.
Torroja Sybarus 2006 Valencia, Spain (White) Light lemon yellow. Pronounced, fresh, intense nose of pear drop with aromatic notes. Dry, crisp, balanced with lovely clean white fruit, very refreshing. Drink from now.
2001 Primitivo Quiles Raspay Tinto 'Brut' (Alicante) $20 – 90 points ($22; 100% monastrell) "Light red. Open-knit, smoky red berry and cherry aromas are complicated by vanilla, tobacco and minerals. Sweet strawberry and kirsch flavors display an intriguing delicacy and focus, with a seductively creamy texture. The lush, sweet finish features impressive energy and length. This is drinking very well now."
1948 Primitivo Quiles Fondillon Solera (Alicante) $60 – 93 points ($69; 100% monastrell) Amber color. Explosively aromatic nose shows an intriguing bouquet of cherry, strawberry preserves, maple, floral honey and smoked meat. Very dry in style, with powerful red berry flavors, a sappy texture, and vaguely oxidized, nutty qualities. Just when you think it's a sherry style, the exuberant red fruit snaps back hard. The impressively persistent finish strongly emphasizes strawberry and raspberry. Intriguing, utterly singular wine; it ought to be fun to pair this with food. I say blue cheese.
2004 Pago del Molino Arras de Bobal (Utiel-Requena) – 91points ($62) Ruby-red. Complex bouquet evokes spicy cherry, cassis, rhubarb and fresh rose. Firm and broad-shouldered, with deep red and dark berry flavors supported by smoky minerality. Gains sweetness on the impressively precise, long finish. Serious stuff, and built to age.
NV Dominio de la Vega Arte Mayor Tinto (Utiel-Requena) – 90(+?) points ($66; 100% bobal and a blend of 2002, 2003 and 2004 wines) Inky ruby. An explosively perfumed dark berry, kirsch and licorice bouquet displays excellent clarity and takes an exotic floral turn with air. Fleshy blackberry and cherry flavors are impressively deep and sweet, with solid tannins adding structure. Becomes more broad-shouldered and powerful with air, finishing with lingering plum and roasted coffee flavors. Serious stuff, and in need of patience.
A titbit from the August 2007 "Wines from Spain" Newsletter: "German airline Lufthansa selected an exclusive 'Vegalfaro Crianza' to include in its international in-flight menu. Choosing from a range of more than a hundred wines from all over the world, the German company finally opted for this DO Utiel-Requena endorsed wine. The wine, made from Tempranillo, Merlot and Syrah grape varieties hailing from different vineyards located on the same estate, will be available from March 2008 until the end of that same year representing a total of 70,000 75cl bottles, according to Bodegas Vegalfaro manager Roberto Valiente."
MiVino newsletter for June 2007 sings the praises of Comunidad Valenciana. For those that don't read Spanish, here is the final paragraph from the article: "En fin, quien pose sus ojos sobre el panorama enológico de Levante encontrará vinos de todo tipo y color, frescos cavas exitosos, blancos cada vez mejor dotados, rosados expresivos y elegantes, tintos poderosos y originales, y los extraordinarios dulces, blancos y tintos, que parecen atesorar toda la esencia mediterránea en sus venas." (Summing up, anyone who casts his eye over the winemaking panorama of the Levante will find wines of every kind and colour, fresh and all-conquering Cavas, whites that are getting better all the time, elegant and expressive rosés, powerful and original reds, and the extraordinary sweet wines, both white and red, which appear to have the very essence of the Mediterranean coursing through their veins.)
Four of Felipe Gutiérrez de la Vega's wines have recently been awarded 90 points or more in "Wine Advocate":
Casta Diva Fondillón 1996 "Made from 100% Monastrell, [this wine] is a saturated purple, offering aromas of plums, prunes, and raisins. On the palate this intensely sweet wine remains slightly tight and tannic. It is reminiscent of an Italian Recioto. All of these wines should be consumed within 2-3 years of purchase. - 92 points" (Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, February 2007)
Casta Diva Cosecha Miel 2005 "Selected by individual bunches. The free-run juice goes directly to new French and American oak where, after fermentation begins, it is fortified with neutral spirits. Natural sugar is retained while the alcohol remains under 14%. Orange/gold-colored, it has a splendid nose of tangerine, orange, clove and honey. The wine is viscous and concentrated but without any sense of heaviness. Good acidity holds the wine together through a lengthy, lively finish. - 93 points" (Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, February 2007)
Casta Diva Moscatel La Diva 2004 "Not fortified. Bright orange in color with a nose of mandarin orange, the palate offers intense marmalade flavors, terrific intensity, and balancing acidity. - 92 points" (ay Miller, Wine Advocate, February 2007)
Casta Diva Recondita Armonía 2004 "A blend of 90% Monastrell and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, [this wine] is opaque purple-colored with a baked earthiness and blackberry liqueur aromas and flavors. What it is lacking in subtlety, it makes up for in its sweet intensity and concentration. - 90 points" (Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, February 2007)
Additionally, "Vivir el Vino" magazine (issue 67, "Los 11 magníficos 2007") has named the bodega's Fondillón 15 años the best Spanish sweet wine.
"DO Valencia: Half a century shaping history 1957 saw the establishment of the Valencia Designation of Origin. In the 50 years since, quality has not ceased to improve in a region where winemaking is the main source of income for an important part of the population. The area boasts a range of highly diverse reds, whites and rosés."
'The largest and most uniform of Valencia’s winemaking regions has succeeded in improving its image through the use of local red variety Bobal, a new brand image for the appellation and an increase in the number of registered wineries. Thanks to these improvements, the appellation now exports over half of its bottled production. Utiel-Requena is no longer in a stranger [sic]...'
'The appellation’s excellent progress can be seen in their figures. Wine bottled over the past two years reached figures of 26 million bottles, of which over 15 million were sold abroad. Leading export markets within the UE are Germany, Denmark and the UK, though Switzerland, Canada, the US and Mexico are also relevant.'
'This focus on quality, innovation and outreach has started bearing fruit in the form awards, both nationally and internationally. Recent prizes earned include Bacchus, Zarcillos, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles or the Bordeaux Challenge International du Vin. There is also growing acclaim for the Bobal variety, now Utiel-Requena’s unquestionable star product. In 2006 alone, the appellation’s wines came home with over 70 awards, including one Silver and one Gold at BioFach.'
'Moving into new terrain, the appellation is also keen to promote wine tourism through the Wine Route Association established under DO Utiel-Requena, which organises one-day or weekend outings with a range of quality activities scheduled for visitors who wish to add a touch of wine culture to their retreat into a landscape where the vineyards grow alongside the Mediterranean woodlands and the protected natural heritage of Hoces del Cabriel is only a stone’s throw away. In February 2007, the Regulating Council reopened its Wine Museum under the slogan ‘Live Wine Day by Day’. The museum is located at the Bodega Redonda winery in Utiel (Valencia), where the appellation also has its head offices.'
Enrique Mendoza Peñón de Ifach Reserva 2001 12,45 € Tinto, DO Alicante, Bodegas E. Mendoza
'A wine from Alicante with a notably Mediterranean soul which is an excellent ambassador for the work of the Mendoza family in raising the quality of the wines of this region. It has an attractive combination of concentrated power and subtlety. A dark cherry red with good depth and youthful qualities. Complex aromas, dark fruit, slightly smoky, spices, hints of licorice and musk. Well-structured, full-bodied, full-flavoured, fleshy and very well-balanced. Fresh in the mouth with a mature finish of excellent length.' (translated by winesofvalencia.com)
From 'Wines of Spain' Newsletter March 2007:
Spanish wines earn 5 gold medals at the Biofach International Wine Contest 03/03/2007 Spanish wines made from organically grown grapes were awarded five gold medals, 21 silvers and 31 special mentions at the International Wine Contest held at the Biofach International Organic Food Fair, in Nuremberg from February 15 to 18 2007. There were 129 entries submitted by 294 wineries from 13 different countries. Twof the five golds won by Spanish wines were from the Comunidad Valenciana: Dulce Negra from DO Alicante and Vega Valterra Reserva (DO Utiel-Requena). Silver medals were awarded to Castillo de Alicante Selección Barrica (DO Alicante) and L’Angelet Crianza (DO Utiel-Requena).
15 December 2006 issue of Wine Spectator magazine "Valencia Shines" "Spain's Undiscovered Mediterranean - Valencia finds a new energy with revolutionary architecture and cutting-edge cuisine" by Bruce Schoenfeld (pages 40-46)
'With the new food has come an awareness of wine, helped by a dynamic movement in the appellations surrounding Valencia: Utiel-Requena, Yecla and Jumilla. These days, the thriving international market for Spanish wines has led to a tremendous lift in the quality of sleepy appellations like these. Now, it is the rare Valencian restaurant that hasn't augmented its collection of Riojas and Priorats with at least a few examples from nearby bodegas.' (p. 46)
and also
"Spain in the 21st Century" "Good vintages and talented vintners bring Spain into a new era of quality" by Thomas Matthews (pages 106-114) 'Fine wines, meanwhile, continue to emerge from obscure regions and ancient grape types. Take Utiel-Requena, for example. Located near Valencia in the southeast, this has been a winemaking region for more than 2,000 years, and its principal grape, a red variety called Bobal, documented as early as the 15th century, makes up nearly 80% of the vineyard acreage. Ever had a Bobal from Utiel-Requena? If not, you're missing out. Bodegas Murviedro, a regional leader since 1930, has created the Corolilla line of 100 percent Bobal wines. The Crianza 2002 (85, $12) is a good introduction to the grape, showing a velvety texture, black fruit, and spice. The Reserva 2000 (88, $23) proves that Bobal can age. Still well-knit, the wine shows black fruit flavors that are just beginning to turn into coffee and leather notes. There will be more "discoveries" like Bobal in the future. Committed producers, adventurous importers and curious wine drinkers will see to that. No other country in the world rewards explorers with such distinctive treasures.' (p. 114) [There is an interesting article about Michel Grin, the Swiss director of Bodegas Murviedro, available in English from Le Temps in a series about significant Swiss figures around the world - winesofvalencia.com]
'Spain's 2004 and 2005 vintages: Spain is the most fashionable wine producer in the world, and for good reason. Young Spanish winemakers respect their traditions but are also adopting practices from elsewhere that make for better and better wines. Nature lent a hand as well with two terrific vintages, 2004 and 2005.'
The following statement found on classicwines.com on the web is a good example of the prevailing, and wrong, view:
"Types of Classic Valencia Wines The Classic Wines Guide Europe Wine Regions: Spain, Valencia Valencia is not really known for its wines. If anything, some decent white wines are produced here, as are some rather forgettable red wines, but the truth is that you are far more likely to hear of Valencia in the context of tourism than you are in relation to wine..." (from http://www.classicwines.com/valencia-wine.html)
The wine writer and Master of Wine Jancis Robinson, who writes in the Financial Times and her own site, tells it like it is (with a slightly longer list than is convenient, and unaccountably missing out the Valencia DO, but you get the drift): "Of course, it is invidious to try to encompass the country with the world’s biggest area of land devoted to the vine in a single article, but it behoves any interested wine lover to realise that such names as Alella, Bierzo, Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Carineña, Cigales, Conca de Barberà, Costers del Segre, Empordà-Costa Brava, Manchuela, Montsant, Ribeira Sacra, Ribeiro, Rueda, Somontano, Terra Alta, Utiel-Requena, Valdeorras, Valdepeñas and Yecla are all producing some stunning wines nowadays." (Financial Times, 11 February 2006)
and
"It was not that long ago that good-quality Spanish wine meant Rioja. Then Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Then Priorat had to be added to the pot, plus Albariño from Galicia for white wine drinkers, perhaps. But today, exciting table wines are also being made in all of the following regions: Alella, Alicante, Bierzo, Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Carineña, Cigales, Conca de Barberà, Costers del Segre, Empordà-Costa Brava, Getariako Txakolina, Jumilla, Málaga, Manchuela, Montsant, Navarra, Penedès, Rías Baixas, Ribeira Sacra, Ribeiro, Rueda, Somontano, Terra Alta, Toro, Utiel-Requena, Valdeorras, Valdepeñas and Yecla, not to mention the fine whites now being made on the Canary Islands and the bold reds of Mallorca." (Financial Times, 6 May 2005)
Waitrose website of June 2001 writing about Manuel Olaechea's Dominio Los Pinos, "Valencia…is better known for its oranges than its wine — and such wine as it has produced has tended to be sweet, white, fortified Moscatel. Here’s another organic red to show how far and fast things are changing. It is ambitious, richly flavoured, and has voluptuous scents of ripe black fruits infused with the toast and vanilla of oak casks. This is the new face of the Med: all of the stony warmth of the past given a modern, ripe-fruited makeover"
winesofvalencia.com - A personal look at the world of Valencian wine