Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/348953
wines seeking representation IMPORTERS 3000 3000 3000 4000 4000 5000 4000 4000 5000 4000 A62 A601 A11 N122 N610 N110 N122 N234 N234 A1 A62 A67 A1 Duero Cega Pisuerga Aranda de Duero Roa San Esteban de Gormaz Peñafiel 1 7 8 9/12 6 11 3 4 12 11 14 13 1 2 5 3 5 14 8 15 13 9 4 7 10 10 2 6 Cuéllar Valladolid Palencia B U R G O S S O R I A S E G O V I A V A L L A D O L I D P A L E N C I A Langa de Duero El Burgo Contours (heights in feet) 0 0 10 20 kilometers 10 20 miles 5000 RIBERA DEL DUERO Map data © Cosmographics Ltd. UK., 2014. Wineries Represented in the US 1. Bodegas Torremorón 2. Dominio Romano 3. Bodegas Torrederos 4. Vinedos y Bodegas Aster 5. Bodegas Cepa 21 6. Bodegas Thesaurus 7. Pago de los Capellanes 8. Bodegas Frontaura 9. Bodegas y Viñedos Tamaral 10. Viñas del Jaro 11. Pata Negra 12. Bodegas y Viñedos Ortega Fournier 13. Bodegas Valduero 14. Bodegas Vizcarra 15. Bodegas Emilio Moro Wineries Seeking Representation in the US 1. Bodegas Cuevas Jiménez - Ferratus 2. Vina Aguilera 3. Bodegas Hermanos Páramo Arroyo 5. Díaz Bayo Hermanos. 6. Bodegas y Vinedos Alto Sotillo 7. Bodegas Resalte de Peñafiel 8. Bodegas Viyuela 9. Finca Campos Goticos 10. Bodegas Pagos de Mogar 11. Grandes Bodegas (Bodegas Marques de Velilla) 12. Bodega Torres de Anguix 13. Comenge Bodegas y Vinedos 14. Bodegas Valpincia During the second portion of our Los Angeles tasting, as a group of importers sipped and sniffed through 14 wines, all seeking representation in the U.S., my colleague, Senior Editor Karen Moneymaker, and I jotted down our own tast - ing notes on these wines. In the side-by-side comparison belo w, it seems that at times we were tasting and experienc- ing completely different wines—a testament to the power o f a wine to reveal itself in different ways. With Spanish cheeses and meats provided to aid and abet pairing and provide palate relief, it's fascinating to see how as we silently sipped, nibbled and contemplated, our senses revealed varying qualities leaving us to conclude as we should, that tasting is entirely subjective and the best way to explore and discover Ribera is to seek and taste for yourself. 1. Bodegas Cuevas Jimenez 2012 Ferratus A0 Cosecha ■ A young and bold wine of sweet ripe dark blackberry and blueberry fruit, augmented by underbrush and moist soil notes, enveloping ripe tan- nins. ◆ Bright and rambunctious with notes of butterscotch, baking spice and jasmine flower. Beautiful color on this one, deep magenta and purple. 2. Vina Aguilera 2012 Torreval Roble ■ Raspberries along with undercur- rents of black and blue fruit mingle with lilacs and cedar on the nose while crushed herbs flower on the palate and lead to a chalky almost marzipan finish. ◆ Ripe plum, cedar and tobacco punctuate the nose while wild fennel and tart cherries dominate the palate. 3. Bodegas Hnos. Paramo Arroyo 2011 Eremus Roble ■ A big tannic wine showing plums and crushed purple floral notes leads to black olive spice on the palate. ◆ Robust and anything but timid, this wine jumps out of the glass with cut lilacs and ripe blackberries. A firm and astringent tannic structure, evenly matches its richness. 4. Bodegas Zifar 2011 Zifar Roble ■ A round wine redolent of rose pet- als, cedar and eucalyptus unfolds with gentile tannins as crushed herbs and gamey notes mingle with mushrooms and a balsamic sweetness in the fin - ish. ◆ Gamey and rustic on the nose, with hints of bruised rose petals and macerated rhubarb. 5. Diaz Bayo Hermanos 2010 Nuestro Tinto ■ Dark red cherry and sweet tobacco notes, tealeaves and moderate tannin give way to black olives and mocha notes. ◆ Loaded with sassafras and cola, followed by ripe blackberries, potpourri and bramble. 6. Bodegas y Viñedos Alto Sotillo 2009 Rubiejo Crianza ■ Overly oaky quality on the nose, smoke, a juicy wine of stewed blue- berry fruit, spice, violets and chalki- ness that lingers on the back palate. ◆ Flashy on the nose, with toasted hazelnuts and blueberry preserves that jump out of the glass. Juicy and fragrant, with a medium finish and delicate tannins. 7. Bodegas Resalte de Peñafiel 2009 Crianza ■ Rose petals on the nose, massive mouth-drying tannins cut by abrasive acidity and cedar overtones. ◆ Spicy and nutty, with ripe tannins and a mouth- ful of red liquorice and fresh earth. 8. Bodegas Viyuela 2010 Crianza ■ Red raspberry and blackberry fruit on the nose gives way to a muted palate of earth tones. ◆ Glossy and generous, with cut white flowers, blood orange and white pepper domi - nating the palate. 9. Finca Campos Goticos 2009 Crianza ■ A medium bodied wine offering black licorice, stewed plums and leather, metallic on the mid-palate leading to coffee and soy notes on a lengthy finish. ◆ Just a touch of worn leather and musk on this wine. Delicate, with a nice balance between savory tannins and a svelte acidity. 10. Bodegas Pagos de Mogar 2009 Vendimia Seleccionada ■ A plush wine opening up with blueberry pie, lilacs and sweet vanilla, while peppery high-tones and tea-tannin round out the palate. ◆ Opulent fruit profile on this one, showing red currant, poached black cherry and huckleberry. Silky tannins and just a hint of crushed clove. 11. Grandes Bodegas 2008 Marqués ■ A soft wine with juicy tannins, a slight minty quality underneath raisiny and reductive stewed plums. ◆ Bright and supple on the palate. Fresh-cut thyme, sage and oregano mingle with notes of red currant and beetroot. Fine, delicate tannin structure coats the mouth with a long finish. 12. Torres de Anguix 2004 Reserva ■ A muted nose, overpowering tan- nins, astringent and gamey. ◆ Pretty nose, over-bloomed red rose blos- soms, violets and marzipan. Linear tannins and mouthwatering acidity . 13. Comenge Bodegas y Viñedos 2009 Don Miguel Comenge Reserva ■ Generous and round, with dark cherry and cola notes, olives mingle with crushed lilacs and a slight minty note in the finish. ◆ Tea leaf, crushed pistachio and dried wild sage lead the charge on the nose. Exotic and racy, with a long, generous finish. 14. Bodegas Valpincia 2007 Reserva ■ A big wine of dark berry fruit dries up on the palate with gripping tea tannins leading to a lengthy balsamic acidic fin - ish. ◆ Big, dense fruit profile of quince and ripe plum. Palate is reminiscent of the holiday kitchen: nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon. ■ Deputy Editor Jonathan Cristaldi's Tasting Notes ◆ Senior Editor Karen Moneymaker's Tasting Notes