Otazu Premium Cuvée 2007

SWIC score: 92 (JMG)

Tasting notes: Cooked vegetables, cinnamon, ripen, concentrated, long.

Available:

QC (SAQ 11387298 - $ 19.10)

ON (VINTAGES 313809 - $ 16.95)

Winery: Señorío de Otazu

Region: D.O. Navarra

Varieties: 45% Tempranillo, 40% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

Ageing: 14 months in French Allier oak barrels

Alcohol content: 14.5% alc./vol.

Señorío de Otazu is located in an historical site in Navarra D.O., where it tries to connect art with modernity and tradition. Under the claim of “the art of winemaking”, Otazu creates a very interesting range of wines exclusively from the grapes grown in their own 285 acres vineyard. This Otazu Premiu Cuvée 2007 is a Tempranillo blend which shows a great aromatic complexity, with flavours mainly given by the oak ageing process. Well structured and with a long finish, it can be a good partner for almost any meat recipe you can imagine.

Vintage tasted: 2007 (November 2012)

Clos Petó 2010

SWIC score: 91 (IFS)

Tasting notes: Dried apricots, flint, thyme, chocolate.

Available: BC (Legacy 660837 - $ 50.25)

Winery: Clos Dominic

Region: D.O.Q. Priorat (Catalunya)

Varieties: Garnatxa Negra, Cabernet Sauvignon, Picapoll Negre, Merlot, Carinyena

Ageing: 14 months in French Allier oak barrels

Alcohol content: 15.0% alc./vol.

Clos Dominic is a great example of one of the typical tiny family owned and operated wineries in Priorat. The couple formed by Dominic Baraguet and Paco Castillo and their two daughters are based in the village of Porrera, in the heart of the appellation. They only work with the fruit of the Vinyes Altes’ 10,000 vines, planted on a hill of llicorella, the characteristic slate schist soil of this region. Extremely low crops and limited productions are the seal of this winery, which offers outstanding wines which reflect perfectly the land where they are born. Clos Petó is the result of the youngest vines of the property and combines the mineral complexity of a big Priorat with an easy-to-drink soul.

Vintage tasted: 2010 (October 2012)

Luis Cañas Reserva 2005

SWIC score: 89 (JMG)
Tasting notes: Plum, clove, balanced, intense.

Available: ON (VINTAGES 334094 - $ 22.95)

Winery: Bodegas Luis Cañas

Region: D.O.Ca. Rioja (Alavesa)

Varieties: 95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano

Ageing: 18 months in French and American oak barrels

Alcohol content: 14.0% alc./vol.

Based on the philosophy that a good wine can only be obtained from good grapes, the people at Bodegas Luis Cañas take an intense care of their 865 acres of vineyards. The aim is to obtain the best possible fruit to produce their range of typical Rioja Alavesa wines (balanced, complex and deep). Talking specifically about Luis Cañas Reserva, it comes from vines with an average of 40 years old. After the alcoholic fermentation, the wine is tasted to decide the kind of barrels used for its ageing (70% French and 30% American, in this case). The result is this elegant red wine, an excellent pairing for almost all kind of meat dishes of even oily fishes.

Vintage tasted: 2005 (July 2012)

Segura Viudas Brut Rosé

SWIC score: 85 (JMG)

Tasting notes: Mown grass, citrus, raspberry, sharp, light, fresh.

Available:

ON (LCBO 320275 - $ 13.75)
NL (NLLS 11145 - $ 14.68)

Winery: Segura Viudas

Region: D.O. Cava (Catalunya)

Varieties: 90% Trepat, 10% Garnacha

Ageing: minimum 12 months in the bottle

Alcohol content: 12.0% alc./vol.

Trepat is the most typical source for rosé Cava as it is the main grape in the blend of this Segura Viudas Brut Rosé, which shows a lively color, a fresh character and a light texture. The Penedes firm was pioneer in the regeneration of Trepat (originally from Conca de Barberà area) through its policy of working with indigenous varieties to give typicity to their creations. Besides Trepat, Garnacha enhances its flavors. The blend of this cava is made from seven different wines of both varieties, then aged for at least 12 months in the bottle.

Vintage tasted: N.V. (February 2013)

Fillaboa 2011

SWIC score: 91 (JMG)
Tasting notes: Peach, anise, lemon zest, silky, long.

Available: QC (SAQ 11668129 - $ 21.80)

Winery: Bodegas Fillaboa

Region: D.O. Rías Baixas (Galicia)

Varieties: 100% Albariño

Alcohol level: 12.5% alc./vol.

Bodegas Fillaboa is located in the Condado de Tea subregion of the Rias Baixas D.O., at the very north-western corner of Spain, facing the Portuguese borderline from the northern shore of Miño river. They only work with the fruit of their 170 acres of Albariño vineyards, one of the biggest  estates there. In the old stony house where the cellar is located, they look for making modern wines without losing their long tradition. Fillaboa 2011 is a young Albariño wine which offers a very good sample of what this variety is. Complex fruity aromas combine with a long aftertaste and an elegant texture.

Vintage tasted: 2011 (February 2013)

Costers del Gravet 2009

SWIC score: 89 (JMG)
Tasting notes: Black fruit, toffee, black pepper, intense.

Available:

ON (VINTAGES 707059 - $ 19.95)

QC (SAQ 898551 - $ 21.00)

NL (NLLS 2238 – $ 22.63) another vintage

Winery: Celler Capçanes

Region: D.O. Montsant (Catalunya)

Varieties: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Garnacha, 20% Cariñena

Ageing: 14 months in French oak barrels

Alcohol level: 14.3% alc./vol.

Costers del Gravet is a concentrated and intense single estate wine produced by the cooperative winery of Capçanes village. Located in the Priorat county (but in the territory of Montsant D.O. instead of Priorat D.O.Q.), it has the traditional blend with Garnacha and Cariñena (both old vines), although the main variety is a more international Cabernet Sauvignon (younger vines of 15 to 25 years old). The three varieties are vinified and aged separately. After 14 months in new to two years old French oak barrels, the blend is made and then the blending age for 3 months in tank before bottling. It matches very good with game and beef dishes, as well as barbeques and stews.

Vintage tasted: 2009 (July 2013)