Archive for the 'Tastings' Category

Spanish Wine Festival-Tonight!

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

A post by Serge the Conceirge alerted me to the fact that I would be missing out on yet another Spanish Wine Festival this year. A benefit for Action Against Hunger sponsored by NYC retail legend PJ Wine, the annual festival features free-flowing, top-flight wines from Spain, live Spanish music, tapas, etc., for $99 at the door, and takes place…yes, that’s right…tonight, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, from 6:30 to 9:30. It’s now a little after 8p.m. Can I make it?

Probably not. I’ll have to close my eyes and just imagine. The lineup this year is/was packed with superstars. From the PJ Wine website:

Many of the most highly acclaimed wines of the year such as Wine Advocate 100 point sensationBenjamín Romeo Rioja “Contador;” top Ribera del Dueros Vega Sicilia “Unico,” Pingus “Pingus,” and Alto “PS;” Priorat great “Clos Erasmus;” “Clos Mogador;” Jumilla knockout El Nido “El Nido;” a mini-vertical of R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia [Rioja] back to the 1973 Gran Reserva; 1979 Jean Leon Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva as well as a selection of top-flight and rare Sherries, including Wine Advocate 98 point stunner Osborne PX VORS “Viejo.”

Love the diversty on offer, and the contrast embodied by the two Rioja choices, El Contador and Tondonia, just about as opposite-end-of-the-spectrum as you could find anywhere in the region.

There’s always next year.


The Grace of Age: Rioja Gran Reserva from the ‘Miracle Vintage’ of 1964

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Tasty Balance from Álava: Dominio de Berzal Crianza 2005

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Photo Essay: Rioja Grand Tasting Seminar

Friday, June 5th, 2009

‘76 to ‘82: Aged Rioja and American Popular Music: More from Evolution of Rioja Gran Reserva

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

The Ten Year ‘Sweet Spot’?: Rioja Gran Reserva from the 1990s and the Question of Age

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Evolution of Rioja Gran Reserva Seminar: The Wines

Friday, May 29th, 2009