Monday, July 18, 2011

OLE Wine Portfolio Scores a "BULLSEYE" by Philip S. Kampe

It is odd how the word "BULLSEYE" can sum up the ACHIEVEMENT of HIGH-QUALITY, REASONABLY PRICED Wines that OLE wine exporters, PATRICK MATA and ALBERTO ORTE, have brought to this country through the help of Distributor Extraordinaire, SCOTT GERBER, of MARTIN SCOTT Wines.

Let me paint the picture: It is the middle of summer in New York. Temperatures are rising. At noon, it has hit 92 degrees.

It is a perfect beach day and a day not fit to sample a Portfolio of Spanish wines.
But, in reality, OPPORTUNITY knocks.

The summer is considered a dormant period regarding Trade wine tastings. Tastings rarely occur in June, July and August. But when they do, they seem more important than those during the rest of the over-crowded tasting season.

I was excited to reach the Penthouse of the Kimberley Hotel on 50th Street (NYC) to sample the new releases from the founders of OLE, PATRICK MATA and ALBERTO ORTE. Many winemakers and proprietors will be on hand to pour and talk about their wines.

OLE Wines are known for their DEDICATION to OUTSTANDING QUALITY, VALUE and EXPRESSION of DIVERSE TERROIRS, which is what SPAIN is all about.

The tasting featured 84 WINES, 30 GRAPE VARIETALS from 25 D.O. REGIONS.

Upon arriving, I sampled Two CAVA'S from the PENEDES D.O., a few miles south of Barcelona. The region is known for hot days and moderate nights, producing wines with good skin pigmentation, medium-high aromatics, balanced acidity and polished tannins. The wines I tasted were from BODEGAS NAVERIN and made by winemaker EMILI ESTEVE.

CAVA BRUT VINTAGE 2008 is made from 50% XARELLO, 30% MACABEO and 20% PARELLADA.
This Cava spends 18 months on lees and has notes of green apple and lemon with floral, yeasty overtones.
At $16.99 a bottle, this crisp, dry sparking wine is a GREAT VALUE.

CAVA DAMA 2008 received 90 points from the Robert Parker. Made from 85% CHARDONNAY and 15% PARELLADA, this is the CLASSIC Cava; small bubbles, complex, minerality, smooth and vibrant with green apple overtones. A MUST BUY at $19.99 a bottle.

PAZO de GALEGOS 2010. This elegant wine is produced by Winemaker PAUL GARCIA from BODEGAS PAZO de GALEGOS, which is located in RIAS BAIXAS. Made with 100% ALBARINO and rated 90 points from both the WINE ADVOCATE, as well as the INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR, this ALBARINO is rich on the nose with a floral nutty aroma followed by notes on the palate of peach and citrus fruit. This highly acidic wine is possibly the BEST ALBARINO of 2010 in the $20 range.

FURVUS 2007 is produced by VINYES DOMENCH in the MONTSTANT region. This complex red wine is made from 65% GARNACHA TINTA, 20% MERLOT, 8% CABERNET SAUVIGNON and 7% SYRAH.
Rated at 91 points from the WINE ADVOCATE, this $39.99 bottle is aged for 14 months in American and French oak. The wine is intense, elegant and satisfying. The rich fruit dominates the wood and satisfies your palate.
This is a Great Gift Wine for someone who knows about wine.

DACU 2010 is from RIBERA del GUADIANA D.O. and is produced by BODEGAS EMERITAS. DACU 2010 is 100% TEMPRANILLO and is my BEST BUY at the tasting. Aged on lees for four months followed by two months in French oak, this fragrant, juicy, bright wine has dark fruit overtones mixed with black licorice and plums. Made by OLE partner and winemaker ALBERTO ORTE, this wine retails for $11.99 a bottle and a wine everyone should own.

Each wine I tasted (YES, all 84) stood out. I only highlighted a few that should be in your wine cellar. VISIT www.oleimports.com to learn more about these GREAT WINES.

PHILIP S. KAMPE
philip.kampe@thewinehub.com










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