Tasting report June 2024
CBWS Tasting held on 20 June 2024 attended by 54 members and guests. The June Tasting was held at the popular and beautiful setting of Puerto Blanco in Calpe, hosted by Neville and Sara. The wines from Rioja were presented by Gonzalo Lainez (export manager of Grupo Principe de Viana) and supplied by Bodegas Blasco in Teulada. Members were offered the opportunity to buy the wines at substantial discounts. (Prices shown in brackets below were available if members, in total, purchased 25 or more 6 bottle cases.)
| Wine 1 Name and Vintage | Rioja Vega Garnacha Rose 2023 |
| Price per bottle | €6.78 (€5.76) |
| Wine 1 Description | A delicate pale salmon pink rosado with a bouquet of white flowers. Well balanced with a refreshing level of acidity. A wine to be enjoyed in the early evening (or any time of the day) on the terrace or by the pool. |
| Wine 2 Name and Vintage | Rioja Vega Tempranillo Blanco Coleccion 2023 |
| Price per bottle | €11.84 (€10.07) |
| Wine 2 Description | A white Rioja from the unusual and relatively rare white Tempranillo grape. (Impress your friends by explaining that white Tempranillo is a recent mutation of the red Tempranillo vine.) Straw yellow colour with intense aromas of tropical fruits and a pleasant and long-lasting taste on the mouth. A really interesting wine which will continue to develop for years to come, but only if you can resist drinking it now! This wine can be paired with many food types or just enjoyed on its own. |
| Wine 3 Name and Vintage | Rioja Vega Reserva 2018 |
| Price per bottle | €10.86 (€9.23) |
| Wine 3 Description | A good example of Rioja reserva. Bright red cherry colour with aromas of ripe red fruits. Well balanced on the palate with a good combination of tannins and fruit. An easy drinking Rioja which can be tasted without food or will pair really well with a variety of foods from meat paella to roast lamb. |
| Wine 4 Name and Vintage | Rioja Vega Gran Reserva 2017 |
| Price per bottle | €16.51 (€14.04) |
| Wine 4 Description | This is a serious and excellent Rioja Gran Reserva. More expensive, but you get what you pay for with this wine, one to impress your friends and family. Ruby red colour with a medium though not overpowering taste. An elegant and well balanced wine with aromas of red fruits, integrated soft tannins and a smooth velvety mouth feel. |
| Wine 5 Name & Vintage | Rioja Vega 140 Aniversario 2016 |
| Price per bottle | €21.73 (€18.47) |
| Wine 5 Description | The pride of the winery and certainly one to savour and enjoy either now or when it has developed further in a few years’ time. Bright and intense garnet colour. Tastes of ripe red and black fruit together with toasted oak from its two years in barrel. Elegant, well balanced with soft tannins and a velvety smooth sensation in the mouth. |
| Closing Comments | An excellent event in a beautiful setting. The presentation by Gonzalo was full of useful information (did you know that the term Reserva meant that this wine was originally reserved for the French market). An excellent way to enjoy a summer evening in the Costa Blanca. |
| Your name | Neville Richardson |
