The Event: Fer Vermut! Tasting of Buil & Gine Priorat, Rueda and Montsant wines

The Date and Time: Thursday, June 12, 2014  2PM to 5PM

The Event: Fer Vermut! Tasting of Buil & Gine Priorat, Rueda and Montsant wines (missing only one from Toro).

The Venue: Patria Restaurant

The Target Audience: sommeliers, clients, media

The Availability/Catalogue: wines are by the case as licensee purchases.

The Quote/Background: Winemaker Xavier Buil I Gine flew in from Barcelona for the occasion, to talk about his wines and foods, both available through the agency The Case for Wine. In addition, he presented his Vermut Priorat Natur NV, from organically farmed white grapes (macabeo, pedro ximenez, and white garnacha) vinified with skin contact to extract aromas and flavours. Some of the spices/herbs include rosemary, fennel, cumin and vanilla. There is some sugar added and some neutral grain spirit. Then the mixture is aged using the solera method of blending young and old wines. Absolutely phenomenal, 16% ABV, and highly rated by me at **** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms, $29.95 per bottle in six bottle cases (private order, licensee price)

 

The Wines:

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Buil & Gine Gine Gine DOQ Priorat 2011, $22.95 licensee [unoaked, 60% old vine carignan, rest grenache]

-Buil & Gine Pleret DOQ Priorat 2006, $56.50 [old vine carignan, grenache, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah]

 

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Buil & Gine Nosis DO Rueda 2012, $19.50 [verdejo]

-Buil & Gine 17-X1 DO Montsant 2011, $21 [carignan, grenache, tempranillo aged six months in US and French oak]

-Buil & Gine Joan Gine DOQ Priorat 2009, $32.95 [90% old vine carignan plus grenache and 10% cabernet sauvignon]

 

*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Buil & Gine Baboix Blanc DO Montsant 2012, $23.75 [grenache blanc, macabeo, chardonnay]

 

 

The Food: From the winery in Priorat, there was Neus especial olive oil, Arbequena olives, olivadas, sauces (romesco, tapenade, tomato jam), and the lovely Marcona almonds. Also quince paste. Breads and spicy Marcona almonds from Patria.

The Downside: I had raced in after attending to my wife in hospital.

The Upside: it was a great hot day for a sunny Spanish tasting!

The Contact Person: elayne@thecaseforwine.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com