The Event: Meeting with Maria Alvear of Bodegas Alvear, hosting a tasting of her Montilla wines with tapas. June 10/15

The Date and Time:  Wednesday, June 10, 2015   2Pm to 5 PM

The Event: Meeting with Maria Alvear of Bodegas Alvear, hosting a tasting of her Montilla wines with tapas.

The Venue: Bar Raval

The Target Audience: wine writers

The Availability/Catalogue: there are three Montillas on the General List: Fino, Medium Dry, and Solera 1927 Pedro Ximenez (solera began in 1927).

The Quote/Background: She noted that the company has about 24 different types. Everything is made in Montilla, next door to Jerez, but cannot, of course, be called Sherry. The company was founded in 1729; it is the second oldest Bodega in Spain. 90% of the vineyards is planted with Pedro Ximenez, not Palomino as would be in Jerez.

The Wines:

 

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

-Alvear Fino 15% ABV unfortified, $12.45 LCBO

-Alvear Solera 1927 Pedro Ximenez 16% ABV, half-bottles, $19.95 LCBO

 

 

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

-Alvear Medium Dry 17% ABV, $12.45   LCBO

 

 

The Food: Bar Raval created some sherry cocktails for the group, to go with tapas. One cocktail included gin and orange bitters and was named Maria from Montilla, with Alvear PX de Anada 2013, a vintaged Montilla, 17%. There was also an Alvear Negroni made with Campari and Alvear Pale Cream Fino En Rama 2008. Both were exceedingly delicious; we could have stayed for hours. Tapas included a selection of 4 or 5 olives, cheeses, hot fatty chorizo, green chilies roasted, meats, breads, calamari, fried ham on brioche, dry sausages, and croquettes.

The Contact Person: rsandham@kirkwooddiamond.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com