The November 27 2019 Event: Presentation of Ribera del Duero appellation wines

The Date and Time: Wednesday November 27 2019  11:30AM to 2 PM

The Event:  Presentation of Ribera del Duero appellation wines

The Venue: La Palma, Dundas West

The Target Audience: wine media and sommeliers

The Availability/Catalogue: these wines are available in Ontario, some at LCBO, others by PO or consignment.

The Quote/Background: Veronique Rivest, the first woman to ascend the podium of the Best Sommelier in the World championships in 2013, led the tasting, talking about Ribera del Duero in general and the 13 wines in particular. Ribera has a short growing season, with lots of hot and cold weather and a diverse terroir. So it is difficult to generalize. A lot of the rich, full-bodied and structured wine comes from the age of the vines (about a third are over 50 years old) and from subsequent wood treatment. Tempranillo makes up 95% of the grapes.

The Wines:

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

-Martin Berdugo Reserva 2010 Ribera del Duero $38.15 +233741  [my fave of the day]

-Finca Villacreces Prune 2016 Ribera del Duero $22.95 +312140

-Convento San Francisco 2012 Ribera del Duero $21.95 +206409

-Resalte Origien Cosecha 2015 Ribera del Duero $34.45  +593847

-Alenza Gran Reserva 2009 Ribera del Duero $78 +723791

-Bardos Rserva 2014 Ribera del Duero $69.95  consignment

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

-Martin Berdugo Joven Cosecha 2018 Ribera del Duero $16.70 +558022

-Aire de Protos Rosado 2018 Ribera del Duero $16 – 17 consignment, from garnacha/merlot/cabernet sauvignon

-Torres Pago del Cielo Celeste Reserva 2014 Ribera del Duero $34.95 +10493

-Vina Magna 14 Meses Crianza 2016 Ribera del Duero $44.95 consignment

-Adaro de Pradorey Crianza 2016 $38.95 consignment

-Conde de San Cristobal 12M Cosecha 2015 Ribera del Duero consignment

-Valtsotillo Finca Buenavista Cosecha 2016 Ribera del Duero consignment

The Food: we ate off the menu with shared plates, beginning with an amazing fregola sarda and lentils dish. The came house hummus on crostini, grilled cornish hen with piri piri sauce, flatiron steak with mushroom ragu, lamb chops, and garnishes of roasted cauliflower and crispy potatoes. All of the food was excellent and well-spiced to go with the Ribera wines.

The Downside: I arrived 15 minutes late due to a recalcitrant TTC bus.

The Upside: the foods were great matches for all of the wines.

The Contact Person: ashley@lapalma.ca; Mariane.pregent@sopexa.com.

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 93

Chimo! www.deantudor.com