If new wave Spain has truly arrived, then Source’s top selection is riding the barrelling crest on a surf board of gold! Never before have we been so excited by the wines of our Spanish partners, both old and new, as the bar for quality and innovation is raised year on year across the board. Value, mid price, and premium wines all represent an exceptional standard.

We’ll unveil the fabulous wines from Vintae, selected from their 8 wineries which extend across 6 different Spanish DOs. The exceptional collection will be complemented by the wines of Bodegas Aguila, who will show the diversity achievable from their 3000 hectare estate just south of Cariñena. The highlights include:

• Maetierra’s Spanish White Guerrilla – a collection of eight monovarietal wines made using the world’s most prestigious white varieties, which have been grown for the first time within the autonomous community of La Rioja.
• Project Garnachas of Spain – pays homage to a variety that has been historically forgotten due to the complications involved in its winegrowing and making.
• Matsu – is more than a winery or a wine; it is a modern project of sustainable viticulture that brings forth an exclusive collection of high expression wines from Toro. Matsu, a Japanese word that when translated means to ¨wait¨, perfectly defines an initiative that connects the oriental culture and its care of the natural world with the most advanced techniques of biodynamic agriculture.  
• Artigazo – from the hilly terrain in the foothills of the Ibérico Mountains, these grapes are carefully selected from over 40 year old vines.

Come and visit us at Wines from Spain Annual Trade Tasting – Stand 20

The report includes glowing write ups for our lovely ‘family’ of wines. Matahiwi Estate Holly Chardonnay from Wairarapa in New Zealand, Bonfils GPS-La Serre from the Languedoc and Viña Casablanca Nimbus Single Estate Merlot Colchagua, Chile were among the selection that received high recognition for their quality and value. I feel like such a proud parent! Feel the family warmth at www.thewinegang.com and check out the Copestick Murray tasting.

The Family

Tom in action with Stuart from Bolney Estate in Sussex and Mr Clause helping himself to a tipple…why not!

The almighty Cosme 1894 pair need little introduction – currently £49.95 in Harrods and on promo at top ‘indies’ – following a trail of top accolades they collected since their release last year. Everything about 1894 oozes prestige, quality, and finesse. 1894’s sister wine, Triptico – from the Storks’ Tower Estate – can go unnoticed in the shadow of the 1894 Rioja, however this would be misguided to say the least as its quality is equally as worthy and has been awarded nearly as many accolades! Made from 100 year old vines, Triptico is a cross-DO blend from Castilla y Leon. Despite taking definition from the traditional varietals of Tempranillo and Verdejo, it enjoys a modern twist allowed by a small amount of Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc to the blend.

The biggest surprise of all at ‘Wines from Spain’, which should have been tasted by everyone was Sansón – a delicious, sweet digestive. It certainly proved to be the drink of choice for many exhibitions (mentioning no names) who didn’t feel that the coffee was hitting the spot at 10am, 2pm, 4pm, and again at 5.30pm!

‘That can’t be French’; ‘what a great idea’; ‘I wish I had thought of that’; ‘wow – what a great range’, were just a few whispers circulating around the Nursery Pavilion at Lord’s Cricket ground. This surprised few of us at the event as the Bonfils GPS range, each named after four different plots where the best grapes have been selected, is a new concept for Languedoc. As well as being an incredibly well made and exciting range of wines, the GPS front labels include the exact latitude and longitude of the parcel where the wine’s unique character is found – brilliant for dinner party chat for those with an iphone!

Other noteworthy wines from Bonfils that offer amazing quality and value are Terre a Verre Picpoul de Pinet 2009 and Chȃteau de Vaugelas Le Prieuré, AOC Corbières 2008 – I challenge anyone to find a Picpoul and Corbières that offers as much as these wines.

Chris Q and I were fortunate enough to find ourselves tasting the fabulous range of Michel Gonet Champagnes in a delightful club in Surrey; Friday mornings don’t get much better! The Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru NV and Vintage are always stunning from this small grower, but the wines that surprised us were Michel Gonet’s NV and Rose NV. In a blind tasting I would have thought the NV was a £45+ vintage Champagne, not a house style and for the rose… LP and Ruinart would struggle to compete. I think Fizz Friday is here to stay!

Ready? Then let’s go.