Cepa 21 (A taste of Spain in the U.S.)

Dear Wine Lovers,

Are you suddenly craving Spanish wines but tired of making the same redundant choices? Many wine enthusiasts settle into the routine of making the same predictable wine picks and look for ways to excite their tasting experience. If this is you, your’re in luck!  In this blog I will give you a quick introduction to Cepa 21 wines so you can incorporate it to your wine list and open yourself up to a new experience.

Monday night I was invited to taste the Cepa 21 wines that I will list below. The wine dinner was in Coya, a wonderful restaurant of South American cuisine, located in Miami. But, before we get into discussing the wines I want to give you a brief background on the brand.

Cepa 21 was founded by the third generation of the Moro family (who also owns Emilio Moro). It is located in Castrillo de Duero, a village within Ribera del Duero, that has the highest altitude in Spain. Cepa 21 has the coldest terroir in Ribera del Duero and represents the modern mentality of the 21st century in winemaking, while respecting tradition.

“This new wine, Cepa 21, is aimed at consumers who have the expertise and open-mindedness to discover new tasting characteristics and who also appreciate the subtlety and elegance of a wine that is soft and sweet on the palate with bold aromatics.

Cepa 21 is the pure expression of the wine-making revolution that has been taking place in our country over the last years.” – http://www.cepa21.com/en/

Click on the video above to hear Jose Moro ( winemaker of Cepa 21 and Emilio Moro) talk about the brand’s balance of tradition, innovation, and social responsibility in the wine making process.

HITO ROSADO 2016

100% Tinto Fino.

The dinner started with Hito Rosado 2016. It has a beautiful color that grabbed my attention. It expresses aromas of red fruit (strawberry, raspberry, cherry) and a touch of flowers. Very fresh but at the same time it shows personality for being a rosé which was a nice surprise. Delicious after taste that will be popular for the hot weather. So don’t forget to include it in your Spring/Summer wine list!

P.S. Paired perfectly with the Peruvian ceviche in the dinner.

HITO 2015 

100% Tinto Fino. Aged 8 months in French oak barrels.

Nice cherry color with beautiful nose that express red and black fruit; such as cherries, strawberry, blackcurrant, and spices. Complex wine, that shows blackcurrant, licorice, meaty, and leather. Good tannin and acidity that gives you a long finish.

CEPA 21 2015

100% Tinto Fino. 12 months in French oak barrels.

This aromatic red expresses excellent quality of fruit, such as cherry, strawberry, candied black fruit, berries, licorice, and plum. Complex on the palate with great tannin and acidity. Delicious long finish.  You can enjoy it now but some of you may want to wait a few years to experience its full expression.

For those of you foodies, if you are in the mood for Peruvian food you can’t go wrong pairing it with a great Anticucho or Lomo Saltado. Salud! Enjoy!

P.S. Click on the video to hear about Jose Moro’s love for this wine.

MALABRIGO 2011 

This was the last wine in the dinner. The variety is a 100% Tinto Fino, and for those of you who are not familiar with it, Tinto Fino is a clone of Tempranillo located in Ribera del Duero. Also, Tinto Fino tends to be more thick-skinned than Tempranillo, making the wines darker in color and more powerful. On a side note, Malabrigo 2011 comes from a single vineyard and remained 18 months in French oak barrels.

This wine really grabbed my attention due to its aromas and palate. It shows a deep expression of black fruit, plum, licorice, cassis, spice notes, leather, and a touch of balsamic. On the palate, powerful wine that shows dark fruit with great tannin and acidity. It has a long finish that will give you a unique experience.

P.S. Small production

Lets connect through social media and spread the conversation on Spanish wine + write to me through my website (www.patriciashapiro.com) and let me know what you think of Cepa 21 wines, as well as any questions you have after reading this blog.

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#ThrowbackThursday in Honor of Vinitaly this Week

MY 15 SUPERSTARS . . .

My 15 superstars from James Suckling's Great Wines of Italy event in Miami !
The event took place on Monday night (March 6th) at the Design District, which as some of you know showcases art, fashion, and wine. The event was quickly filled with wine enthusiasts and professionals passionate about Italian wine. It was a great event and later I took the opportunity to try some wonderful restaurants (for all of you foodies) that I will later upload on the website.
So finally I just got back from a wonderful trip in Miami and I have chosen some bottles for this blog that stood out to me from the wineries that attended, and most importantly, I think they'll be a great addition to your cellar.

So lets dive into these gems!
(In no particular order)

RENIERI

                        

Marco Bacci owns three wineries in Tuscany: Renieri in Montalcino, Castello di Bossi in Chianti Classico, and Terre di Talamo in Maremma. In this event he presented two excellent Brunello wines: Renieri Brunello di Montalcino 2012 and Renieri Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2011. Both wines show beautiful balance and well structure. My favorite is the Riserva 2011.

ARGIANO

Argiano is owned by a group of Brazilian investors. At the event I met the CEO, Bernardino Sani, who presented Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2012 and Argiano Toscana Solengo 2014. I love both wines, but then again, I have never been disappointed by Argiano wines. I especially want to highlight their Brunello di Montalcino 2012. Its aromas and flavors are impressive, as well as its structure. It has a long lovely finish. A must-try for wine lovers!

SAN FILIPPO

San Filippo is owned by Roberto Gianelli. Year by year he produces great Brunello wines. I remember interviewing him in one of my visits to Vinitaly fair and tasting his 2010 vintage which left me impressed due to its structure and quality. In this event he presented his Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucére 2012 and Brunello di Montalcino 2012. Both are beautiful wines. Le Lucére 2012 is a rich wine with excellent tannin, acidity, and full body. Terrific wine! (Better in 3-4 years).
Winos don't miss out on trying it!
P.S. - You can check out his Vinitaly interview in my website by clicking on the 'Gallery' icon.
www.patriciashapiro.com

CASANOVA DI NERI

Giacomo Neri is an excellent wine producer! His wines never disappoint. His passion for wine making shines through his unique Burnellos. His son Giovanni (shown in the picture above) works with his dad in the vineyard throughout the whole process. It was nice to see the young Millennials learning from their parents and doing such a great job, as Giovanni did, in the Miami event. The wines presented were Brunello di Montalcino 2012 and Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2012. Both are great but pay special attention to Tenuta Nuova 2012. It has a perfect structure, delicious palate with impressive aromas. The long finish was spectacular. Keep an eye on it, it will be a great addition to your cellar.

CIACCI PICCOLOMINI D'ARAGONA

I met Paolo Bianchini, the wine producer, several years ago. He (and his sister Lucia) own a beautiful property in Montalcino that I recommend you to visit. He produces excellent wines and Grappa. Paolo's daughter, Ester, attended the event and it was nice to see her represent the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona brand so well. She showcased her professionalism and passion for wine!
She presented the Rosso di Montalcino Rossofonte 2014 which I found it to be a great Rosso. Try it, you will love it!
 The one that grabbed my attention the most was the Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso 2010. Incredible wine! It shows delicious aromas and flavors such as berries, flowers, mint, spices, and leather. Big Brunello!
P.S. - Tasting it was a great experience  but I would recommend waiting several years.

ALLEGRINI

Allegrini always makes fantastic wines! Marilisa Allegrini presented her Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2012 and Veronese Palazzo della Torre 2013. Both spectacular but the Classico 2012 definitely stands out. It is ready to enjoy but also has potential to age. This Amarone expresses dark fruit such as blueberry, plum, spices, chocolate, tobacco and coffee. Beautiful Amarone that you can drink alone or pair it with your favorite dish because it is ready to drink.
Bravo!

CASTIGLION DEL BOSCO

Castiglion del Bosco has a beautiful property in Montalcino. I visited years ago and it definitely gives winos a memorable experience. The two bottles presented at the event were Brunello di Montalcino 2012 and Brunello di Montalcino Millecento Riserva 2010. The 2012 is a delicious wine with great fruit, balance and finish. I enjoyed it but I would recommend waiting a few (2-3) years. The Millecento Riserva 2010 was one of my favorites. I tried it in 2016 at the Vinitaly fair with Massimo Ferragamo, during my interview with him, and the structure of the wine impressed me. Elegant wine! The bouquet expresses beautiful aromas of red fruit, cherry, plum, cassis, licorice, flowers, cinnamon, mint, and tobacco. On the palate, perfect balance with spectacular finish.

P.S. - You can check out Massimo's Vinitaly interview in my website: www.patriciashapiro.com

SAN POLINO

Luigi Fabro and Katia Nussbaum own San Polino. I met Katia years ago and I was always fascinated with her wines. San Polino focuses on having a biodynamic vineyard. Wine collectors, keep an eye on San Polino Brunello wines for your cellar  since they are unique and you won't be disappointed! The wines presented were Brunello di Montalcino 2011 and Brunello di Montalcino Helichrysum 2012. Both were delightful but Helichrysum 2012 stood out to me. The wine has excellent structure, fruit, acidity, and a lovely finish. I truly recommend you to try it but be patient because it is young.
Great things come to those who wait! Cheers

PETROLO

I met Luca years ago and Petrolo seems to be one of those brands that always gets it right. If you are a wine enthusiast that loves Italian wines you are probably already acquainted with the brand. The two wines that were presented in the event were Valdarno di Sopra Galatrona 2014 and Valdarno di Sopra Rosso Boggina 2014. Galatrona 2014 is a 100% Merlot and it's in the list of one of my favorites in Italy. Don't miss out on the opportunity to get one since it's a small production, only 7000 bottles.

PRINCIPE CORSINI

Duccio Corsini is the owner of Principe Corsini and he has been making a variety of great Italian wines. Costa Toscana Birillo 2013 and Chianti Classico Don Tommaso Gran Selezione 2013 were presented at the event. I want to highlight his Don Tommaso Gran Selezione 2013. A blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. It shows delicious aromas of dark fruit, flowers, and spices. Powerful on the palate, that expresses mocha, black cherry, with well integrated tannin and long finish.
For the foodies reading this blog, this Chianti Classico Gran Selezione pairs marvelously with risotto!

VALDICAVA

It was a great surprise to see Sofia, another young millennial, representing the Valdicava brand alongside her dad Vincenzo Abbruzzese. For those of you that have read my previous blogs, you already know I'm a big fan of Valdicava wines. They never disappoint! Vincenzo and Sofia presented their Brunello di Montalcino 2007 and Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2010. The 2007 is ready to drink and presently enjoyable. The Madonna del Piano Riserva 2010 is a perfect wine! It is evident why James Suckling gave it a 100 points. Valdicava only comes out with Madonna del Piano Riservas on excellent vintages, such as the 2010. Age it a few years in your cellar.
A true gem!

NINO FRANCO

It was a pleasure to meet Primo Franco at the event and his passion for making prosecco was evident. I have been a fan of his proseccos for a long time and I consider Nino Franco one of the top prosecco brands. He presented Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore Rustico and Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore Primo Franco Dry 2015. Both are excellent! The Prosecco di Vadobbiadene Superiore Primo Franco Dry 2015 shows beautiful fruit aromas that grabbed my attention. On the palate, nice acidity with fruit expression and clean finish. Perfect for the Florida weather!

BIBI GRAETZ

I met Bibi several years ago. You can find out how and why he started making wine as well as his philosophy on wine making in the Vinitaly interview I gave him in my website's gallery
( www.patriciashapiro.com ). In it, Bibi will give you better insight on the history of his brand and what makes his Colore stand out. He presented his Toscana Testamatta 2013 an Toscana Colore 2011. Both magnificent wines but my superstar pick was the Toscana Colore 2011. He produced a small quantity of bottles so don't miss out on the opportunity to try it.
Salute!

VITANZA

I met Rosalba Vitanza and Guido Andretta a few years back. They presented Andretta Brunello di Montalcino 2012 which is a new label and Vitanza Brunello di Montalcino Tradizione 2012. Both wines were great but I'm still more of a fan of Vitanza Tradizione style since I have been acquainted with it for several years.  It shows great personality with concentrated fruit and delicious finish.
P.S. - Try both of them and let me know what you think through my website.


BELLAVISTA

Bellavista is located in a great territory of Lombardia. I have been drinking Bellavista sparkling wines for a while now. They are very enjoyable! Bellavista presented Franciacorta Alma Gran Cuvée Brut NV and Franciacorta Teatro Alla Scala Brut 2011. My superstar pick was the latter. Franciacorta Teatro Alla Scala Brut 2011 has a composition of 72% Chardonnay and 28% Pinot Nero. It shows delightful aromas of fruit such as white peach, apple, citrus note, and pear. On the palate, it evokes delicious ripe fruit mixed with the feeling of soft delicate bubbles combined with perfect acidity and long finish.

Salute!

Winos lets connect on social media:

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facebook business: www.facebook.com/patriciashapiro.wineandmore

Also you can write me any questions you have or comments through my website!

For more recommendations on upcoming wine events go to www.patriciashapiro.com

Tulia Osteria (Naples, Florida, USA)

www.osteriatulia.com

Tulia is an Italian restaurant located on the famous 5th Ave in the city of Naples. This Osteria offers an extensive Italian wine list compared to other restaurants in Naples and chef Vincenzo Betulia (who is also a co-owner of the Osteria) makes sure to enhance your palate through each dish. Tulia has been opened for almost 3 years and has grabbed the attention of the locals, tourists, as well as tons of media attention being named one of the top restaurants in Naples, Florida. Its rustic friendly ambiance enhances one’s dining experience and it is definitely an attention grabber for wine lovers who enjoy Italian cuisine.

Brujas de Cachiche (Lima, Peru)

www.brujasdecachiche.com.pe

This restaurant is one of the oldest restaurants in Lima, and its well known for its classic Peruvian food. If you want to try a great Pisco Sour with an amazing variety of ‘criollo’ dishes, then go to Miraflores to enjoy a lunch here. Brujas de Cachice specializes in their variety of Pisco.

Some of my favorite plates were: Piqueo Criollo (shown in the top right picture above) it includes some of the most famous Peruvian food. Also for dessert, two of my favorites are ‘Picarones’ and ‘Suspiro a la Limeña.’