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 For the past few years, Spanish wines have continued to be the best price/value wines in the world at all price points, be it value, mid-tier and “super cuvée.” Along with Bierzo, Rias Baixas, Montsant, Jumilla, Toro and others, the Cigales D.O. (Denominación de Origen) is a wine region on the rise. Museum and other wineries are currently challenging the old belief that Cigales is a place suitable to produce only sturdy rosados (‘rosés’). On previously overlooked sites, Museum now grows grapes that make world-class red wines.
In the late 1990’s, Grupo Baron de Ley, owner of Rioja bodegas El Coto de Rioja and Baron de Ley, searched for vineyards to purchase in the Ribera del Duero DO region, but an atmosphere of speculation had driven vineyard prices astronomically skyward. The neighboring region of Cigales contained a climate, soils and very old vineyards similar to Ribera del Duero. In 1999, Grupo Baron de Ley invested nearly $18 Million in a new winery, and this undertaking has helped put the Cigales DO region on the map. The grapes come from 117 hectares of vineyards, 70 of which surround the bodega with the rest in outlying areas, and there are long-term contracts for 400 hectares of additional vineyards. All hold an incredible treasure of 60 to 100 year-old vines. Both the Crianza and the Reserva are 100% Tinta del Pais, the region’s variant of Tempranillo. The Crianza is aged for 15 months in French and American barrels; the Reserva spends 24 months in new French oak barrels.
The Museum Real Reserva 2003 has a concentrated nose of plums, cassis, cherries, toffee and herbs, including rosemary. With bright acidity and a long finish, this is a strong pair with grilled steak and similar dishes that call for a rich, robust wine. It sells for about $30-32 a bottle.
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Click to download shelf talker from the Wine&Spirits "Top 5 Italian Value Brands, 89 pts." review of Melini Chianti Classico Isassi '05 in the June '08 issue. Also for this wine, download talker with "Critics' Picks" and "100 Top Value Wines of the Year" ratings from same issue of W&S.
Under Latest Shelf Talkers download talkers with reviews of Folonari Pinot Grigio '07 in The Wall Street Journal and Santi Soave Classico 'Vigneti di Monteforte' '06 in The New York Times.
Also for this wine, download talker with "Critics' Picks" and "100 Top Value Wines of the Year" ratings from same issue of W&S.
Shearwater's Sunday Wine Tasting Cruises Set Sail May 4th! The new season is officially underway for Shearwater's wine tasting sails. Join us this Sunday for our weekly "Sail, Sip & Savor" cruises. Click on Shearwater logo for our Events page and more details. Click here for our PR page with Press Release.
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