page 1 memberservices@ Castillo del Baròn Monastrell, Yecla, 2011 This vibrant, perfumed monastrell (aka mourvèdre) comes from Yecla, 50km inland from Alicante. The high altitudes here give a continental influence to the otherwise Mediterranean climate, with cooler evenings and cold nights helping to preserve freshness and acidity in the grape. It is believed that this ancient grape variety originated in south eastern Spain, and Castillo del Baròn comes from monastrell vines aged 18 to 20 years old. The winery is equipped with modern vinification facilities; stainless steel tanks, full temperature-control, pneumatic presses and a state-of-the-art bottling line. Product Code SP7281 Dominant Grape Mourvedre Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2014 Origin Spain Alcohol Level 14.0% Style not applicable Closure type Cork, plastic Vintage 2011 Price No longer for sale Producer : Bodegas Castaño - See next page.
page 2 memberservices@ Producer : Bodegas Castaño Bodegas Castaño has been the one producer to change the face of Yecla, a tiny DO which has historically been synonymous with very old-fashioned, overcooked red wines that have never made popular exports. It has been run by the Castaño family for three generations, and is currently headed by the dynamic and charismatic Daniel Castaño. It was his father, the brilliant Ramón Castaño, who really brought the bodega the reputation it deserves, and who was the first to export their wines internationally back in the 1990s. It is this bodega that creates Castillo del Barón, an unpretentious range of wines that expresses what modern production techniques can do to showcase this region s brilliant local grape varieties, in particular monastrell and macabeo. They own over 500ha of vineyards, but also buy in some grapes from trusted Yecla growers. To maintain their rigorous quality controls, the Castaño viticulturist is actively involved in managing the growing of not only the property s own grapes, but also those they source externally. They grow several varieties, among them garnacha, tempranillo, merlot, syrah, chardonnay, and macabeo; however, it is monastrell that reigns here, making up 70% of their vineyard area. The reason for this is simple: monastrell (known in France as mourvèdre) is perfectly suited to Yecla s hot Mediterranean climate and frequently arid weather conditions. It also grows best at between 600-900m altitude, and Yecla is blessed with being positioned on a high plateau that reaches 800m altitude at its highest point. The Castaños monastrell is mostly planted on bush-trained vines many of which are pre-phylloxera spaced widely apart which help prevent vines from facing too much competition during the driest weather. The winery was built by Ramón, Daniel s father, in 1950, and since the 1980s it has undergone vast modernisation, starting with a top-of-the-range bottling machine. They now boast temperature-controlled vats, refrigerated storage for pre-fermentation maceration, and different-sized vats to allow experimentation and more selective vinification. Daniel is a very hands-on, passionate head of the company, who really cares about where his wine is sold and the people who sell it. His clients include Jamie Oliver s Barbecoa restaurant. Along with garnacha, monastrell is one of Spain s best grapes for honest, juicy, easy-drinking wines in which you get a lot of fruit for your money. The Castaños exemplify this perfectly, aiming to showcase their monastrell at its ripe, deeply coloured, fruity best, often with a hint of earthiness for added interest.
page 3 memberservices@ The Society's Southern Spanish Red, Jumilla 2013 This is made for The Society by Bodegas Juan Gil which is a newish bodega in Jumilla's hilly Penarubia zone, an area noted for its richly flavoured, concentrated monastrell (aka mourvèdre). This is a fantastically spicy and fruity example with a dash of shiraz to add depth and power. Real value here. Product Code SP7881 Dominant Grape Mourvedre Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2013 to 2015 Origin Spain Alcohol Level 13.5% Style not applicable Closure type Screwcap Vintage 2013 Price No longer for sale Producer : Bodegas Juan Gil - See next page.
page 4 memberservices@ Producer : Bodegas Juan Gil Bodegas Juan Gil is a relatively young bodega, having only released its maiden vintage in 2003, but this family-owned winery has a passionate winemaking history dating back to 1916. It began when Juan Gil Giménez, great-grandfather of the present generation, started getting involved in the world of wine, building a winery in the hilly Penarubia zone in the heart of Jumilla. His son, Juan Gil Guerrero, dedicated all his life to this world, but it was the third generation, Juan Gil González and his brother Paco, that really forged the winery s image of quality, efficiency, and reliability. It is after these men that the most emblematic trademark of this new period is called Juan Gil, and the current generation Miguel Gil, the great grandson of the founder is dedicated to continuing his ancestors philosophy. Miguel has also been instrumental in the bodega s success in his own right, and was behind the development of the brand new winery which was opened in 2003. Jumilla and particularly the Penarubia zone is most famous for its richly flavoured, concentrated monastrell. While known more widely as mourvèdre in France, the grape is in fact native to this region. Monastrell makes up the majority of Juan Gil s 100 hectares of vineyards, although they do also grow small amounts of other popular varieties like syrah. They also have access to fruit from around 700 hectares of local vines, which range in age from 30-50 years old. Despite the proximity to the sea, the continental climate here produces scorching hot summers (there is sometimes a difference of 20 degrees between day and night temperatures) and very low rainfall. However, monastrell is able to resist drought remarkably well, and the predominantly limestone soils of Juan Gil s vineyards retain water, which also helps during the dry seasons. Poor-quality soils and strict viticultural practices produce low yields of high-quality grapes. The team at Juan Gil recognises that different plots of vines impart unique characteristics, so all plots are vinified separately and then skilfully blended to create distinctive and surprisingly complex wines. When making The Society s Southern Spanish Red, a blend of monastrell with a little syrah, the syrah is handharvested in mid-september, whereas the monastrell is harvested in mid to late October. The winery is set right in the heart of the vineyards so the fruit does not have long to travel this prevents temperature fluctuations and retains the grapes natural aromas and freshness. The processing capacity of the winery is an impressive three and a half million kilos, and the ageing cellar can hold 3,000 oak casks. All the buildings are air-conditioned, and the company has also invested in temperature-controlled vats and modern lab equipment, its aim being to balance their forefathers traditions with the necessary technological advances to ensure the quality of their wines continues to flourish.
page 5 memberservices@ Producer : Bodegas Juan Gil - Continued. In addition to their projects in the Alicante region the Gil family also own other wineries and vineyards across Spain. An example is Cellers Can Blau based in El Molar in the DO of Monsant in Catalonia, established in 2003. Here 35 hectares of cariñena, syrah and grenache are planted for the company's small range of excellent red wines. The grenache is planted on soils of slate known locally as llicorella, while the cariñena grows on clay soils and the syrah on limestone, and all average 40 years of age.
page 6 memberservices@ Sabina Tempranillo, 2011 Deeply coloured, clean and fruity red which makes for perfect everyday drinking, with or without food. Product Code SP7201 Dominant Grape Tempranillo Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2014 Origin Navarra Alcohol Level 13.5% Style not applicable Closure type Screwcap Vintage 2011 Price No longer for sale Producer : Bodega Principe de Viana Everything about Bodegas Príncipe de Viana is vast: owners of over 400 hectares of vines in Navarra, controlling a further 500 hectares, planted to Spanish grapes (graciano, garnacha and tempranillo) and international ones (cabernet, merlot and chardonnay). Príncipe de Viana also boast one of the region s most technically modern wineries, built in 2004, with a barrel room that contains more than 15,000 oak barrels. Despite this the winemaking approach is sensitive and modest, aiming always for clean, balanced flavours. The scale of Príncipe de Viana s production brings an enormous economic advantage: by controlling everything from vineyard to bottling in combination with the high volumes produced means that the wines offer some of Spain s best value for money. Sabina is a special label made by Príncipe de Viana for The Wine Society and is one of our top selling Spanish reds. The name Sabina is taken from the indigenous Spanish juniper tree grown locally in Navarra, where this wine comes from. This unoaked style of tempranillo (with a small amount of cabernet sauvignon to add structure) is made in a fruity and balanced style with lovely clean flavours. Perfect on its own at parties or enjoy with a plate of jamón.
page 7 memberservices@ La Poda Tempranillo Shiraz 2011 This opulent, generously fruity and modern Spanish red is mostly tempranillo with a dash of shiraz, aged for three months in American oak barrels. Product Code SP7601 Dominant Grape Tempranillo Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates Within two years of purchase Origin Spain Alcohol Level 13.0% Style not applicable Closure type Screwcap Vintage 2011 Price No longer for sale Producer : Bodegas Palacio - See next page.
page 8 memberservices@ Producer : Bodegas Palacio Bodegas Palacio is located in the heart of the Rioja Alavesa, at the bottom of the road leading up to Laguardia, a spectacular fortified hilltop village set against the backdrop of the Sierra Cantabria. The original stone-built bodega, now a small hotel, was first superseded by a rather four-square winery, but was replaced with a new, modern winery in 2014. Palacio was founded in 1894 by Don Cosme de Palacio, an entrepreneur from Bilbao, one of the pioneers of winemaking in the region who made many positive changes, including the introduction of ageing in oak barrels. After a period under French ownership in the 1980s, during which Bordeaux guru Michel Rolland consulted here, Palacio was acquired in the 1990s by Hijos de Antonio Barcelo, one of Spain s largest winemaking conglomerates, itself part of the giant Acciona group. Thanks to a high level of investment, Palacio has been able to expand, modernise and thrive. This is an unusual enterprise in many respects. It buys in most of its fruit from a long-established network of contract growers, effectively controlling 255ha of vineyards, all in the Alavesa. It concentrates almost exclusively on tempranillo and viura, though in the new alta expresión white, Cosme 1894, there is a touch of malvasia. The winery has a 13,000 barrel capacity and exports a third of its production. A number of distinctly different bottlings reflect the bodega s historical French bias, from the almost bordelais El Portico (named after the ornately carved door of the church of San Bartolome in Logroño), to the high-definition prestige cuvée, Cosme de Palacio developed by Rolland.. More true to regional style is Glorioso, though its maturation six months each in French and American oak is hardly typical. This is an outfit which does its own thing, to be sure, and does it well, if the medal tally from international fairs and shows is anything to go by. Bearing little resemblance to any of these in style Glorioso is perhaps the closest is The Socety s Rioja, which is also made here., The head of winemaking, forty-something Roberto Rodriguez [Martinez] has worked here since the tender age of 18: his deep understanding both of his craft and of the plots at the bodega s disposal enable him to preselect, in anticipation of the buyer s final blend, a range of appropriate component wines that he knows will both appeal to members and maintain the consistency and quality of this best-seller. A last word about Cosme Palacio 1894, Palacio s newest prestige project, named in honour of Palacio s founder and year of establishment, and developed with input from consultant winemaker Sam Harrop MW. The white is a remarkable viura-based blend, with a little malvasia and garnacha blanca, from very old, low-yielding vines grown at up to 800m, The red is 90% tempranillo with 10% graciano. The inaugural 2007 vintage was released in 2010 and has already won critical acclaim.
page 9 memberservices@ Castillo del Baròn Monastrell, Yecla 2012 This vibrant, perfumed monastrell (aka mourvèdre) comes from Yecla, 50km inland from Alicante. The high altitudes here give a continental influence to the otherwise Mediterranean climate, with cooler evenings and cold nights helping to preserve freshness and acidity in the grape. It is believed that this ancient grape variety originated in south eastern Spain, and Castillo del Barón comes from monastrell vines aged 18 to 20 years old. The winery is equipped with modern vinification facilities; stainless-steel tanks, full temperature-control, pneumatic presses and a state-of-the-art bottling line. Product Code SP7861 Dominant Grape Mourvedre Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2013 to 2015 Origin Spain Alcohol Level 14.0% Style not applicable Closure type Cork, plastic Vintage 2012 Price No longer for sale Producer : Bodegas Castaño - See next page.
page 10 memberservices@ Producer : Bodegas Castaño Bodegas Castaño has been the one producer to change the face of Yecla, a tiny DO which has historically been synonymous with very old-fashioned, overcooked red wines that have never made popular exports. It has been run by the Castaño family for three generations, and is currently headed by the dynamic and charismatic Daniel Castaño. It was his father, the brilliant Ramón Castaño, who really brought the bodega the reputation it deserves, and who was the first to export their wines internationally back in the 1990s. It is this bodega that creates Castillo del Barón, an unpretentious range of wines that expresses what modern production techniques can do to showcase this region s brilliant local grape varieties, in particular monastrell and macabeo. They own over 500ha of vineyards, but also buy in some grapes from trusted Yecla growers. To maintain their rigorous quality controls, the Castaño viticulturist is actively involved in managing the growing of not only the property s own grapes, but also those they source externally. They grow several varieties, among them garnacha, tempranillo, merlot, syrah, chardonnay, and macabeo; however, it is monastrell that reigns here, making up 70% of their vineyard area. The reason for this is simple: monastrell (known in France as mourvèdre) is perfectly suited to Yecla s hot Mediterranean climate and frequently arid weather conditions. It also grows best at between 600-900m altitude, and Yecla is blessed with being positioned on a high plateau that reaches 800m altitude at its highest point. The Castaños monastrell is mostly planted on bush-trained vines many of which are pre-phylloxera spaced widely apart which help prevent vines from facing too much competition during the driest weather. The winery was built by Ramón, Daniel s father, in 1950, and since the 1980s it has undergone vast modernisation, starting with a top-of-the-range bottling machine. They now boast temperature-controlled vats, refrigerated storage for pre-fermentation maceration, and different-sized vats to allow experimentation and more selective vinification. Daniel is a very hands-on, passionate head of the company, who really cares about where his wine is sold and the people who sell it. His clients include Jamie Oliver s Barbecoa restaurant. Along with garnacha, monastrell is one of Spain s best grapes for honest, juicy, easy-drinking wines in which you get a lot of fruit for your money. The Castaños exemplify this perfectly, aiming to showcase their monastrell at its ripe, deeply coloured, fruity best, often with a hint of earthiness for added interest.
page 11 memberservices@ Cruz de Piedra Garnacha 2011 Rich, densely flavoured garnacha from an ancient vineyard planted high in the mountains of northern Spain. Exuberantly fruity and chunky. Product Code SP7681 Dominant Grape Grenache/Garnacha Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2014 Origin Spain Alcohol Level 14.0% Style not applicable Closure type Screwcap Vintage 2011 Price No longer for sale Producer : Virgen de la Sierra - See next page.
page 12 memberservices@ Producer : Virgen de la Sierra Formed in 1954, Bodega Virgen de la Sierra was one of the first co-operatives in the Aragón region, situated towards the north-east of Spain. The co-op is located within the Calatayud appellation, around 100km south-east of Rioja, on the outskirts of the village of Villaroya de la Sierra. Many of the company s vineyards can be found high in the hills above this village, at an altitude of between 700-1100m. The bodega s name is a nod to its location in the Sierra de la Virgen mountain range, which in turn gets its name from a shrine to the Virgin Mary that can be found around 22km north of the village. The path of pilgrimage to this shrine runs through the vineyards, and is marked with stone crosses. It is for this region the bodega named its main wine range Cruz de Piedra: this phrase means stone crosses in Spanish. The soils in this area are stony, loose and very poor in nutrients, so the vine roots must dig deep to find the water and nutrients they desire during the hot, dry summers. Most of the bodega s vines are grown on red clay with a high iron content, giving wines that are full of flavour. These conditions have proven ideal for garnacha. One of the main reasons this bodega creates such excellent-value wines is because of the age of their vines: 80% of its garnacha is between 50 and 100 years old, whereas the other main grape variety they cultivate, macabeo, is grown on vines with an average age of 60 years. After experimentation with various varieties, the co-op now also grows small amounts of tempranillo and syrah, which also work well in these conditions. Once harvested, the grapes are transported to the cellars, which have been managed by winemaker Manuel Castro since 2004. These cellars can hold 3.9 million litres, but the co-op also has separate buildings for bottling and storage. The winery is kitted out with modern technology and concrete tanks, and the Cruz de Piedra wines are coolfermented and don t see any oak in order to preserve the grapes lip-smacking fruit character.
page 13 memberservices@ Vega del Castillo Garnacha 2011 This excellent Spanish garnacha is sourced from a selection of old vineyard sites (up to 60 years old). Supple, spicy and remarkable value. Vega Castillo was created from a merger of three Navarra co-ops. Product Code SP7851 Dominant Grape Grenache/Garnacha Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2014 Origin Navarra Alcohol Level 13.5% Style not applicable Closure type Screwcap Vintage 2011 Price No longer for sale Producer : Bodegas Vega del Castillo Navarra s Vega del Castillo has only existed for 15 years, but they produce some of the most competitively priced wines in our Spanish range. It came into being in 1999 when in response to an increasingly difficult industry several co-ops merged into one. Unlike some similar mergers, these co-ops have learned to work together in harmony in order to get the best out of their vines. In fact, it is this diversity of producers that makes their wines so special: they have a wonderfully varied range of wine styles because their vineyards are scattered in several locations across the Navarra region. They are based in Olité, a town that has had vines for an impressive nine centuries. This means many of their vineyards contain a number of precious old vines, giving extra depth of quality to the wines. As a particularly thin-skinned grape, the health and yield of the vines are key to garnacha s quality. Garnacha makes up 40% of their vines some of them are up to 80 years old and even the vines used to produce the exceptional value garnacha we stock are over 50 years old. Vega del Castillo Garnacha also spends three months in American barrels to give it added complexity.
page 14 memberservices@ Marques de Mejia Rioja 2010 Made at Bodegas del Medievo, a modern new winery situated in Aldeanueva de Ebro in the Rioja Baja district. They own 220 hectares of vineyards which extend across the highest areas of Aldeanueva at 750 metres altitude. 100% tempranillo, which is aged in oak for six months, this is a plump, round and succulent Rioja with a lovely touch of oaky flavour. Product Code SP7751 Dominant Grape Tempranillo Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2014 Origin Rioja Alcohol Level 13.0% Style not applicable Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2010 Price No longer for sale Producer : Bodega del Medievo Headed by Joseba Almaraz, Bodega del Medievo was started by a group of farmers and wine dealers who wanted both to enhance and protect the quality and sales of their wines. They are based in Aldeanueva de Ebro in the La Rioja Baja district the warmest and most productive sub-zone of Rioja, where grapes ripen consistently. They carefully source their fruit from over 150ha of vineyards, 65% of which are tempranillo, 20% grenache, 10% mazuelo and 5% are graciano. La Rioja Baja isn t generally renowned for more traditional elegance, but it does produce excellent Rioja in a fruitier, more everyday style. Marques de Mejia is a good-quality, honest Rioja from one of the highest zones in the district, and offers particularly impressive value for money. Although it doesn t have an official age classification, it is affectionately called a semi-crianza as it is aged for six months in new oak half that of a crianza s legal requirement to give a nice lick of true Rioja style.
page 15 memberservices@ La Ferla, Nero d'avola Rosso, Sicilia IGT, 2010 Ripe and exuberant red with an aroma and flavour reminiscent of plums and cherries, with a touch of Mediterranean herbs. It comes exclusively from the nero d'avola grape grown on the hills inland from Agrigento. Product Code IT16151 Dominant Grape Nero d'avola Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2014 Origin S Italy and Islands Alcohol Level 13.0% Style not applicable Closure type Screwcap Vintage 2010 Price No longer for sale Copertino Eloquenzia, 2008 (Severino Garofano) The Garofano family continues to produce brilliant-value reds from the negroamaro grape on their estate in the Salentino peninsula. Sweet ripe mellow fruit. Product Code IT15521 Dominant Grape Negroamaro Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2015 Origin S Italy and Islands Alcohol Level 13.0% Style not applicable Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2008 Price No longer for sale