Spain: Top Producers and Bottlings

Question 1

Castillo Ygay (Blanco)

Answer 1

Marques de Murrieta
Gran Reserva
Only made in the best years.

The 1986 was the 1st Spanish white to receive 100 Parker points.

Most recent release is 1994

Question 2

Castillo Ygay (Red)

Answer 2

Marques de Murrieta
Only made in the best years.

2010 vintage was Spectator’s Wine of the Year.

2017 is the most recent vintage. NOT made in 2012, 2013 and 2015

Question 3

Termanthia

Answer 3

The top wine from Numanthia, the Toro estate now owned by LVMH. This wine undergoes “200% new oak” - big boy

Question 4

Alion

Answer 4

Vega Sicilia’s 2nd project, Ribera del Duero.
Ages just 3 years before release… a wine meant to be drunk younger.

Question 5

Pintia

Answer 5

Vega Sicilia’s project in Toro

Question 6

Unico

Answer 6

Vega Sicilia’s flagship.
Spends 6 years in barrel, 4 years in bottle.
Tempranillo with some portion of Cabernet

Question 7

Valbuena 5°

Answer 7

Vega Sicilia

Primarily Tempranillo, with some Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. A younger wine released in every vintage, with grapes from 25- to 35-year-old vines. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for three years in oak followed by two in bottle.

Question 8

Tondonia vs. Bosconia: what’s the difference?

Answer 8

Tondonia: typically 75% Tempranillo with Mazuelo and Graciano. Revered for structure and complex fruit

Bosconia: typically more Tempranillo and overall a bit softer and rounder - more lush; spends a year less in wood usually

Question 9

Which of Lopez de Heredia’s 2 vineyards are made into Gran Reserva wines?

Answer 9

Tondonia, Bosconia

Question 10

Lopez de Heredia’s white - what vintage, what designation, aging?

Answer 10

Vina Tondonia, released as Reserva and Gran Reserva
6 years in barrel. 85 to 90 Viura with a balance of Malvasia.
Current release appears to be.. 2011 Reserva, 2001 Gran Reserva

Question 11

Lopez de Heredia’s rosé - what vintage, what designation, aging?

Answer 11

Vina Tondonia, released only as Gran Reserva.
Usually about 60 Garnacha/30 Tempranillo/10 Viura. Long aging
Current release appears to be 2012

Question 12

Gran Reserva 890

Answer 12

La Rioja Alta
Primarily Tempranillo from selected vineyard sites, with some Graciano and Mazuelo. Commemorates the estate’s original winemaker, Monsieur Vigier, and his first wine, the Reserva 1890. The wine is aged in a combination of new and three-year-old American oak barrels, then racked multiple times before bottling.

Question 13

Gran Reserva 904

Answer 13

Primarily Tempranillo, with a small proportion of Graciano. Commemorates the 1904 acquisition of the Ardanza Winery. The wine is aged in used American oak barrels for an average of four years, then racked numerous times before bottling.

Question 14

Prado Enea

Answer 14

Muga, recent vintage 2015
36 months in French and American oak, 36 months in bottle before release
Gran Reserva***

Question 15

Torre Muga

Answer 15

Muga, of course
No age classification, recent release 2019
Ages in new French oak. The modern Muga.

Question 16

Aro

Answer 16

Muga, recent vintage 2019
ages 18 months in new French oak.

Question 17

Millenium Gran Reserva

Answer 17

Tinto Pesquera, Ribera del Duero
100% Tempranillo from Viña Alta. Aged 30 months in French oak barrels, then 10 months in bottle. Inaugural vintage 2008.

Question 18

What does CUNE stand for?

Answer 18

Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España

Question 19

What are the 3 labels under the CUNE umbrella?

Answer 19

Imperial
Vina Real
Contino

Question 20

Imperial Gran Reserva

Answer 20

2016 recent release
85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo, from low-yielding vines about 20 years old. The grapes are hand-harvested and destemmed, then undergo a long maceration to extract color and tannin. The wine is aged in American oak barrels for three years and in bottle for four years.

Question 21

Cirsion

Answer 21

Bodegas Roda
100% Tempranillo. Bodegas Roda believes there is a higher level of polymerisation of tannins in some grapes, leading to a fuller taste, and hand select these bunches from different parcels of old vines. Inaugural vintage 1998.
Recent… 2016

Question 22

Barón de Chirel

Answer 22

Marques de Riscal
Primarily Tempranillo with Cabernet Sauvignon, from 80- to 110-year-old vines. Aged in French barrique for about 20 months. Only produced in exceptional vintages. Inaugural vintage 1986.

Question 23

El Nido

Answer 23

Jumilla
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Monastrell

Question 24

Vina El Pison

Answer 24

flagship single bottling from Artadi. No age designate - recent vintage 2019

Question 25

Producer from Montila-Moriles?

Answer 25

Alvear