Buen Día, Feastlings,
If you’ve been in Tucson for a spell, you may be able to reach into the recesses of your memory and pull out a little recollection of Dale Sparks. Anthony’s? Boutique Wines? Maybe you went to Sabino High School with him? Whatever the case, Dale’s a grudging Phoenician now, formerly cellarmaster at the Phoenician hotel, founder of Quench fine wines, and now founder of importer 2Twenty Imports, an importer of primarily Spanish wines. Dale will be here at 3:30 this Sunday, October 26, with six delicious Spanish wines in tow. We’ll offer our customary wine pairings with them and Dale’s unique blend of knowledge and wisdom. It’s $35 plus tax and tip to join us, and you’ll be offered a discount on the wines. The way to sign up is the old-fashioned way: give us a call at 326-9363, since web and email reservations will not get you a seat at the tasting.
Trust Your Importer- 2Twenty Imports
Juan Sancha ‘Ad Libitum’ 2011 Maturana Tinto $27.00
From the crazy professor, Juan Carlos Sancha, who spent his academic career identifying arcane grape varieties in Rioja. This mutation of Bordeaux’s Cabernet Franc shares many personality traits with it’s cousin. Tobacco, spice, green pepper, silky texture and a long finish. Professor Sancha produces two, 225L barrels per year, or about 50 cases – this is a very rare wine.
Aradon 2012 Rioja (Red) $14.00
100% Tempranillo, grown at high elevation in the Sierra Cantabria foothills, produced in stainless steel and concrete fermentation vessels, no oak ageing. This is a pure expression of the higher parts of Rioja Baja and of the great Tempranillo grape.
Gomez Cruzado 2007 Reserva $33.00
This winery has re-embraced the traditional methods of production in Rioja and the current winemaking team began doing so with this wine in 2007. Primarily sourced from all head trained vines in the Alavesa, 18 months in American and French oak plus another 2 years in bottle prior to release, this wine demonstrates the wisdom of the wine laws in Rioja.
Tobelos 2012 Barrel Fermented Blanco $23.00
From ancient vines, a field blend of approximately 80% Viura and 20% Garnacha Blanco. The vineyard is one of the highest white wine vineyards in Rioja. This minerally, crisp, zippy white has the delicacy and complexity of great Chablis but picks up saline and salt and other maritime influences from the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
Bodegas La Horra 2010 Corimbo $44.00
From the great 2010 vintage, this exciting new Ribera del Duero project from modern Spanish icon Bodegas RODA is full of classic Tempranillo (known as Tinto del Pias in the Ribera del Duero) character. Tobacco, leather, cumin, cedar, dried cherries, red plums and a long tannic finish. This wines price tag belies the fact that it is collectable, and will likely age for decades to come.
Bodegas RODA 2011 Sela $36.00
With 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano and 2% Garnacha, Sela has classic proportions used to produce great Rioja. 12 months in French oak but the wine is already well integrated with red fruit character, tannin, and spice notes.