Son vs. Dad: Wine Tasting Wars
We have visited all our producers in person at their states. We have witnessed their viticulture practices, learned their history, unveiled their preferred winemaking methods, and tasted their wines directly with them.
Now, back home, we re-taste all the wines that we decided to incorporate in our online store based on our strict quality criteria (which includes respect for the environment, sustainable, natural and ecological practices, traditional elaboration methods, and a focus to translate the terroir into the glass of wine.
We will post one of such tastings every week, so that you hear what each of our wines has to offer. And you will hear what two different generations (son and dad) have to say about a particular wine.
Enjoy them!
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Gran Reserva | Bodegas Contino | Rioja Alta | Spain
A selection of the best soils from the vineyards is used to produce the Contino Reserva to offer the best possible wine in terms of acidity, concentration and maturity. The Tempranillo grapes are harvested primarily from an area of stony soil near the Ebro River, resulting in slower ageing due to the humidity of the ground. A classical mix of Rioja varieties.
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Gran Araucano | Hacienda Araucanno | Colchagua | Valle Central | Chile
100% Organic and Biodynamic Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in centenary old vineyards of the Colchagua Valley. Harvesting by hand in crates with grape selection at the double sorting table. Malolactic fermentation in vats for a fairly short period of eight to ten days. Matured for 18 months in Bordeaux barrels (70% new barrels, 30% second-fill barrels).
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Rocaplana | Bodegas Oriol Rossell | Penedés | Spain
Syrah grapes from El Masnou vineyard, a very singular vineyard planted in poor chalky soil with a clay-loam texture and some gravel on a very steep slope. Techniques such as grass cover or green harvesting are used to regulate the production. Harvesting is carried out by hand with the grapes placed in 20 kg crates. 100% ecologic and organic viticulture.
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
El Temido | Bodegas Sabinares | Arlanza | Spain
This wine is the translation of a unique terroir of the mountain range Sierra de la Demanda, in an extreme climate and from centenary-old vineyards planted at high altitudes (1,000 meters above sea level). Based on Tempranillo, it also incorporates other variates found in the old coupages planted in these vineyards in the past (including Mencía, Garnacha and Cariñena). Manual harvest at the end of October!
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Txakolina | Bodegas Gaintza | Getariako Txakolina | Spain
Hondarrabi Zuri (85%) and Gros Manseng (15%) grapes grown in high parral (40%) and vertical trellised (60%) vineyards in Getaria, the Spanish Basque Country, with extreme care put into minimum intervention viticultural practices. Elaborated mimicking the low temperature conditions of ancestral times, where wines where fermented in the winter months, without allowing all the carbonic to scape.
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Xic - Xarelo | Agusti Torrello Mata | Penedes | Spain
Wine made with organic Xarel-lo grapes from ecologic vineyard plots in the Penedés region. The production process is respectful with the character of the grape and the used of vegetal fining agents during the clarification process make this wine qualify as vegan. Fermented with its own yeasts and bottled after 6 months aging with its lees in temperature-controlled tanks.
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Carneros Chardonnay | Shug Carneros | Carneros | Napa | USA
This Chardonnay features grapes sourced primarily from the Ricci Vineyard and the Schug Estate vineyard, with additional barrels from the Wildcat Mountain and Sangiacomo vineyards that underwent traditional European viticultural practices. Each lot was fermented separately and aged on the lees in small French Oak barrels.
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Antiguas reservas Cab. Sauv. | Cousiño Macul | Maipo | Valle Central | Chile
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from centenary old vineyards in the Maipo Valley for the elaboration of a historical wine first made in 1927. Manual harvest and careful selection of the best grapes that are fermented under temperature control and a post maceration for 20 days. Aging in French oak barriques for 12 months
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Belat | Albet i Noya | Penedés | Spain
Belat is an ancestral variety in the Penedés of unidentified genotype that has been recovered by Albet i Noya within their collaborative project of restoration of ancestral varieties. This is a top quality wine of this this producer. The grapes are fermented in 500-liter French oak barriques and matured on them for 15 months, after which they rest in bottle for a prolonged period of time.
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Paraje Peñalobos | El Laga de Isilla | Ribera del Duero | Spain
A singular vineyard in the path of wolves at 900 meters of altitude with bunch vines of more than 100 years of age and extremely low production levels. As all centenary vineyards in the area, it contains a natural coupage dominated by Tempranillo (95%) and accompanied with Albillo and other varieties. This wine has been praised as one of the best Ribera del Duero wines in recent years.
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Finca Saltamontes | Javier Sanz | Rueda | Spain
This is an unusual single vineyard wine that we produce in limited amounts. It is made out of Verdejo grapes that grow in Pago Saltamontes, a 2,27-hectares plot dating back to 1863 and planted before the irruption of Phylloxera. Grapes follow a short maceration process so as to enhance the aromas and freshness of the wine. After alcoholic fermentation, it follows a period of ageing on the lees with regular “batonage” or less stirring.
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Mencia Roble | Prada a Tope | Bierzo | Spain
A selection of high quality Mencía grapes from vineyards across the small Bierzo valley. Harvested by hand and brought to the winery in individual boxes to prevent damage to the grapes. Fermented in steel tank of the harvest destemmed and crushed with manual punch down. Aged in French and American oak barrels for a minimum of 8 months and aged in the bottle of at least 6 months.
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Boticario de Silos Rosé Barrique | Andrés Septién | Arlanza | Spain
Wine made from a blend of red and white grapes found in centenary old vineyards of Arlanza, located at altitudes around 1,000 meters with respect to sea level. The wine has been done by carefully bleeding the must and continuing fermentation off skins. The final wine is aged in oak barrel barriques of several uses to import gentle wood aromas and ensure structure, aromatic complexity and stability of color.
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
La Planeta | Celler Pasanau | Priorat | Spain
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown on the highest-altitude vineyard at the foot of the Montsant mountain range. Called La Planeta because it is an unusually flat small vineyard plot within the very irregular orography of Priorat, the cooler temperatures achieved by altitude and soils coming from erosion of the mountain, rather than the typical Licorella of Priorat, makes Cab grapes to beautifully adapt here.
Son vs Dad Wine Tasting of
Wagner Caywood Riesling | Forge Cellars | Finger Lakes | NY | USA
Hand harvested Riesling grapes from the singular vineyard Wagner Caywood East, which is a lesson in endurance, a power-packed and electric trip along its high elevation, steep, shale-laden terrain. The wine is fermented in oak barrels and elaborated to remark the minerality intrinsically associated to this special vineyard plot. Charged and ready to perform like a top quality Chablis.
