Join us as we travel through Spain via 4 specially chosen fine wines, courtesy of sommelier Russell Maloy of Revolution/Premium Brands. Your tasting ticket includes premium seats to the Reflejos Flamencos concert immediately following the tasting.
Mas Fi Brut Cava, Non-Vintage Sparkling Wine, Spain
This bright dry sparkling wine—straw yellow in color with green tones—evokes white flowers and citrus on the nose, fresh creamy flavors in the mouth, and a finish that balances brightness with brioche notes and supple fruit. Vivaciousness is compensated for with a pleasant elegance and equilibrium. Cava, which means “cellar” in Catalan, describes Spain’s sparkling wines made using the traditional method, in which the second fermentation (the one that makes the bubbles) takes place inside the bottle. Spent yeast cells remain in contact with the wine during bottle aging, giving it a creamy brioche quality, and in many cases, the capacity to age. Cava isn’t restricted to one geographical area; rather, it spans eight wine regions. The mainstay Cava grape varieties include Macabeo for pleasant aromatics, Parellada for acidity and finesse, and Xarel-lo for body.
2021 Lurbira Garnacha, Beramendi Vineyard, Navarra, Spain
Like Garnacha? We certainly do, especially super approachable, nuanced styles like Lurbira Garnacha. Lurbira in the ancient Basque pantheon was the “Mother Goddess of the Earth,” representing both strong femininity and commitment to the environment. This wine is made with love on a family winery that farms and produces its wines as naturally as possible. It is also affordable for everyone to drink. Lurbira represents a brighter, fresher style of Garnacha. To achieve this, the wine is never put in oak. Instead it is fermented and aged in stainless steel to ensure the fruit will be allowed to shine. The nose carries notes of fresh red fruits and a slight hint of spice while the palate is full with raspberries, strawberries and spice.
2021 GR-174, Priorat Region, Spain
Named after a route that crosses the Spanish region of Priorat from one end to the other, this silky, full-bodied red is born from different plots of the region. Deep cherry red with intense aromas of cassis, blackberries and red currants, with a balsamic and spicy background and elegant, present tannins, this award winner (94 points, Wine & Spirits; 92 points, Peñín Guide) is a coupage of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan. The vines grow on terraces or steep slopes, and the soils are comprised of red and black slate. Harvest of the grapes is carried out manually and the wine is aged in French oak barrels.
2020 Marques de Toro Cabernet Sauvignon, Castilla y Leon, Spain
This perfectly integrated, medium-body, manually harvested red is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 12 months in American and French oak barrels, it boasts a fruity bouquet of wood and spices. Situated in the northwestern part of Spain on the border with Galicia, the vineyards are planted mainly in humid, dark soil that is slightly acidic and low in carbonates—a special microclimate that is optimal for viticulture.