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Rioja! Finca de los Arandinos

Restaurant, Finca de los Aranadinos - Boutique Hotel in the heart of La Rioja! — Restaurant, Finca de los Aranadinos – Boutique Hotel in the heart of La Rioja!

BODEGAS FINCA DE LOS ARANDINOS

DOCa. RIOJA

BODEGAS FINCA DE LOS ARANDINOS

DOCa. RIOJA

I first heard of Bodegas Finca de los Arandinos when I read an article by Sarah Jane Evans MW (Master of Wine), in the UK’s best wine magazine, Decanter. The essence of the article was that Sara Jane, Joint Chair of the Spanish Wine Panel of the magazine, was recommending 25 different Rioja wines that are currently on the shelves in UK wine shops.

I was delighted to see that I concurred with her views on several of the wines, as well as to see that there were wines listed that I did not know. I’ll be contacting a number of the bodegas concerned to find out more, and there was one that particularly caught my eye! A wine that hails from a bodega which also has a boutique hotel. Don’t you love wine research!

Finca de los Arandinos is an interesting new project. A new bodega, with modern buildings and state-of-the-art technology, but with more than a passing nod to tradition. It is perhaps correct to say that this bodega is at the forefront of ‘new age Rioja’. And this also means wine tourism.

The modernist boutique hotel is a delight to behold from the outside and from within. Indeed, the design inside, particularly in the bedrooms, is the work of the renowned designer David Delfin.

The wine that my colleague, Sara Jane Evans MW, included in her list of 25 was Malacapa 2013. It’s a ‘Joven’ wine, a young wine, with minimal (for Rioja) oak ageing and therefore wholly consistent with the bodega’s stated aims of bringing out the very best of each of the varieties used at Finca de los Arandinos.

95% of the blend is Rioja’s darling variety, now Spain’s most planted grape, Tempranillo, with just 5% Mazuelo thrown in too. Is this the most fruit orientated Rioja on the market? Well, if it’s not, it suerly is close!

On the nose there are both dark and red cherries which follow through onto the palate where, on the finish they are joined by a light liquorice flavour. But the most noticeable note with this wine is its juicy, chewy freshness – for lovers of pure fruit in wine, this has to be a top choice. (4€! incredible value from the on-line shop!!).

I mentioned that the winery is also aware of the great tradition that is Rioja and their Crianza pays homage to that history. Finca de los Arandinos 2011 Crianza, is everything that you would expect – from a quality Crianza.

Many readers will know that a Crianza Rioja wine must have had a minimum of 12 months in oak (that’s twice the legal minimum for Spain) though many bodegas, in the past, at least, have considerably exceeded this minimum. Indeed, this wine has had more than the minimum time in oak, but only an extra month! So, another indication that this bodega, whilst following tradition, is intent on making sure that it’s the grapes’ juice, its fruit content that is to the fore.

Again the lion’s share is Tempranillo, but there is also 5% each of Mazuelo and Garnacha. Grapes are carefully selected in the vineyard and a blend is made from different plots. Once fermented ageing is 80% in French oak with 20% in American oak. The resultant wine is fruit first with extra depth of flavour and complexity added by the judicial use of oak. If you like a good Rioja Crianza, this is most definitely for you. (8€)

The final red wine, so far – there may be plans in the future to add to the portfolio – is called El Conjuro. It’s a limited production wine that has been given some red carpet treatment. The 2010 is made with Tempranillo again but this time Garnacha has a more prominent 15% of the blend. Fermentation takes place in French oak ‘foudres’ and it’s French oak in which malolactic fermentation takes please with a further 16 months ageing.

But the wine is not ready for release yet. It stays in bottle in the depths of the cellar for a further year until the winemaker believes it is perfect for sale. However, that does not mean that it has be drunk immediately. El Conjuro has time on it’s – the 2010, tasted in early 2015, has a slight tannic grip still, indicating that there is still time for it do develop further.

It’s all about dark fruits, black cherries and blackberries, with earthy notes too, on the nose. In the mouth it is intense at first, opening up to be a subtle and elegant wine with a longer finish, leaving the taster more than satisfied with its lasting flavour and aroma. (14€)

I was pleased to see also, that Bodegas finca de los Arandinos makes a white wine as well. Eschewing the offer of the ‘new’ varieties now permitted in DOCa Rioja, this wine is made exclusively with old vineyard Viura, which has had the benefit of some time in oak. Indeed foudres are employed for its fermentation, after which is was put in French oak barrels for a further ten months, with regular ‘battonage’, stirring, with its lees.

The result is a dry white wine with some floral notes on the nose, a touch of citrus and an endearing, if slightly understated, creaminess. (6€)

NB These wines can be bought on-line www.fincadelosarandinos.com, please note prices above.

So that’s some of the Finca de los Arandinos information – but, why take my word for it? You can join me, October, 26^th – 30^th, 2015, when I am taking a small group (24 max) to stay at their boutique hotel! For more details please contact me and visit my website.

Contact Colin: colin@colinharknessonwine.com and via www.colinharknessonwine.com as well as via Twitter @colinonwine. Please also note that you can view Colin’s wine videos www.youtube.com search Colin Harkness On Wine.

Latest Video!

Hacienda del Carche Latest Video

HTTPS://youtu.be/QsB3FY3fpHI

Great video Colin. Wish Jean and I were there to try it.

All the Best Ron Mellor

Top DO Valencia Bodegas

BODEGAS CELLER DEL ROURE

& BODEGAS LOS FRIALES

DO VALENCIA

I received a call recently from a small group of six American visitors, staying in Javea – would I be able to take them on a two-bodega tour for a day? Well, it’s what I do (along with many other wine related events etc), so the answer was an immediate and unequivocal, ‘Yes, please!’.

But where? That was the next question. In fact my new friends had already visited DO Yecla the previous week under their own steam, so it couldn’t be there. It had to be somewhere not too far to drive to and both bodegas had to be fairly close to each other, hopefully with a restaurant for lunch in between.

Well, it wasn’t difficult. I contacted my friends Miguel and Pablo, respectively of Bodegas Los Frailes and Bodegas Celler del Roure, both founder members of the Grupo Terres dels Alforins – a group of a dozen outstanding bodegas within DO Valencia, dedicated to upholding the tradition of fine wine making in Valencia.

Regular readers may remember a series of articles I wrote a few years ago talking about other members of the group, and of course their wines. To remind you, and for those readers who haven’t already heard, and put simply, you cannot fail with any of the wines produced by the individual bodegas within this group! It would be most interesting for me to re-visit and see what developments had occurred in the interim period.

Plus, I was confident that the group of Americans would love both visits, the more so when some extra fascinating facts are involved! For example, the finca which is home to Bodegas Los Frailes was bought at auction in 1771 from the King of Spain who had confiscated it from the Jesuit Monks who had built and run it, the decade before. It remains to this day in the hands of the same Velazquez family and I’ve even seen the deeds from those hundreds of years ago!

Also, at Bodega Celler del Roure, when they were renovating the run-down property they had bought less than 15 years ago, believing it to be an ideal location to make quality wine, they were delighted to discover an underground wine cellar where stood, in good working order, a whole regiment of terracotta ‘tinajas’ where wine was made centuries ago. Indeed, these ancient heirlooms have been brought back into service, making wine – which is all part of the bodegas current success!

Our first port of call on a chilly early morning was Bodegas Los Frailes, Fontanars. The Velazquez family still lives in the old finca and still uses the old cement tanks of their forefathers. However, there is also an impressive new facility replete with stainless steel fermentation tanks and all the paraphernalia required for modern-day wine making too. Plus, sitting atop this facility is the super tasting room which has an enviable and wholly beautiful view over the vineyards which provided the raw ingredients for the wines tasted!

Bodegas Los Frailes has been officially certificated as a producer of organic wines for a number of years now, Miguel having made the decision to convert the estate to organic farming with a view to handing on a sustainable business to his children. He is now taking this laudable philosophy to the next level. Bodegas Los Frailes is slowly converting to Bio-Dynamic farming!

The phases of the moon are considered, as they were in ancient times, when deciding when to prune, plant etc. A 300-strong herd of sheep, organic fertilizer providers, were grazing on the natural vegetation allowed to grow between the rows of vines. Special, totally organic, preparations are sprayed onto the vines during the growing season to encourage healthy vines. Natural predators which attack vine pests are encouraged to inhabit the flora and fauna nearby. Etc Etc.

And the bottle result of all this? Well, Bodegas Los Frailes continues to make top quality wine, and that’s not top quality – for organic! Oh, no – look at the guides and you’ll see that their wines are consistent high pointers in amongst all Spanish wines, organic and non-organic!

Limited space doesn’t allow me to go through all the wines, but trust me and buy with confidence! My favourites, were the lovely fruit-forward Moma, a blend of the indigenous Monastrell and the less well known, Marselan – a variety made by man by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon and Garnacha. Look out for this variety, and certainly for this wine. Under 20€.

Also the subtle and elegant 1771 (in honour of the year when the Velazquez family started their wine business) which includes on the label a copy of part of the deeds of sale! This wine’s violet, earthy, plum notes make it a wine to remember. It’s new and, priced at around 18€, it’s a real winner! (Also recommended by Jancis Robinson!). Seek, find, enjoy and lay-down too!

After lunch, which in itself was another super experience, we went to Bodegas Celler del Roure. This bodega, a relative new kid on the block, as already established an excellent name for itself. The philosophy is simple – to use indigenous grape varieties (as well as some international varieties) to make the finest wines possible blending traditional methods with modern-day thinking, and all with a keen eye on sustainability and the environment!

It’s here where the visitor will be taken to the old underground cellar to see the ancient tinajas which are still doing their job today. These earthenware pots (think Dandy/Beano Ali Baba and his 40 Theives!) are used for fermenting and ageing wines.

Pablo is intent on making wines of two different styles. He has a range of wines made in this old and traditional method; as well as a range made in the more modern away with stainless steel fermentation and barrel ageing. Tasting one style against the other is fascinating.

Favourites for me are the ‘tinaja’ style red, Parotet (with the distinctive black dragonfly label) and the oak aged Maduresa red, whose label bears a series of holes in the shape of a bunch of grapes. Plus, they have a ‘tinaja’ style white wine made with grapes indigenous to the area: Verdil, Moscatel and Malvasia, which really has to be tried!

Contact Colin: colin@colinharknessonwine.com and through his his dynamic website www.colinharknessonwine.com, where you’ll be able to subscribe, gratis, to his newsletter; as well as via Twitter @colinonwine .

Please also note that Colin is now making Youtube videos all about Spanish wines, tasting tips, wine accessories and lots more. Please go to www.youtube.com and search Colin Harkness On Wine.

Rioja – Short Break!

I’m currently organising another Short Break – this time to Rioja, Monday 26^th – Friday 30^th October 2015. I’m biased, of course, but it should be an excellent trip!

All the details are not yet confirmed. However I am able to give out some information which may tempt you!

Clearly, considering the destination, this will certainly be a wine orientated trip – but that’s not all! There will be historical, architectural and cultural elements to the tour, as well as the three bodegas we will be visiting.

One of these bodegas is a new project, with very good wines – they also have their own lovely boutique hotel, set within their vineyards. We will have a gourmet dinner here on two of the four nights – with wine from their own cellars – claro! This is also a Spa Hotel and I have negotiated a 2 hour circuit of the Spa to be included in the price!

Of course, we will also have a tour of their bodega and a tasting of their wines.

Our other hotel, 4*, is in the capital city of Rioja, Logroño, located very close to the bar/restaurants that are part of the Tapas Route. We will be here for two nights and during the days we will visit:

Bodegas Muga, in Haro, for a rather special day – a tour of the bodega, including watching the coopers make and toast the French Oak Barrels, and then a super, traditional Riojana lunch.

Another classic and famous bodega, as yet to be confirmed, and probably with lunch also.

We will also have a day trip to two Monasteries, opposite each other and each with their own story to tell. This is where Castellano (the Spanish Language) was first written down, over one thousand years ago! Our English speaking guide will show us the beautiful works of those ancient Monks!

I have taken a dozen bookings so far so please note that we now only have 12 places available for this trip as this will fill the boutique hotel, and is also the maximum number we are able to take to Bodegas Muga.

This Short Break will therefore have to be on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to make a provisional booking for this trip, subject of course, to the cost and some other details, which have yet to be confirmed please let me know as soon as possible. If these other details don’t suit, you can of course cancel. Gracias!