BACK AT A COSTCO NEAR YOU!

For those of you who missed out on my blog recommendation from last February, here is another chance to score some of this value packed Antaño Rioja Resrva.

 You have got to get as much of this wonderful wine while it is once again available for under $8.00, Wine Spectator rated it 91 points !

 

Rioja Wine & Tapas Fedtival L.A.

On May 21st my wife and I attended the Rioja Wine and Tapas Festival in Los Angeles Union Station. What a treat! We got to see old friends and meet up with many of the distinguished winemakers of the Rioja Wine region in Spain's "Napa Valley" although in my mind and heart it far surpasses anything in California, although, "little brother is getting better! Rioja has been at it since before Roman times, so you could say they have been getting a lot of practice.

Anyway, there were enough wine and tapas to attract a crowd of hundreds if not close to a thousand or more wine lovers and foodies and then some. The layout in the old stations ticketing area was just barely large enough to contain all of the wine presenters and tapas stations present. The usual "Titans" were there in all of their "Bacchanalian glory"; Bodegas like; Montecillo, Faustino, Marques de Caceres, Muga, Muriel, Valdemar, Marques de Riscal,  Ramon Bilbao and more.

I was pleased to make acquaintance with some new bodegas to California, although in no way new on the Rioja scene, as a matter of fact, to our great pleasure we met Francisco Javier Martinez Blanco, director of Bodegas Corral with its Don Jacobo line of Rioja whites and reds. This bodega has been making wines since 1898, I hope to visit them on our next trip to Rioja.  Also a pleasure to meet  the folks presenting another new one to California, Pata Negra, These Rioja tempranillos and tempranillo blends are more of the pride of Spain to be experienced.

And speaking of Pata Negra, the Tapas stations were going "full Flamenco"  with cheeses, & charcutrie galore! One of them handing out free flowing Jamon Serrano and Jamon Iberico
like it was going out of style!

There were close to a dozen paellas going on while one was treated to the product of the spit-roasted pig over open coals. We attended the VIP opening session and by the afternoon, it seemed the flood gates just burst open as it then became standing room only.

For those of you who would like to attend next years event and not miss out on this special "Rioja Grand Tour in Los Angeles"  please follow my blog to get the best deals on wine, not miss the latest postings and join in on the "Juerga"!

Here it is!

So I have been telling you all to watch out for my next posting, I am sorry i didn't get this out sooner. I truly thought that such a powerhouse retailer would have more than an ample supply of this phenom find, but i was wrong. Kirkland got a deal with Bodegas Muriel, Rioja, Spain to dump a sea of this fine, 100% Tempranillo aged in oak barrels for the DOC required 24 months in oak barrels then an additional 12 months in bottle before releasing this 2010 Reserva vintage. This is a real steal @ $6.99
at Costco. Some of my insiders have taken my advice and scored a few cases, but once again, good finds like this last only so long. Most Costco warehouses are sold out. From what I understand, the Westlake and Woodland Hills stores still have a pallet of this on the floor. My advice to you is to make the trip and grab up as much of this Spanish Nectar of the god's while there is still some to be had. It will be more than worth your while, and it comes with my guarantee ; if you don't like it, I'll
pay for it! ( buy it back from you).
        

Gains & Loses

 A few months ago, I made a tremendous find in a Costco warehouse, a Rioja Reserva was stacked on a pallet in the "volume" wine section. Upon observing a bottle, I realized that they had carried a Crianza a few years prior. Now, they are selling a reserva. 

Now you must be thinking, Crianza, Reserva, what is this guy talking about?

In Spain, a Crianza wine by law, is a wine that is aged one year in oak barrels then one to two years in bottle before it's released. 

A Reserva, is a wine that is aged two years in oak barrels then another year in bottle minimum before its release. Thus, the consumer is getting a wine that has more maturity and complexity by the time

it makes it into the glass. In other words, 

more BANG for your bucks!

And one who tries such a wine will experience a Bang! on ones palate when

savoring this juice!

I had told many of you to grab as much of this wonderful libation as possible because at $7.99 a bottle, this deal isn't going to last! Since then, people have been telling me; " I bought a case and now I'm down to just 3 bottles! When are they going to get more? "

Sadly, I honestly don't know! But that's the thing with great wine buys, you never know when the next great deal will be!

So for that reason, I recommend you subscribe to my blog because you never know when a deal like Antaño Reserva Rioja is going to present itself again. 

But I can tell you this; Stay Tuned,.. I'm about to go to press with another great wine find and when I post it, be ready to pounce on it! 

Here are two power house wines, one from Spain, a "Righteous Rioja" and a Gold Label Chianti, rich, voluptuous reds that bath the palate in dark red fruit with a rich, pompous finish. Not easy to get either for under $30.00!

See if they still have any o this sacred nectar at Ventura Wine ( & The Cave ) in Ventura on Telephone and McGrath!    

Top Notch Rioja from Spain and "Liquid Gold Chianti from Italy".

A Rioja lover's News Flash!

 Those of you who have been following me for some time, know of my love affair with the wines of my "Fatherland", Rioja, and particularly Rioja Alavesa, or the Basque district of Rioja, Northern Spain. Today I am writing about one of my most treasured "Bodegas" (Winery).

Bodegas Montecillo was established in 1847, the 3rd oldest winery in Fuenmayor, Rioja Alta, with a  production of superior wines from indigenous Spanish varietals. Montecillo Gran Reserva is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, the star grape of Rioja and much of Spain. 20% Garnacha, and 10% Mazuelo and Graciano. Aged for 30 months in French Oak.  In 2000' annual production was only 61,000 bottles. Small batch considering other wineries that produce 4 million bottles and MORE! What does that mean for the consumer? An unadulterated, concentrated batch of pure bliss!

This month, Montecillo Gran Reserva can be found at some of the Costco stores (incidentally, Costco is the largest retailer of wine in the U.S.) I stumbled on this batch at the Westlake store on Lindero Canyon Rd. Other fine wine retailers also carry this such as Total Wine but not at the price Costco is letting it go @ $22.99 a bottle!! At this price, one best stock up on it before it's all gone or they realize what it's really worth!!

The 2007 Montecillo Gran Reserva displays dried fruit aromas such as raisins, figs and dates structured by sawdust, and gingery oak on the nose. The palate reveals black cherry, red plum, crushed currant, and red fruits with cinnamon, and there is cherry throughout with a touch of fig and raisin in a voluptuous, long elegant finish. Serve with pintxos (tapas) grilled meats and Paella.