SPECIAL REPORT BEST OF SPAIN 62 Come and taste the Best of Spain PHOTOS: SASCHA KREKLAU PHOTOS: hen the selection of Spain‘s top enormous interest expected from profes- CHOOSING THE TOP 100 wines, Best of Spain: Top 100@ sional visitors to the fair. This means that W ProWein was presented at the the extremely interesting 2016 selection In the run-up to the exhibition, Peer Holm world‘s largest wine fair in Düsseldorf for of the Best of Spain Top 100 can this year and journalist and expert David Schwar- the first time last year, the ICEX open tast- be enjoyed in greater comfort over a larger zwälder joined the expert editorial staff of ing zone in Hall 10 was practically overrun. area – and above all with a more open feel Meininger Verlag, Germany’s largest dedi- The number of visitors who were interested at stand A201 in Hall 10. cated publisher of publications devoted to in the selection of excellent varieties from a Spanish specialist and wine adviser Peer wine and other beverages, for an extensive wide range of growing regions was so large Holm will once again be looking after the blind tasting of wines from across Spain. that there was a constant and dense crowd open ICEX tasting zone at this year‘s Pro- Almost 300 samples had been submitted from the very beginning of the exhibition. Wein 2016. and were carefully tasted and examined over It was not only visitors to the fair who were so engaged; exhibitors, who saw the enor- mous public interest as a benefit to their own stands, appeared enthusiastic about the suc- cess of this new platform. This was enough for ICEX and the wine department of Oficina Comercial in Düsseldorf, who were respon- sible for the event, to repeat the promotion in collaboration with Meininger Verlag at this year‘s edition of ProWein. EXPANSION IN 2016 The open tasting zone will be expanded considerably this year to accommodate the 63 SPECIAL REPORT BEST OF SPAIN rest. And the table wines from Rías Baixas The Bulls achieved results even better than expected, while the representatives of the new gen- As the bull is a symbol of Spain, we’ve so when you see multiple bulls shown for a eration of Ribeiro appellation white wines chosen it as a mark of wine quality. The wine in the +€12.00 category, you can be also showed strongly. more bulls you see next to a wine, the bet- certain that it’s a better wine than a three- When it comes to red wines, a group of ter the wine. Every wine can achieve up to bull wine listed in the under-€3.50 category. premium varieties from Bierzo confirmed three bulls. Of course, the price category But ultimately, the bulls represent the price that this DOP is becoming ever more of was taken into account during the tasting, quality ratio for each wine. a contender in the high-quality category. Wines from the east of the country, from the growing regions of Valencia and Jumilla, also achieved a prominence in the tasting A very good price to quality ratio that was similar to wines originating from the renowned Rioja and Ribera del Duero An excellent price to quality ratio regions. Alongside these, tasters found a small yet refined selection of sparkling table The wine represents the top quality of its wines very convincing. price category The result in the fortified varieties from the south of Spain was spectacular but, es- sentially, not surprising. The renaissance in The Tasting Zone the quality of the great Spanish classics was borne out by the very high marks awarded. Visit Hall 10, the Spanish Hall, and head cate that doubles as an information sheet, for booth A201, where ICEX is running a offering a concise description of the wine COME AND TASTE FOR tasting of the 100 Best Wines of Spain, as and the identifying number of the respec- YOURSELF chosen in the Meininger Verlag tasting. tive producer. If you like what you taste, it’s Each of these wines comes with a certifi- therefore easy to make a connection. The 2016 Tasting Area at Stand Number A171 is, once again, adjacent to the open tasting zone. As well, over the three days of a period of two days by an experienced jury, group had not been strictly limited to one the fair there will be a total of seven, highly at the tasting rooms of Meininger Verlag hundred then significantly more wines expert tastings on offer. in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse in Germa- could have been exhibited, particularly in There is also the neighbouring ICEX ex- ny. The tasting was completely blind, with terms of value for money. hibition area, where 200 Spanish produc- wines grouped into five price categories, in ers will be presenting a larger selection of order to identify the top one hundred wines. THE RESULTS wines than ever before. The 2016 result was, in the opinion of the jury, even more convincing than in the Once again, the wines that were award- FIND OUT MORE previous year, because alongside the final ed the coveted Bulls reflect recent trends in Top 100 selection there was a remarkably Spanish wines. The tasting programme, exhibitor lists large number of wines which only just What is also striking is the high number and all information concerning the selection missed out on the final selection. Accord- of white wines that made the Top 100, of ICEX wines from Spain can be viewed at ing to some of the tasters, if the selected with varieties from Galicia ahead of the www.wein-aus-spanien.org. 64 Price category I 2013 Juan de Juanes Merlot / Syrah, DOP 2015 Finca Fabian Tempranillo, VdT Valencia; Anecoop – H10/A121 Castilla La Mancha; Dominio de Punctum €2.50 to €3.50 Ripe fruit, balsamic notes, uncomplicated, full-bodied – H10/C142 Fresh nose emphasising fruit, juicy, delicately acid, Sparkling dry and aromatic fruit on the palate. 2014 Garnacha Tintorera / Syrah, DO Almansa; Bodega Tintoralba – H10/D135 Reymos, sweet, Valencia; Anecoop Blackcurrant, licorice, smoky, juicy, young acid, 2014 5 Oros Vendimia Seleccionada – H10/A121 delicately savoury. Grenache, DOCa Rioja; Bodegas Isidro Clear muscatel fruit, mirabelle, clean and clear, Milagro – H10/B154 sweet fruit. Violets, leather, tobacco, blackcurrant, pepper, 2012 Verum Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / invigorating, vital acidity, close- grained tannins. Tempranillo Roble, VdT Castilla La Mancha; Ferriol brut, DO Cava; Covides SCCL Bodegas y Viñedos Verum – H10/D165 – H10/C221 Blackcurrant, cherry, harmonious, uncomplicated, 2014 Famila Pacheco Monastrell Roble, Fresh, has energy, citrus notes, very subtle. delicate acidity and bite. DO Jumilla; Bodega Viña Elena – H10/D175 Prunes, violets, graphite, somewhat rustic savoury White wine 2014 Tempranillo Roble, DO Navarra; flavour, sweet fruit. Bodegas Príncipe de Viana – H10/B192 Cherries, juicy, round, subtle dry note in the finish. 2014 Alma de Blanco Godello, DO 2014 Pinodoncel Monastrell / Syrah / Monterrei; Adegas Pazo Do Mar S. L. Petit Verdot Crianza, DO Jumilla; Bodegas – H10/C102 2014 Val de Souto Mencía / Brancellao, DO Bleda – H10/C161 Good bite, pleasantly savoury, harmonious acidity, Ribeiro; Bodegas Val de Souto – H10/C116 Lavender, violets, vanilla, dark berries, balsamic, slightly phenolic, characteristic of the variety. Sour cherry, red berries, licorice, lively acid, delicate sweet notes. tannins, pleasantly light. Dulce Venganza Chardonnay, VdT Castilla Price category II La Mancha; Dominio de Punctum 2013 Azabache Tempranillo / Garnacha – H10/C142 Tinta Crianza, DOCa Rioja; Viñedos de €3.50 to €5.00 Subtle aniseed and fennel, yellow herbal lozenges, Aldeanueva S. – H10/C74 significant sweetness, a little botrytis. Aromatic fruit, balsamic, fine bite and invigorating acidity, good structure. White wine 2015 Cuatro Rayas Verdejo, DO Rueda; Bodega Cuatro Rayas / Agrícola 2012 Justina Cuvée, DO Valencia; 2014 Nai e Señora Albariño, DO Rías Castellana Scl – H10/B231 De Moya – H10/C141 Baixas; Adegas Terra de Asorei – H10/D97 Delicately aromatic fruit, fresh attack, subtle dry Sour cherry, chocolate, juicy, velvety tannins, Nectarines, a hint of floral notes, lively acid, subtly note, very characteristic. harmonious. piquant. Red wine 2013 Zinio 200 Tempranillo / Graciano, 2014 Zíos Albariño, DO Rías Baixas; DOCa Rioja; Bodegas Patrocinio, SCL Adega Pazos de Lusco – H10/A124 – H10/B202 Yeast notes, delicately savoury, piquant, juicy, 2014 Vega Real Tempranillo, DO Ribera Plum, savoury roast, very juicy attack, fine bite, aromatic, youthful acid. del Duero; Bodegas Barbadillo / harmoniously rounded. Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Real – H10/A152 Notes of roast and toffee on the nose, dry, savoury 2014 Terra de Asorei Albariño, DO Rías and at the same time balsamic, juicy. 2012 Garnacha Tintorera / Syrah Crianza, Baixas; Adegas Terra de Asorei – H10/D97 DO Almansa; Bodega Tintoralba Green apple, mineral, delicately savoury, harmo- – H10/D135 nious acid, aromatic. Herbs, juicy, savoury notes, delicate acidity, good structure. 65 SPECIAL REPORT BEST OF SPAIN 2013 Señorío de Rubiós Souson, DO Rías Baixas; Señorío de Rubiós – H10/C104 Red berries, sour cherries, elderberry, invigorating acid, elegant, light style. 2014 Viñedos y Bodegas La Planta Tempranillo, DO Ribera del Duero; Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro – H10/B92 Black berries, vanilla, coconut, oak, clove, punchy, juicy. 2013 Rioja Vega Tempranillo Crianza, DOCa Rioja; Rioja Vega – H10/B194 Damson, cherry, balsamic notes, delicate acid, elegant, good length. 2014 Mas Collet Cuvée, DO Montsant; Celler de Capçanes – H10/D171 Violets, chocolate cherry praline, significant fruit, accessible, velvety, dense. 2014 Garnacha Blanca Old vines, DO 2014 Ramón do Casar Treixadura, DO Empordà; Espelt Viticultors – H10/A92 Ribeiro; Ramon do Casar – H10/C120 2014 Rectoral de Amandi Mencía, DO Pine, herbs, mineral flavours, subtle floral notes, Juicy fruits, characteristic, intense aroma, balanced, Ribeira Sacra; Bodegas Rectoral de Amandi aromatic, fine acid, good energy.