La Rioja Alta
Reservations Closed
| Course | Pairing / Description | Wine |
|---|---|---|
| Hors D’oeuvres |
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Watermelon and Feta with Mint Skewer
The growth cycle started at the end of March, a week later than usual for the area. The delay continued throughout the growing season, marked by high humidity and mild temperatures in the DO Rías Baixas, ideal conditions for ensuring a quality vintage. 100% Albariño grapes from our vineyards in O Rosal and Cambados (D.O. Rías Baixas). The wine is yellow with green hues; clean and bright. Ample, forthright nose, highlighted by the typical varietal aromas of the Albariño (ripe apples and pears, stone fruit, particularly apricots) and a remarkable citrus background. Lively, fresh and structured in the mouth, with well-integrated acidity. Very persistent aftertaste, where hints of exotic fruit (lychees) make their appearance. Perfect to enjoy with any appetizer. Ideal with seafood as well as with salads, fish rice dishes, poultry and fresh cheese. The perfect choice for sushi and sashimi. |
Lagar de Cervera Albarino 2018
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| Salad Course |
Micro Arugula Salad with Grilled Stone Fruit and Balsamic Reduction Drizzle
The wines of this vintage stand out for their good balance and strong aromatic components, typical of this privileged area of Rioja Alavesa. The Control Board gave this vintage an official rating of Very Good. The fruit for this wine was 100% Tempranillo from our Torre de Oña vineyard. We picked only those clusters with the best ripeness level, which were taken to the winery in small boxes. Traditional, Bordeaux-style vinification was employed, with destemming. The wine is a medium-high intense, dark-cherry red with a garnet rim. Very intense nose, with a marked fruity character: cranberries, redcurrants and blackberries envelop balsamic aromas of patisserie, cocoa, freshly-ground coffee, cinnamon and liquorice. Intense and well-balanced in the mouth, with an elegant freshness, balance, fine tannins and a smooth finish. Fruit-laden aftertaste, with marked notes of red fruit underscored with balsamic notes from barrel aging. Represents all the typicity and uniqueness of Rioja Alavesa. Best paied with sausages, snacks, starters, hefty first courses and meats in general. |
Finca San Martin Crianza 2017
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| Seafood Course |
Spicy Fish Stew and Purple Fingerling Potatoes
The superb condition of the grapes was remarkable in view of the unevenness resulting from that year’s drought in the region. Fortunately, their excellent condition and, particularly, the late September rains had a very positive effect on vine development, ensuring very well-balanced berry ripening. The Tempranillo (78%) comes from 30-year-old vines in our Cuesta (Cenicero) and Montecillo (Fuenmayor) vineyards. The Garnacha (22%) comes from La Pedriza vineyard in Tudelilla (Rioja Oriental). The wine is an outstandingly bright, lively and intense garnet red, with an incipient cherry red rim. The first nose is very intense, with spicy, balsamic and ripe fruit notes. After swirling, aromas of black pepper, sweet liquorice, nutmeg, coffee, vanilla and cinnamon make their appearance. Mouth full of flavors, with a pleasant acidity and balance, and very polished tannins that enhance the harmonious structure. Complex and elegant aftertaste with spicy and balsamic hints. To enjoy right now, but with a long life ahead. Best paired with roast lamb, red meats, barbecues, large game, spicy fish casseroles, smoked and aged cheeses. |
La Rioja Alta Ardanza Reserva Sel Esp 2012
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| Beef Course |
Grilled Beef Tips and Morcilla with Fresh Cranberry Relish and Caramelized Pearl Onions
This second ‘Martelo Vintage’ stands out for a growth cycle with very suitable weather that met the expectations of a great vintage. Green pruning and cluster thinning allowed us to produce a wine with an excellent balance in alcohol content and acidity, with outstanding intensity and typicity of varietal aromas. 95% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo, Garnacha and even Viura, representing the vineyard’s own traditional blend. The winemaker, Julio Sáenz, selected the Martelo, Camino de la Iglesia and Las Cuevas estates for this wine. It stands out for its ruby-red intensity. Clean and bright, it shows a marked garnet-red rim. The nose reveals very intense red fruit, raspberries, cherries and cranberries, enveloping balsamic and spicy aging notes: vanilla, liquorice, dark chocolate and cloves. Outstanding freshness and balance in the mouth, coupling a pleasant acidity with silky, fatty tannins that give it a good structure and a pleasant mouthfeel. Long, well-balanced aftertaste, promising great persistence over time as it ages in the bottle. The structure and elegance of the Martelo 2014 makes it a perfect food companion. Long in the mouth, it is perfect with braised and roasted meats, as well as game and cured sausages. |
Torre de Ona Finca Martelo Riserva 2014
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| Dessert Course |
Aged Cheeses and Honey Comb
Magnificent weather in September and early October, with significant temperature gaps between day and night and good solar radiation, induced optimally protracted ripening. The selected grapes arrived at the winery with superb sensory quality. Officially rated as ‘Excellent’. 100% Tinta del País from the estate-owned Fuentecojo, Otero joven and La Cueva vineyards surrounding our winery in Anguix, Burgos. Bright, full-depth, intense garnet-red with a dark-cherry red rim. The nose stands out for its underbrush, dark fruit (red currants, blackberries, blueberry jam and dark plums, rounded by a pleasant background of mocha, pastry, spices, black pepper, liquorice and cloves. Well-balanced, vibrant, fresh mouthfeel, with refined, amiable tannins, typical of these Ribera del Duero wines. The finish is fresh, with nerve, yet pleasantly round. We particularly recommend it to enjoy char-grilled meat, large game, lamb and cured cheese. |
Aster Crianza Ribera Del Duero 2015
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| Chip Wine |
Magnificent colour component, significant polyphenol load and an outstanding condition resulted in wines that were particularly suitable for long aging. This vintage was officially rated “Excellent”. Tempranillo (89%) from vines over 60 years old planted in Briñas, Rodezno and Villalba, and Graciano (11%) from our Montecillo vineyard in the municipality of Fuenmayor. Intense, deep cherry-red with a garnet-red rim. Intense and complex aromas, dominated by fruit (blackberry jam, raspberries and orange zest) that reveals underlying spicy and balsamic notes of cigar box, cedar liquorice, cloves, chocolate mints and toasted wood. Elegantly refined entry. Fresh and lively in the mouth, nicely balanced with polished, silky tannins and a gentle, delicate finish. Very long aftertaste, with citrus and balsamic notes that provide long, complex final sensations. Best paired with main courses, all kinds of meats, stews and desserts with couverture chocolate. Ideal as an after-dinner drink. |
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 2011
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