It’s November once again! With Christmas cheer still a month away it would be easy to retreat to your sofa and a cosy blanket to hibernate until warmer weather returns to our shores. But fear not! The Spanish sun has come to brighten our days Rioja Month and Sherry Week! We at Bon Coeur love our Spanish tipples and have selected some of our favourites to give you a taste of Spain!
Tio Pepe en Rama Saca, Jerez, Spain 2022
Tio Pepe, the world’s best-selling Fino, originates from Jerez in southern Spain where it is drunk by the locals with tapas, as they’ve done for over a century. Manuel Maria Gonzalez Angel, founder of González Byass, named ‘Tio Pepe’ after his ‘Uncle Joe’ who created his pale, very dry white wine in 1841. Every spring, a limited edition unclarified and unfiltered fino is released to showcase a ‘fresh from the cask’ experience. This Tio Pepe En Rama is alive with flavour and has more nutty and yeasty aromas than the usual Tio Pepe.
Taste: Complex aromas of almonds, lemon and floral notes combined with sea spray and minerals. The palate is concentrated and sightly creamy with a salty tang and impressive depth of flavour boasting toasted almonds, apple skins and bready undertones.
Try:A perfect aperitif served chilled with Spanish charcuterie, olives and nutty, savoury cheese such as cheddar or gruyere.
£22.50 NOVEMBER OFFER £16.50
Gonzalez Byass Nectar Pedro Ximenez, Jerez, Spain NV
González Byass was created in 1835 by Manuel Maria González and remains in family hands today, now in the fifth and sixth generation. The Pedro Ximenez grape is picked slightly later in the season to allow for a greater production of sugars in each grape. Laid out on drying mats called ‘soleo’ for 2 weeks to encourage the evaporation of water content which leads to greater concentration of the sugars, most grapes lose 40% of their volume. Pressed and fermented to 7% ABV the wine is then fortified to 15% and left to mature in American oak casks for 8 years.
Taste: Grapes, treacle, dried prune and raisin flavours. Coats the mouth with a gorgeous caramel and raisin sweetness. So smooth and so impressive, seriously sticky.
Try: Pair with a sticky toffee pudding or chilled over vanilla ice cream. For the adventurous among you try with blue cheese for a sweet and salty flavour combination.
£26.60 NOVEMBER OFFER £20.00
Cune Barrel Fermented Blanco, Rioja, Spain 2021
CVNE, Compañía Vinícola del Norte del España (the Northern Spanish Wine Company), was founded in 1879 in the town of Haro in Rioja. CVNE was founded by two brothers and today is still controlled by the direct descendants of the founding family. Winning bronze in the International Wine Challenge this 100% Viura white wine is a classic archetype of white Riojas.
Taste: Soft, aromatic and rich on the palate, with good grapefruit acidity. Light toasty and biscuity flavours from the oak and the lees, with hints and cinnamon over grapefruit on the finish. Beautifully balanced.
Try: This is a really food friendly wine that works well with white meat and creamy sauces. Try pairing it with grilled chicken, turkey, lean fish or pasta and rice dishes.
£14.50 NOVEMBER OFFER £11.00
Bodega Classica Hacienda Lopez de Haro Reserva Rioja, Spain 2017
Located on the banks of the Ebro near the town of San Vicente de la Sonsierra lie the vineyards of Lopez de Haro. A combination of mountains to the north, which give protection from strong cold winds from the Cantabrian Sea, and the Ebro to the south, which gives much needed humidity, creates a unique microclimate perfect for cultivating grape vines. A blend of Tempranillo and Graciano aged in French oak for 20 months produce a wonderful Rioja worthy of the name.
Taste: Enticing aromas of both red and black fruits with underlying vanilla and tobacco tones. Full, rich and round on the palate with impressive elegance thanks to the silky-smooth tannins that are underpinned by further dark black fruits, roasted coffee and dark chocolate.
Try: When pairing this classic rioja don’t look any further than lamb. A classic pairing that goes together hand in hand. Why mess with perfection?
£17.70 NOVEMBER OFFER £12.95
We would love to see your pictures of you enjoying our wines. Please join the conversation and tag us on Instagram @boncoeurfinewines.
