One of our major vehicles as a project has been our regular wine tastings over the last 14 years.

Whether these were originally with  Vino-Valencia, later with Valencia International, or with the ‘Circulo de Vino de Pedralba’, our aim has always been to promote Valencia’s wines in English language tastings.

After some 14 years, this group reached its 126^th tasting on Sunday 21 July. Had it not been for the pandemic we would be approaching our 150^th by now! The group has lost members over the years and gained new ones, and has a base of around 30, some more active than others. The format has varied a little but largely consists of a tasting and subsequent lunch, circulating the member’s houses, in turn. Members prepare ‘sharing plates’ for the meal and we select the wines.

For this tasting we had requested wines from bodegas in IGP Castellon (Clos d’esgarracordes, Barón D’Alba https://www.barondalba.com/) and DO Valencia (La Viña-Venta del Puerto https://www.ventadelpuerto.com/).

Baron d´Alba Clos d´Esgarracordes is one of the bodegas that we have followed almost since it opened. Situated in Les Useres, owners Sergio and Maria José have built an exemplary business that aims to make wines that reflect their vineyard and soils on the Pla de Les Useres. They are also very active in wine tourism and events such as Baptisms and Weddings (using the Chapel on the property) and musical evenings with wine.

Over the years we have visited regularly, tasting the new wines, from deposit and before blending, from the barrel. We have written previously of the careful attention to preserving the soil quality with ‘green manure’ (growing nitrogen bearing plants such as broad beans between the rows and mulching with chipped vine cuttings to retain moisture) . This was something previous ‘flying’ wine-maker Mario Malafosse was very keen on. Mario has moved on to new projects and his successor Sonia Valero has grasped the reins and is producing  very good work in the bodega in what appears to be a seamless transition.

On the other hand ‘La Viña-Venta del Puerto’ is a huge organisation, a ‘super’ cooperative and part of Anecoop, one of Valencia´s most important making not just wines but responsible for fruit and vegetables grown in the Valencian Community. Our relationship with the bodega ( through the late Jose Agustin Martinez) began many years ago and we have written previously about major developments under his period as Managing Director such as the introduction of the impressive Italian made bottling line and the very professional tasting room.

Jorge Caus is the technical Director and chief wine maker. Like so many other Cooperatives, La Viña does not just make good commercial wines (often under the labels of the old village bodegas they absorbed) but a new range of wines which showcase the traditional  varieties available to them in the vineyards of the Terres de Alforins and Font de La Figuera where the vineyards and Bodega are located. Jorge is also producing a range of wines from his own personal project.

 So,  to the wines we tasted on Sunday!

Just for the record, Sunday was a ‘root day’ in the Lunar biodynamic calendar, which charts the phases of the moon and indicates in four stages the likely effect on wines. The best is a Fruit day, next comes a flower day and then a leaf day….before the dreaded root day. The theory is that the waxing or waning moon affects the wines in the same way as it does the plants as they grow and tides. It is more complicated as it also depends on which astral constellation the moon is passing through. As it happened the moon was on the cusp of transitioning from a root day to a flower day as the tasting was due to begin and the wines showed better than we had expected!

• ‘Llevant’ 2023 Clos d’escarragordes, Barón D’Alba IGP Castelló 14%ABV

Llevant is a blend of Macabeo, Viognier and Moscatel. It is pale yellow in colour, clean and bright. On the nose, it is fresh, floral, and aromatic with a spicy undernote and lots of yellow summer fruits. In the mouth you note the green apple from the Macabeo, peach and apricots in syrup comes from the Moscatel and the power factor in the finish is the viognier with its rich and spicy notes.

• El Enhebro 2023, Verdil/Merseguera, La Viña DO Valencia 12.0%ABV

An equal blend of the two varieties, it is pale yellow in colour, has green flashes and is clean and bright. Clean and intense on the nose, white fruits and flowers, fresh herbs, with spice in the background. In the mouth, fresh on entry, medium intensity with the fruit flavours evident on the nose in a good finish.

• Blanco Barrica 2023 Macabeo/Viognier Clos d’esgarracordes Barón D’Alba ,IGP Castelló 14.5%ABV

The wine has spent five months in oak. It is pale yellow in colour, clean, and brilliant in aspect with a complex blend of fruit hints on the nose. There are citrus notes, fresh fruit, white stone fruit (apricot), and quince jam (membrillo). In the mouth, it has some volume, is dense, and there is a creamy texture from the oak. Very smooth long finish, this is a classy wine!

• Venta del Puerto No 5, Vino Singular, La Viña, DO Valencia 12%ABV

A new White wine in the Venta del Puerto range, now joining No 12 and No 18. It is a blend of 70% Chardonnay, 20% Malvasia and 10% Viognier, from a very limited production of less than 10,000 bottles. The individual varieties are vinified separately with ageing in American oak for 5 months.

Pale straw in colour, clear and bright. Fresh and intense nose, white fruit, tropical fruit, white flowers and mountain scrub, herbs. In the mouth, it is a wine with considerable structure, the acidity, fruit, and alcohol are all balanced and in the right place without being lineal. This a wine to match with food and perfectly capable of standing up to red meat as well.

• Vino Tinto Joven 2023 Clos d’esgarracordes, Baron D’Alba IGP Castelló14%ABV

A blended red from Garnacha, Tempranillo and Monastrell.(This wine won the Gold medal in the recent Proava concurso.)

They pick the grapes when they are at the optimum point of ripeness, maceration on the skins follows and then pressing before fermentation in Stainless steel.

Clean, intense, youthful appearance with a ruby colour. High intensity on the nose, black fruit, fruits of the forest, raspberry, blackberry, cassis, blueberry, with a light citric note (grapefruit) which freshens the acidity, aromatic herbs (mountain scrub). The entry is fresh and honest, has good volume, with creamy tannins, and a smooth, very long finish.

• Vino Crianza 2022 Clos d’esgarracordes, Barón D’Alba, IGP Castelló 14.5%ABV

A 10-month Crianza for this wine in French and American oak, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. (Not filtered before bottling so there may be a deposit. This is a wine capable of ageing. )

A garnet colour for this wine reflecting the varieties it is made from. Full-bodied and intense. On the nose mature black fruits, and mountain scrub on the nose. In the mouth this silky on entry, smooth pass across the palate, good volume, balanced and round with a very satisfying long finish.

And this is all for now, looking forward for our next tasting with another good selection of quality wines from Valencian Community!