Warre's Otima 10 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal

Are you a sweet wine lover? Then here's a very very interesting option for you! Here in Turkey we are not so much mad about the dessert wines but of course in many countries a successful dinner shouldn't end up without a sweet drop of wine! Portugal is one of my favorite countries and I always discover a new culinary delight every time I visit that country. Warre's 10 year old Tawny Port is one of my lastest discoveries and I never think to return from Portugal without grabbing one bottle. (Those are sold in special, 250cl small bottles) Costs around 26 Euros.

http://www.warre.com/section.php?id=1062

OTIMA

Warre’s has established itself as one of the most forward thinking Port producers, balancing its long tradition with total dedication to premium quality and successful innovation.

Warre’s launch of Otima 10 & 20 Year Old Tawny caused a revolution in Port that introduced a completely new concept to consumers, helping to rejuvenate Port’s image in the main markets. Otima is now widely acknowledged as the most successful new development in the Port trade for over 25 years.

The merit of Otima was to show Port’s versatility as an all year round, anytime drink, appealing to both women and men, dispelling many of the myths attached to Port.

The clean, modern design was matched by an excellent wine that has been winning Gold and Silver medals at the world’s leading blind tasting competitions year after year, leaving no doubt that the quality of the wine is on par with the outstanding, award-winning packaging.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

OTIMA 10

2010 Decanter Wine Awards
GOLD MEDAL
 

2009 International Wine Challenge
GOLD MEDAL

2009 Decanter Wine Awards
GOLD MEDAL

2008 International Wine & Spirit Competition
SILVER MEDAL

2008 Decanter Wine Awards
SILVER MEDAL

2007 Decanter Wine Awards
SILVER MEDAL

2006 International Wine Challenge
SILVER MEDAL

2005 International Wine Challenge
SILVER MEDAL

OTIMA 20
 

2008 International Wine & Spirit Competition
SILVER MEDAL

2008 International Wine Challenge
SILVER MEDAL

2008 DECANTER AWARDS
SILVER MEDAL

2007 International Wine Challenge
SILVER MEDAL

2006 International Wine Challenge
SILVER MEDAL

2005 International Wine & Spirit Competition
SILVER MEDAL

2005 International Wine Challenge
SILVER MEDAL

International Wine Challenge

Otima 10 is a superb, light and beautifully balanced Ten Year Old Tawny Port that is clearly different with a striking ultra-modern package designed to appeal to a new, younger generation of Port enthusiasts.

Otima 20, introduced in 2005 in response to the overwhelmingly positive reception of Otima 10, extends the brand into a more luxurious level.

“A 10-year-old tawny port with a light, delicate palate which is simply superb when served chilled, either on its own or at the end of a meal”.
Jonathan Ray, Daily Telegraph

“...drop-dead gorgeous in the taste department. This is simply the best tawny around, just chill the bottle a touch, pour and mellow out”.
Matthew Jukes, Daily Mail Weekend

Otima 10: 90 points out of 100
“A ripe and rich tawny. Loads of caramel, honey and dried fruit.. Full-bodied, sweet and very toffee like on the palate. Long finish”.
James Suckling, Wine Spectator

Otima 10: 17 points out of 20
“A robust and rich Port of superior character and elegance”.
Joao Paulo Martins, Portuguese Wines

Otima 20: 90 Points out of 100
“A lush, soft Port, with nutty aromas rounded out by scents of coffee and caramel.
Caresses the palate with flavours of coffee and creme caramel, blending in a bit of orange peel on the finish. There’s not a rough edge to be found”.
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Enthusiast

2007 Distilleria Bottega Il Vino dei Poeti, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Italy

Brunello di Montalcino is one of Italy's most famous and prestigious wines. Its homeland is Tuscany (Toscana) where it shares its fame with Chianti and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.It's made exclusively from Sangiovese grapes (which is one of my favorites as well) and Brunello means: "little dark one". This is a great wine that should be on the list of everyone but better if you keep it a couple of years in the cellar. All the wine lovers should at least taste once Brunello. Costs around 36Euros and contains 14 degrees of alcohol.

http://prospectwine.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=103

This Brunello di Montalcino, from Bottega, originates from the area around the town Montalcino in Tuscany, Italy. It is one of the most prestigious of Italian wines and is well-known all over the world. It is regarded as one of the red wines that most guarantees full longevity in the years.

The grapes are manually harvested and pressed. Fermentation is in oak vats at a controlled temperature with maceration that lasts 15 days and daily pump-overs. The wine is then naturally cold stabilized and aged for a minimum period of 2 years in oak casks and 4 months in bottle.

It offers a bouquet of red berries, vanilla and spices and hint of cigar box. The palate has intense red cherry fruit flavours and is warm, robust, with a persistent after taste.

This wine is drinking now but has great aging potential over the next five to ten years.

It is perfect with game, red meat, entrecôte, white truffle and ripe cheese. It is not a wine to rush at, take your time to enjoy the full flavours it offers.

• Grapes: 100% Sangiovese Grosso
• Style: full and elegant.
• Sweetness/Grade: Dry / 1
• ABV: 14.5%
• Vintage: 2007
• Bottle Size: 75cl
• Recommended Serving Temperature: 16°C - 18°C

Background:

Distilleria Bottega was founded in 1977 by Rosina and Aldo Bottega and has a long history of wine making, distilling Grappa as well as making blown glass bottles.

For more information visit: www.distilleriabottega.com

2006 Bodegas Matarromera Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain

This is a classic Ribera del Duero and like many of the Riberas I would go for it over and over again. Made from 100% tempranillo grapes, we had it in a special dinner in which the oven baked lamb shank was a main course! Certainly this wine was the perfect match for the event. And as we always say, since it was a family & friends dinner, this was the best wine! It costs around 28Euros. 

Awards

Award Organization	Award Year	Result
Decanter World Wine Awards	2012	Bronze

http://www.grupomatarromera.com/usa/about-us/news/352-matarromera-reserva-2006-y-matarromera-crianza-2009-medalla-de-oro-en-el-berlin-wine-trophy-celebra.html

MATARROMERA RESERVA 2006 AND MATARROMERA CRIANZA 2009, GOLD MEDAL IN BERLIN WINE TROPHY.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 2012 06:44

Matarromera Reserva 2006 and Matarromera Crianza 2009 have left its quality mark in international competitions of great prestige. This time has been the Berlin Wine Trophy, a very important competition.The tasting was initially installed in 1994 as a type of audience price and in its last edition has recognized MATARROMERA RESERVA 06 and MATARROMERA CRIANZA 09 with a gold medal. 

MATARROMERA RESERVA 2006 is a wine made 100% with grapes of the Tempranillo variety from one of the finest plots in the Ribera del Duero, and has been aged for 18 months in French and American oak barrels. 

In visual phase it has dark and intense cherry tones, clean, bright and cherry-red appearance despite the ageing process.On the nose it is round, elegant and very complex, showing a complex bouquet , offering hints of vanilla, cinamon, cocoa, leather, liquorice, calcareous mineral and different and complex red fruit. The diversity of fruity and wood aromas gives the wine roundness and complexity. On the palate, it has a very elegant structure, well balanced, with sweet tannin and long lingering finish

MATARROMERA CRIANZA 2009 is made also 100% with grapes of the Tempranillo variety and has been aged for 14 months in French and American oak barrels
This wine is clean and bright. Deep cherry colour with purple glints.On the nose it is very complex. Excellent harmony: strawberry, blackberry and figs; some hints of milky aromas; the ageing results in a clean and new wood with toast, coffee, vanilla, leather and cocoa aromas. On the palate, powerful, extraordinary backbone and elegant. Sweet polished tannins perfectly balanced with spicy and fruity flavours. Smooth and lingering finish.

These awards encourage a new boost to the company, in addition to increasing and expanding its global presence. 

Casa de la Ermita Crianza, Jumilla, Spain

This is a blend of Monastrell and Petit Verdot. I really like the 100% Monastrell which is produced by the same brand but this blend was not very much of my type. It's a nice wine but I don't think that I would go for it again. Costs around 10Euros. 

http://www.casadelaermita.com/vinos/casadelaermita_tintocrianza.php

CASA DE LA ERMITA CRIANZA

Brand: Casa de la Ermita Crianza

Varieties: Monastrell, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Current Vintage: 2008

Elaboration: Each of the varieties is vinificated and grown seperately. The resting period in large barrels  of American and French wood was of 9 months.
Final Coupage

TASTING NOTES
Colour: Intense garnet red colour.
Nose : The nose feels a great intensity of black mature fruit (blackberry and prunes) together with Mediterranean herbs (thyme and rosemary), minerals, toasted notes, fine cedar wood, spices (clove and cinnamon) and cocoa
Taste: The mouth is juicy and well structured, with good presence of dried black fruit. Good and well integrated tannin.

Serving temperature:Between 16 and 17 degreees centigrade
Available bottle capacities :0.375, 0.75, 1.50, 3.00, 9.00 and 12 litres
Coupage: Red meats, wild meats casseroles, cod, red tuna fish and hard cheeses

Awards and Mentions
Guia La Semana Vitivinicola 2012 (Antonio Casado), 88/100pts., Spain
Wine & Spirits Magazine (2011), 88/100pts., USA
Guia Pe�in 2012, 90/100 points (5/5 stars Q/P ratio), Spain
Wine Spectator Magazine (2011), 87/100 pts., USA
Guia Pe�in 2011, 88/100 points (4/5 stars Q/P ratio), Spain
Wine Access Magazine (2009), 87/100 pts., Canada
Judges Choice, «Value Wine Awards 2009 », Canada
Bronce Medal, « Decanter World Wine Awards 2009 », U.K.
Bronce Medal, “International Wine & Spirits Competition 2009, U.K.
Bronce Medal, « Challenge Int. du Vin 2009», France
Bronce Medal, «Japan Wine Challenge 2009», Japan
Gold Medal, «D.O. Jumilla Quality Competition 2008», Spain
Gold Medal, «Mudusvini 2006», Germany
Gold Medal, «D.O. Jumilla Quality Competition 2006», Spain
Silver Medal, «Expovina 2005», Austria
Bronce Medal, «International Wine & Spirits Competition 2005», U.K.
Bronce Medal, «Decanter World Wine Awards 2005», U.K.
Silver Medal, «Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2005», Belgium
Silver Medal, «Mudusvini 2004», Germany
Gold Medal, «D.O. Jumilla Quality Competition 2004», Spain
Gold Medal, «International Wine Challenge 2004», U.K.
Bronce Medal, «Bacchus 2004», Spain
Silver Medal , «Expovina 2003», Switzerland
Gold Medal, «Panam� Vinos 2003», Panama
Bronce Medal,«International Wine & Spirits Competition 2003», U.K.
Silver Medal, «La selezione del Sindaco 2003»,Italy
Gold Medal, «D.O. Jumilla Quality Competition 2003»,Spain
Bronce Medal, «The Monastrell Kingdom Awards 2003», Spain
Silver Medal, «International Awards city of Porto 2002», Portugal
Bronce Medal, «International Wine Challenge 2002», U.K.
Troph�e Excellence, «Citadelles du Vin 2002», France
Gold Medal, «Bacchus 2002», Spain
Silver Medal, «D.O. Jumilla Quality Competition 2002», Spain
Silver Medal, «The Monastrell Kingdom Awards 2002», Spain
Bronce Medal, «Thessaloniki Int. Competition 2001», Greece

2010 Catena Zapata 'Catena Malbec', Mendoza, Argentina

Catena is one of the most important producers in Argentina. Especially their Malbecs are very popular. So since I always see this brand everywhere in Argentina, I was really expecting a lot from this wine. But unfortunately it stayed below my expectations. Maybe I should have waited a little bit more to enjoy it. I paid 18USD for the bottle. 

Here is a nice site to have some more information about the Malbec wines.

http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/malbec/