What's New in September

Gold from Ribera del Duero

A new release from Viña Sastre brings something different from Ribera del Duero: Flavus. Meaning yellow or gold in Latin, Flavus is a compilation, or field blend, of ancient native grapes that are located within Sastre’s famous Santa Cruz vineyards. Because this is a field blend of old vines, we aren't sure of the exact makeup of the blend. We do know that the majority of the grapes are a varietal known locally as Jaén, or more commonly as Palomino.

A joint project between Jesus Sastre and his close friend Gerardo Mendez (of Do Ferreiro), Flavus was fermented in stainless steel and then aged on the lees for 9 months prior to release.

Tasting Notes

Gerardo’s skill at extracting the terroir and finesse of this plot of vines is evident in the wine. It is almost salty by definition with beautiful trace elements of minerals. The palate is lean and defined by razor sharp acidity. This is a complex wine sure to have a long life.

Also New...

2009 Cocktail Contest: Sherry

Our 2009 Cocktail Contest is underway. We want your original Sherry Cocktail recipes, please email them to us. The winner will receive a hand painted porron from this year's guest artist: Mike Jakob of the Elliot Street Deli & Pub in Atlanta, Georgia.

In the Press

From The San Francisco Chronicle

While we declared August Galicia Month, it seems that the San Francisco Chronicle decided that it was Basque Month. A trio of articles focused on the wines and foods of Spain's Basque Country.

Early in the month Jon Bonné enjoyed some Isastegi Sagardo to fend off the heat of some of San Francisco's hottest days yet this year. Check out the article here, but in the meantime here's what he said about this Basque cider:

"... it's perfect for a picnic or an invigorating meal-starter. And in weather like this, it will serve that purpose without wiping you out before the main course..."

But cider was just the beginning. Jon Bonné returned to the libations of the Basque Country in his article "Basque wine Txakoli flirts with fame", a chronicle of how txakoli has risen from complete obscurity to being the new darling of the wine industry.

To complete the Basque trinity guest contributor Janet Fletcher joined one of Kevin Hogan's tapeos, or tapas stroll, through San Francisco. Hopping from tapas bar to tapas bar, she recounts this wholly Spanish event. Read the full article to discover Tapas that are worth the walk.

Around the Web

If you've visited our In the Press page recently you may have found some new recommending reading in the form of various blogs. Check out some new blog posts from August:

Rosés for the End of August and Beyond in Fredric Koeppel's Bigger Than Your Head highlights some of his recommended rosés for the end of summer. Check it out to see what he thought of Gurrutxaga Rosado.

With Crab Cakes? Sherry, Baby by Eric Asimov in his New York Times' blog The Pour, explains why sherry, like the La Cigarrera Manzanilla, goes so well with Crab Cakes.

Links of Interest

>What's New Archive
>The De Maison Selections Newspost
>André's Travel Blog