Come into Paris Madrid Grocery tomorrow from 1-4 p.m., and taste artisanal Spanish honey, extra virgin olive oil, and wine. John Cancilla of Bodega y Almazara Marquis de Valdueza will be in the store to provide samples and details about the handcrafted products produced on the Spanish estate. You’ll be able to sample holm oak honey, made from the same acorns that feed the famed Pata Negra pigs. There will also be wildflower honey for tasting as well as Merula Extra Virgin Olive Oil which is a blend of Morisca, Arbequina, Picual, and Hojiblanca olives. The Marques de Valdueza Tinto wine 2017 from Extremadura ($14.99) can be sampled; this value-priced wine is a crowd pleaser! DETAILS: Saturday, August 17, 2019 from 1-4 p.m. Free.
The following Saturday, August 24, 2019, from 2-4 p.m., we’ll be pouring French wines from the Loire Valley and Burgundy. Details to follow next week.
Les Fermiers Basco-Bearnais Vache is a new stellar cheese in our case. Made of raw cow’s milk, this farmstead cheese is aged 5 months. Intensely flavored, salty and creamy, with a slight cheddar note on the finish, it is a great melting cheese. It is also divine with ripe summer tomatoes in a sandwich or salad.
Padron peppers – We’ve still got fresh, locally grown Padron peppers for sale. If you haven’t tried them yet, fry them in olive oil until blistered, sprinkle with sea salt and serve as a tasty and fun appetizer. About every 10th pepper is hot, which is an exciting surprise!
WINES:
We received a bit more of the benchmark R. Lopez Heredia wines, so we’ve opened our remaining stock to multiple bottle purchases. We have 8 bottles of Viña Tondonia Reserva Blanco Rioja 2005 ($47.00) and 9 bottles of Viña Gravonia Crianza Blanco Rioja 2010 ($29.99). Both scored 95 points from the Wine Advocate. We have just one bottle left of the much sought-after and rare Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva Rosado Rioja 2009 ($34.00). Any of these wines would make a fantastic gift for a Rioja lover.
Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre 2018, Loire Valley ($30.00) 100% Sauvignon Blanc from 30-year-old vines. Fermented in stainless steel, it rests on its lees for 2-3 months with several stirrings to add complexity. I love the nervy tension in this wine, with fresh citrus, mineral richness and a touch of herbs. “A model for Sauvignon Blanc born from the Loire’s Kimmeridgian limestone. Reverdy’s trademark is a generous flavor of blossoming flowers channeled over the palate, culminating in a finely etched mineral finish. Ethereal and full of charm, this Sancerre comes into precise focus on the crisp, mouthwatering finale. A whisper of fresh-squeezed lemon lingers on the lips and tongue, zestfully inviting the next sip.” (Importer’s notes).
Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Rosé 2018, Loire Valley ($28.99) 100% Pinot Noir which does not undergo malolactic fermentation. Incredibly vibrant and clean, it is phenomenal with grilled salmon. “Smells like a strawberry patch, tastes like a clean stony stream. Michel Reverdy does his ancestors proud, following the family traditions in the vineyards and in the cellar since 1600.” –Importer’s Notes
Sierra Cantabria Finca El Bosque Rioja 2011 $58.00 SPECIAL PRICE, (normally $105.00). This spectacular wine is made from a 1.5-hectare single-vineyard plot. At the regular price, it would be out of reach for many people but this new sale price allows one to gather a few friends to share the cost and savor this beautiful wine. Produced organically (non-certified), it is 100% Tempranillo from a great vintage, aged 18 months in new French oak. The grapes are foot trodden. Show lift, complexity, and fine-grained tannins with a spicy background. 94 points Wine Advocate.