May Featured Wines – 2023 Ozu by Otazu Chardonnay & 2021 Ozu by Otazu Premium Cuvée, Navarra, Spain

For May we are featuring wines from Navarra, Spain. Navarra is located in the north of Spain, bordering France, the Basque Country, and Aragon. The region’s diverse topography, from the Pyrenees Mountains to the Ebro Plains, creates a wide variety of terroirs. Navarra experiences a unique blend of Atlantic, continental, and Mediterranean influences.The region is divided into five sub-regions, each with its own unique characteristics.The producer of the wines is Bodega Otazu. located in the town of Otazu. They produce premium wines expressing its origin and the essence of the terroir they are coming from. The grow all of their grape varieties – Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Berués – on a single estate of 116 hectares (just under 3oo acres.) Bodega Otazu is one of the 20 Spanish wineries which were given the highest certification and recognition in Spain – Pago Appellation of Origin – guaranteeing the selection as well as the unique and outstanding personality of each of its wines.

Our white selection is Ozu by Otazu Chardonnay 2023. The winemaker describes this Chardonnay as “fresh and friendly.” It is 100% Chardonnay. The red selection is Ozu by Otazu Premium Cuvée 2021 which is 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 33% Tempranillo. The winemaker describes this with a palate that is round, elegant and fresh. The label of these wines is inspired by the figure of ‘Ariadna’ by Manolo Valdés, a figure that tells the story of how Ariadna and the God of wine, Dionysus, fell in love and conceived Enopion, the one who brought down to Earth the techniques of winemaking.

Ozu by Otazu Chardonnay 2023, Navarra, Spain $14

This Chardonnay is lemon yellow, clean and bright in color. It has a floral nose, with citrus notes.In the mouth it is fresh and friendly. Consider this a perfect pairing for seafood, grilled and baked fish, white meats as well as milding seasoned pastas, salads and rice, foie gras and fresh sheep’s cheeses. Alcohol: 13%

Ozu by Otazu Premium Cuvée 2021, Navarra, Spain $15

This cuvee is a blend of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 33% Tempranillo. It is a ruby red color
The nose presents notes of red fruit and wild berries, spicy. The palate is round, elegant and fresh. This is a great pairing for sausages, red meats and game and for all kinds of cheeses, risottos and fish such as tuna or smoked fish, dark chocolate Alcohol: 15%

September Featured Wines – 2022 Nisia Verdejo Old Vines, Rueda, Spain & 2021 Kid Sister Cabernet Sauvignon, Navarra, Spain

With meteorological autumn starting today, September 1, fall is here. Summer weather does not leave for some time but the idea of fall makes me think about seasonal changes in our wine selection. This month we have selected wines from 2 different wine regions in Spain – Navarra and Rueda. We have had wines from both regions but different grapes from different producers.

2022 Nisha Verdejo Old Vines is produced by Bodegas Vatan for Jorge Ordonez Selections in the Rueda region. Rueda is in the Castile y Leon region in north central Spain. Rueda is Spain’s most famous white wine region. Winters are long and cold while summers are hot and dry. The soil in this region is resistent to Phylloxera which destroyed vineyards in France over 100 years ago. Many of the artisan wines, such as those imported by Jorge Ordonez Selections, continue to be grown as they were traditionally a centutry ago. Ordonez was one of the first importers to introduce Spanish wines to the United States.

2021 Kid Sister Cabernet Savignon is produced by Bodegas Nekeas in Navarra in the north of Spain. This region has an ancient history but is still little known. We have had Tempranillo and Garnacha from Navarra but Cabernet Sauvignon is also widely produced. This wine is also imported by Jorge Ordonez Selections.

2022 Nisia Verdejo Old Vines, Rueda, Spain $16

Nisia Verdejo has a bouquet of Bosc pear, nectarine and brined green olives paves the wayfor peach, honeydew melon, fennel bulb and vanilla bean flavors. There are notes of white chocolate and lemon zest that offer a vibrant finish. Alcohol: 14%

2021 Kid Sister Cabernet Sauvignon, Navarra, Spain $12

Expect this Cabernet Sauvignon to have fruit-forward profile with flavors of blackcurrant, plum, and perhaps a hint of green pepper. The wine should have a medium body, smooth tannins, and a clean finish, making it approachable and enjoyable.Alcohol: 14%