“Off the Beaten Track Spain” Case Offer

Spain offers so much more than Rioja, so we have put together an “Off the Beaten Track Spain” Case Offer; this is a great way of discovering six distinctive and delicious wines from less well known areas of Spain. All these wines are from small family-run producers.

Discover “Off the Beaten Track Spain” Case Offer with accompanying notes

Sip your way through – three white wines – two come from an 2 different organic Estates in central Spain, and the other from DO Cariñena in Aragon. The three red wines range from a fine Mencia from DO Bierzo in the North West, to two organic reds, the stylish and delicious “La Tremenda” from DO Alicante and the vibrant, fresh red made from Bobal from one of the highest vineyards in Spain, in DO Manchuela.

Dominio de Punctum Viognier 2022 (Organic & Biodynamic) VdlT Castilla  (1 bottle)

The aromas simply jump out the glass. It has exotic peach and apricot aromas with slightly nutty and floral notes. The palate is packed with intense peach, nectarine and tropical fruit flavours with a light citrus uplift which balances the full, complex flavours with a touch of freshness.A very versatile dry white; you could drink it on its own with nibbles and it is a perfect partner to a wide range of foods like shellfish, Asian and vegetarian dishes. From the family-run organic estate of Dominio de Punctum in central Spain, led by Jesus and Ruth Fernandez.

Entero Old Vine Macabeo 2021/22 (Organic) DO Manchuela (1 bottle)

Lightly floral, pear and tropical fruit aromas and honey notes. A nicely textured, dry white with flacours of pears, melons and tropical fruit with balancing citrus aciditiy on the finish. This is a refreshing, easy-drinking, organic white with good length and depth of flavours. It is made from Macabeo grapes from old vines (at least 25 years old). Grapes from these older vines produce a vibrantly flavoured dry white. It comes from vineyards at 700 metres in DO Manchuela and is produced by the San Antonio Abad Co-operative, together with a group of English winemakers. If you like white Rioja, you will enjoy this wine.

Care Garnacha Blanca Nativa 2021  DO Cariñena, Spain  (1 bottle)

This is a deliciously different white wine produced from the Garnacha Blanca grape by Bodegas Añadas in Aragon. Your attention is immediately drawn to its very intense nose with greengage and orange peel aromas, coupled with tropical fruit and attractive minerality. It has terrific, full flavours of tropical fruit with hints of orange zest, and nice minerality. It has outstanding balance between freshness and structure and it has a long, mouth-filling, smooth aftertaste. It has spent just 2 months in barrel which has given this wine body without taking away any freshness.

Gold Medal Grenache du Monde Competition 2022.

Nacho Lazaro and family, who run Bodegas Añadas, chose the name Care (pronounced Karey) for its link to the Romans who used this name for who the nearby town, now known as Cariñena, which gives its name to the oldest Denominación Origen (DO) in Aragon. Bodegas Añadas choose eye-catching labels for their wines, using artwork from a local artist Enrique Torrijos, as they say their wines show the modern face of Cariñena.

Merayo Mencia 2021  DO Bierzo  (1 bottle)

(91 points Penin Guide: Independent wine guide in Spain: 16 Points Jancis Robinson MW)

Made from the lovely Mencia grape with aromas of cherries and smooth, cherry fruit and spice flavours. It is a flavoursome, savoury red with good length. Pedro Merayo has 25 hectares of well established and immaculate vineyards, which includes 80 – 100 year old bush vine Mencia. This Mencia has some grapes from mature vines as well as from 10 year old trellaced vines.

This young red has been aged “sur lie” for six months before bottling and is a terrific example of the lovely medium bodied, refined wines this grape can produce. Similar to Cabernet Franc with a bit more substance; it has been described as the Pinot Noir of Spain and is definitely worth discovering.

Enrique Mendoza La Tremenda 2018/20 DO Alicante (1bottle)

(90 points Decanter; 92 points Wine Advocate (USA)

Inviting aromas of black cherries and hints of mediterranean herbs, spice, toast and cocoa. This is followed by rich cherry fruit flavours and nice savoury, ripe tannins. It has a lovely silky texture and very good length.  Made from the Monastrell grape which is known as Mourvedre in France, where it plays a starring role in Chateauneuf du Pape. It has spent 6 months in American oak barrels (2nd and 3rd year which gives a gentle oak nuance to this wine) and then was aged a further 12 months in bottle before release.

The highly respected Jose (Pepe) Mendoza now runs the family vineyards and Bodega. This tasting note sums up the quality of this wine.  “Full of suppressed energy, this is a joyous wine full of ripe fruit softened by six months in French oak. Enrique Mendoza is a cheerleader for the great wines and traditions of Alicante.”  90 points: Decanter Magazine March 2018

Mil Historias Bobal 2020 (Organic)  DO Manchuela  (1 bottle)

Intense aromas of ripe, black fruit with rosemary herb hints and a touch of black pepper. The flavours are equally intense, there is blackcurrant, cherry fruit together with peppery, liquorice and chocolate hints. This full-bodied red has a lovely full, savoury and complex finish. Wines made from this widely planted grape, the Bobal, mainly found in the Levant area of Spain, often display power and vibrant fruit, but not all achieve the freshness and juiciness and a well rounded palate, that this wine does.

It is produced by Manolo Garrote (who is an agronomist) and his wife Roselia Molina who is the winemaker at Bodegas Altolandon, in the hills well inland from Valencia near Cuenca. The vineyards are at 1100 metres which means cool nights which is helpful for retaining freshness in the grape flavours. This Bodega also restrict the yield to around 1.5 kilos per vine, which concentrates the aromas and flavours of the grapes. This wine is aged for 4 months in French oak barrels with some in clay amphora to retain purity, and build complexity. Finally they are bottled and have an eye-catching label which captures the natural and organic production.