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The Good Juice
For this weeks Good Juice we have selected two wines from Pares Balta, one of our Spanish producers. Both wines are unique in their own way; the Absis is potent, structured and full bodied while the Marta displays complexity and strength yet maintains a soft velvety mouthfeel.
Parés Baltà is a family owned winery located in the Penedès region of Spain with traditions that go back to 1790. The winery produces wines and cavas of high quality and the grapes are sourced from their own vineyards - five estates, situated around the winery and in the mountains of Penedés. The altitude varies from 170 to 750 meters and offers a diverse mixture of soils and microclimates that lends a special personality to the wines.
The family are winemakers with a long tradition but with new and fresh ideas. There are actually three generations working at Parés Baltà: the grandfather Joan Cusiné Hill (born 1917) continues to be active together with his son Joan Cusiné Cusiné but the reins of the business have now passed to his two grandsons - Joan and Josep Cusiné Carol who together are guiding the company into a new era of high quality wine production.
The winemaking lies in the hands of Maria Elena Jimenez and Marta Casas, enologists and the wives of Joan and Josep. The efforts of these two skilled young women are reflected in the quality of the wines that are produced at Parés Baltà; showing fine character and concentration yet with elegance and balance.
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2003 Absis available in 6 pks. $79.95/bottle
The grapes for the ’03 Absis were sourced from the Finca La Torreta vineyard, situated at 340 m. The wine is 61% Tempranillo with some Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Maceration and fermentation of all the varieties was done separately in 400 liter barrels of new French oak at a controlled temperature of 24 - 26° C. The wine was then aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels from Allier. It is intense purple in colour with tints of cherry. On the nose you will find high concentration and complexity of aroma with notes of sweet red fruits, raisins, plums and mulberries. In the mouth the wine is full, powerful and concentrated and possesses a long and pleasant finish. You can drink the wine now but as the review below suggests you will be well rewarded with 4 – 6 years of patience.
Pares Balta 2003 Absis Scores 90 Points, Wine Advocate, April 2008
The 2003 Absis is 61% Tempranillo with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Purple coloured, it delivers a bouquet of toasty oak, mineral, leather, blackberry and black currant. This is followed by a full-bodied wine that is firm but well-balanced. It requires a minimum of 4-6 years in the cellar and should be at it’s best from 2012-2025. Pares Balta is one of a number of wineries in the Penedes with serious aspirations. It produces a wide range of wines from Cava to Rose to stratospherically priced red wines. While Pares Balta appears to be a work in progress, it is clear that their intention is to produce world class wines. |
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2004 Marta, Shiraz available in 6pks. $76.95/bottle
The 2004 Marta is made from 100% Syrah, sourced from the Finca Cal Miret vineyard, situated at 400 m. The vines are located on deep, well drained, loamy soils which in the main are southeast facing . Maceration and fermentation of the grapes took place in 400 liter barrels of new French oak at a controlled temperature of 24-29° C for 25 days. Malolactic fermentation was carried out with indigenous bacteria. The wine was then barrel aged for thirteen months in new French oak from Allier.
The wine shows intense red colour with violet tints. The bouquet displays impressive intensity and complexity, with notes of plums, black mulberries, toast and vanilla. In the mouth the wine is silky and velvety and has good concentration and body with a long and persistent finish.
Both the Absis and the Marta will benefit from cellaring though the Marta less so, maybe a year or two. The wines are full bodied even muscular and from a food pairing point of view can handle pretty much anything that you would like to throw at them. Since I have been thinking recently about getting back up North and assuming my position in front of the BBQ, I am going to recommend Grilled Lamb with a rustic Porcini Sauce. Either wine would be an excellent match with this meal. |
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When you have a moment please check out our website at www.profilewinegroup.com
How to order
Phone: 416-598-0033 extension 243 to speak directly with Allan Leal, or you can
E-mail him at aleal@profilewinegroup.com
All orders are COD. Payment can be made by Visa, MasterCard, AMEX or cheque. Your credit card will not be charged until the product is shipped.
Minimum Orders: There is a one case minimum order (12 bottles unless otherwise noted).
Delivery to a single destination within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is free of charge. Delivery outside of the GTA can be arranged.
You must be 19 years of age or older to place or receive a wine order. |
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