No surprises here, the Spanish and French producers represented by Eric Solomon are FANTASTIC!
Posting from Denver, Colorado this afternoon. I'm here for a few days for a mid-year sales meeting for Vine Connections. Last year about this time I flew into Denver to see Death Cab for Cutie and Rogue Wave at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater - what a wild venue and amazing time. This visit will be much different, although just as exciting. The Vine Connections portfolio has set Texas wine and ginjo sake sales on FIRE over the years and I just can't help wanting to learn more from this group. We are assembled from all corners of the country, California, Wyoming, Florida and New York to name a few.
nced Ahn-your-o) the long awaited wines of Master Sommelier Ken Fredrickson are now ready to roll into our big State! He teased us a bit last year and sent a few for the Charlie Palmer's account in Dallas, but now we have full steam ahead and plenty of product to show you all. More details later this week - I can't wait to get my hands on the Anoro Chardonnay - just in time in Texas! Cheers! Ali
What are you doing to beat the heat? I'm talking TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURE DAYS around Texas - so soon this summer!!! No fun, unless you have a bottle or two open of the following cool producers - just ask your favorite wine shop...copy, paste and print this list to go! 
So I've had a homemade Spanish Tortilla on my mind for over a week now. Simple ingredients: Thinly sliced potatoes & onions, handfuls of eggs and a little dash of salt and pepper. A few snap shots of my first try at it this morning...
op restaurant along the way. I never took a bite until late in the trip and man it was one of the best tastes of the entire week. I had a few sips of Spanish Rose alongside the Tortilla - Artazuri Rosado to be exact. Now that I'm back, it begs the question...what wine would you recommend with it? SALUD! Ali
Everyday while in Spain, we had plenty of travel-time on the bus. The group of folks I traveled with were all top wine industry professionals across the US - distributors, restaurateurs and powerful retailers. Chatting with this group from sunrise and into the wee-hours of the morning each day was great fun and inspiring.
fessor Xavier Gramona" explained "Mouseability" of his beautiful Cava. "We focus on crafting wines that have a long life without oxidation, the spirit, maturity, balance and complexity can grow-up, the yeast is the most responsible".
s gave over 1.5million to Capcanes, the man below swimming in his skivvies directed them to do so. True Vision and Courage!
is a small unique pocket of black hills where powerful, deep red wines of superb quality have been made for over eight centuries. Before standing on this schiste ridden hillside, we had NO idea how steep and vertical the vineyards of the Priorat stand. By far the hardest farming and vineyard management we saw in Spain. TexaCali Ali's personal favorite new discovery: "Closa Batllet" created by Sonia and Marc Ripoll.
er in this photo is the orginal Daphne planted a few years ago in the Priorat. Here's the parker blurb: 'The 2005 Clos Erasmus is produced from three vineyard sites originally terraced by the Greeks. The current blend is 85% Garnacha and 15% Syrah with a long-term goal of making a 100% Garnacha wine. The wine was aged for 18 months in new French oak. It is super-fragrant with aromas of crushed stone, slate, cinnamon, baking spices, cassis, kirsch, blueberry, and wild black cherry. Perhaps a bit tighter than the 2004, on the palate there is a liquid minerality that must be tasted to be believed. Opulent, harmonious, and awesome are words which really cannot do justice to this extraordinary vinous achievement.
s Ladder" - after sipping the gorgeous 100% Garnacha Blanca from 100+ year old vines of Conreria de'Scala Dei "Les Brugueres", winemaker Jordi Vidal led us on a tour to see remains of a Carthusian monastery in Scala Dei, Priorat.
f Spain's most fancinating wines. From their Mestizaje red blend of bobal, tempranillo, cabernet and garnacha tintorera to their 100% bobal bottle of Quincha Corral, a true sense of place can be tasted in each sip.
has become one of the best amatures on the senior circuit in Spain! This particular paella was an incredible savory mix of roasted green snap peas, grilled artichokes, olive oil and rice. Fire roasted for a few hours and served HOT! Delicious with the wines of Mustiguillo.
aking that still reign today. This historic site is on the property of Cellar del Roure winery - created in 1995 as a family estate by Pablo Calatayud. Based in the village of Moixent, the property is committed to nurturing and championing the wines and indigenous varietals of the region, most notably the Mando grape. The estate owns three different blocks of vines on the northern slope of the Serra Grossa at 550 meters above sea level.
ay 5 we visited the newest addition to the Solomon Selections Spanish Portfolio. I had the great pleasure of sitting next to the second generation of the family Mr. Nemesio and his son Jose Vincente who revived this property that was originally founded in 1870. Stylistically the wines are true to their terroir and taste. Very well balanced monastrell, syrahs and cabernet. The 2006 Las Gravas was my personal favorite last spring at the Solomon tasting in San Francisco, still is. 55% Monastrell, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. Gorgeous wine!
to JT, Arthur, Jeffery and Ronnie for always keeping it real and making me laugh to tears this night. An unexpected & unplanned night of savory tapas (oh that tortilla and octopus plate!) and wines that were full of surprise and adventure.
Meet the talented team behind Capcanes. After a tour of the winery and tasting, they hosted us for lunch on the mountain-tops above the vineyards...more details coming later about our time at Capcanes.
time at the hotel Cal Lop in the Priorat. 
Off to visit Spain and see the lovely families and producers who make up the KILLER Solomon Selections Spanish wine portfolio. I've now met many of these folks who've visited America over the past 2 years, it's going to be great to see them at their homes and wineries. | Sunday |
| Espelt "Vailet" Blanco |
| Espelt "Corali" Rosado |
| Espelt "Saulo" Tinto |
| Espelt "Coma Bruna" |
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| Gramona "Gessami" |
| Gramona Gran Cuvee |
| Gramona "Imperial" |
| Gramona "III Lustros" |
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| Tomas Cusine "El Vilosell" |
| Tomas Cusine "El Vilosell" |
| Tomas Cusine "Geol" |
| Tomas Cusine "Geol" |
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| El Perro Verde |
| L'Origan Zero Dosage |
| L'Origan Rosat Zero Dosage |
| Paisajes V |
| Paisajes VII |
| Paisajes VIII |
| Vina al Lado de la Casa |
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| Monday |
| Capcanes Mas Donis Rosat |
| Capcanes Mas Donis |
| Capcanes Val de Calas |
| Capcanes Costers del Gravet |
| Capcanes Cabrida |
| Capcanes Cabrida Calissa |
| Capcanes Pansal de Calas |
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| Mas d'en Compte Blanco |
| Mas d'en Compte Tinto |
| Mas d'en Compte Planots |
| Black Slate (Porrera) |
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| Roquers de Porrera "Marge" |
| Roquers de Porrera |
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| Terra de Verema "Triumvirat" |
| Terra de Verema "Corellium" |
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| Closa Batllet Blanco |
| Closa Batllet Tinto |
| Closa Batllet "2 Vinyas" |
| Black Slate (Gratallops) |
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| Tuesday |
| Conreria Scala Dei Blanco |
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| Lo Givot |
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| Mas Alta "Els Pics" |
| Mas Alta "Artigas" |
| Mas Alta "La Basseta" |
| Mas Alta "La Creu Alta" |
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| Mas Doix "Salanques" |
| Mas Doix "V.V." |
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| Nun |
| La Bota #16 Manzanilla |
| La Bota #10 Manzanilla Pasada |
| La Bota #15 Fino |
| La Bota #9 Amontillado |
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| Wednesday |
| Mustiguillo "Mestizaje" Blanco |
| Mustiguillo "Mestizaje" |
| Mustiguillo "Finca Terrerazo" |
| Mustiguillo "Quincah Corral" |
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| Celler del Roure "Les Alcusses" |
| Celler del Roure "Maduressa" |
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| Thursday |
| Casa Castillo Monastrell |
| Casa Castillo Monastrell |
| Casa Castillo "Las Gravas" |
| Casa Castillo "Valtosca" |
| Casa Castillo "Pie Franco" |
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| Castano Rosado |
| Castano Monastrell |
| Castano "Hecula" |
| Castano "Solanera" |
| Castano "Casa Cisca" |
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| Sierra Salinas "Mo" |
| Sierra Salinas "Mira" |
| Sierra Salinas "1237" |
| Casa Marta |
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| Friday |
| Sanclodio |
| Sanclodio |
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| Ercavio Blanco |
| Ercavio Rosado |
| Ercavio Tinto |
| Ercavio "La Plazuela" |
| Ercavio "La Plazuela" (1.5L) |
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| Jimenez-Landi "Sotorrondero" |
| Jimenez-Landi "Pielago" |
| Jimenez-Landi "Fin del Mundo" |
| Jimenez-Landi "Cantos del Diablo" |
| Jimenez-Landi "El Reventon" |
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| Saturday |
| Val de Sil "Val de Sil" |
| Val de Sil "Val de Sil" |
| Val de Sil "Pezas de Portela" |
| Val de Sil "Pedruzos" |
| Losada |
| Losada "Altos de Losada" |
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| Evodia |
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| Sitios de Bodega "Con Class" |
| Sitios de Bodega "Verdejo" |
| Sitios de Bodega "V3" |
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| Pena das Donas "Almalarga" |
| Pena das Donas "Verdes Matas" |
