Tag: Premsal Blanc

Macia Batle Wine Tasting

On By mallorcawinetastingIn Bodega Macia BatleLeave a comment

Macia batle logo

Wines Tasted:

◊   1 White   ◊

Blanc de Blancs Dolç 2010

◊   2 Rosé   ◊

Rosado 2014
Margalida Llompart Rosé 2014

◊   3 Red   ◊

 Crianza 2012
Crianza 2010
Margalida Llompart Negre 2012

Macia batle bottles

Macia Batle knows how to do a tasting! Isabel was extremely informative and knew her wines and their production. It was wonderful to learn so much about the wines while enjoying them. As we went along, each wine was paired with a specific cracker and topping. It was delicious to follow Isabel’s suggestions, and then to try our own pairing ideas as well. It is striking how much a pairing accents the wine! We suggest always tasting the wine alone before pairing, both to know the wine, but also to see how it develops. We were asked at the beginning if we preferred whites or reds and we, of course, said REDS!  That is why we didn’t try a dry white first – and only tasted the sweet white after the reds.  Live and learn.

#1
Rosado 2014
Grapes: Manto Negro
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
Merlot

Macia batle Rosado

Comment:
Tawnee:  Rosado – the Spanish translation of Rosé. The blend of these four grapes creates a traditional rosé color and a slight sweetness to the wine. I noted soft aromas of apple. I would drink this wine chilled in the early afternoon on the terrace while reading a good book. It is very fresh.

Merie: We started with the Rosado 2014, a blend of Manto Negro, Cabernet, Syrah, and Merlot. Legs of sugar and alcohol glistened down the glass. 13.5% alcohol, tart, clear and young, with a fruity scent. We tried it with both black and green olive oils and spreads with great effect. A super rosé at a good price.

#2
Margalida Llompart Rosé 2014
Grapes: Manto Negro 100%

Macia Batle Margalida Llompart Rose

Comment:
Tawnee: I love to see tradition honored, and using the grandmother’s name for a bottle is beautiful. Normally in Mallorca you name your children after their grandmothers. This is why there are so many names repeated in families here on the island. This Rosé has aromas of cherries and contains 13.5% alcohol. Its delicate flavor matches the subtle rose color created from the Manto Negro grape. It is a wonderful appetizer drink on a summer’s day.

Merie: The Rosé Margalida Llompart has a photo of the grandmother as the label — somewhere we learned there is a tradition of honoring the mothers by naming a good wine after them! This wine is 100% Manto Negro so is lighter in color than the Rosado blend. I found it slightly more acid or tart, very fresh and lightly dry.

#3
Crianza 2012
Grapes: Manto Negro
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
Merlot

Macia Batle Crianza 2012

Comment:
Tawnee: This is a smooth bottle of red. It is has lots of ripe berry flavor and good body. I enjoyed it.

Merie: Next we tasted the Crianza 2012 red which is 50% Manto Negro and 20/20/10 Cabernet/Syrah/Merlot, with 10 months in Barrel, and then 14 in bottle. It is 14% alcohol, showed more legs. Interestingly, it is the same blend of grapes as the Rosé Llompart – but it sits with its skins longer for the deep red color and tannins they give. It is smooth, elegant, and soft. And we were told the longer it ages in bottle the better it gets for special occasions.

#4
Crianza 2010
Grapes: Manto Negro
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
Merlot

Macia batle Crianza 2010

Comment:
Tawnee: What a difference just two years can make! I really loved the body in this red. It had solid tannins and a great finish. I would say it is worth it to buy a more recent bottle, and keep it to open a few years down the line.

Merie: The Crianza 2010 is the kind of red I want at my table!  A very balanced red which would go well with any meal.

#5
Margalida Llompart Negre 2012
Grapes: Manto Negro
Cabernet
Syrah
Merlot

Macia Batle Margalida Llompart

Comment:
Tawnee: With aromas of bacon, this red wine has 14% alcohol, strong tannins, deep color, and great body. I love that we were able to try almost the whole line of Margalida Llompart wines.

Merie: This is a stellar red, strong and rich, but never heavy. The high alcohol content suggests there were a lot of sugars in the grapes, but no unwanted residual sugars here! It is nicely dry and perfect for hors d’oeuvres or a great meal.

#6
Blanc de Blanc Dolç 2010
Grapes: Prensal Blanc

Macia Batle Dolc

Comment:
Tawnee: A lovely sweet white wine. It would be a lovely drink on a cold winter day, served ever so slightly chilled after a meal. Delicious.

Merie: The last tasting was the Blanc de Blanc Dolç 2010.  This lightly sweet wine is a Prensal Blanc. Interestingly, it doesn’t taste like the aroma. The scent is almost white-raisin sweet, while the flavor is more tropical and fresh.

Note: We were not able to taste the Red Reserva because there were only 10 bottles left in the winery stock. Good wines move fast! It is a Crianza with 2+ years in oak and 2+/- years in bottle. They carefully reserve the best grapes for this signature wine, the same blend of 4 red grapes as in the other reds we tasted.

While pouring the last tasting, Isabel said that at Macia Batle there is innovation and constant growth mixed with a love of the local grapes and a huge respect for wine and art.   That says it all!

Macia Batle Isabel

Thank you Isabel!

See Bodega Macia Batle visit: Click here

### Bodega Macià Batle ###

Son Vives Wine Tasting

On By mallorcawinetastingIn Celler Son VivesLeave a comment
Son Vives logo 1

Wine Tasted:

◊    2 Whites    ◊

Juxta Mare 2014
Fusio de Blancs 2014

◊   1 Red   ◊

Negre

son vives two bottlesson vives negre2

Celler Son Vives has the most picturesque tasting area with views of the sea and terraces lined with Malvasia vines. It would be bliss to be able to watch the sun set while sipping on a chilled white. Son Vives makes two native Mallorcan grape mono-varietal wines, their Malvasia dry & sweet, one white blend, and one red blend made from grapes that come from the warmer, dryer center of the island.  Our tasting guide, Mariona, was informative and a pleasure to have helping us. We are thankful that she took the time to have a short visit with us late on a Friday summer evening. Cheers!

#1
Juxta Mare 2014
Grapes: Malvasia 100%

Son vives juxtamare front Son Vives Juxtamare back

Comment:
Tawnee: I always love tasting a mono-varietal wine because it helps me to really understand what the flavors of the grape are supposed to be like. This wine has fruitful aromas and is subtly dry with a distinct finish! Yum.

Merie: Lightly dry, with hints of ripe fruit and honey, the bottle sweat invitingly from the perfect chill. This Malvasia grape is the signature variety of Banyalbufar, and the reason for being here. Apparently Son Vives also produces a Juxta Mare Malvasia Dulce, but it was not offered in our tasting.  Juxta Mare means ‘Beside the Sea’ in Mallorcan:  The coastal climate is so important to the grape, and the sea views critical to the way of life!

#2
Fusio de Blancs 2014
Grapes: Malvasía
Chardonnay
Prensal Blanc

Son Vives Fusio de Blancs Front Son Vives Fusio de Blancs back

Comment:
Tawnee: This wine has a beautiful color and I like the name. A fusion of whites – with all white grapes! Also, it has been in oak which is not common for white wines. However, not my favorite, but that doesn’t surprise me as I don’t like Chardonnay very much.

Merie: Next Mariona poured the Fusio de Blancs, which we had enjoyed earlier in a local cafe on the main street of Banyalbufar. This delicious wine is made from Malvasia, Chardonnay, and Prensal Blanc grapes, and fermented in oak barrel.  The Chardonnay and Prensal grapes come from the center of the island in Sencelles and Santa Eugenia because they do not grow well in coastal Banyalbufar, and require the hotter, dryer inland plain.

#3
Negre
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Syrah
Manto Negro
son vives negre

Comment:
Tawnee: I love red wine! Their Negre has a good fruitful aroma and a dominant presence in mouth. I enjoyed this wine more knowing that Son Vives is being resourceful and adding a red wine to their wine production by having a plot of land in the center of the island.

Merie:   Last, we tasted their red Negre 12 Meses. It is a Crianza aged one year in oak – hence “12 meses” – and made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Manto Negro grapes.  It is produced entirely in Banyalbufar, but the red grapes are grown in the island’s interior wine country, near Santa Maria.  A perfectly good red, (which normally I prefer), but today the Whites ruled and no coincidence that they contain the rare and wonderful Malvasia grape.

Bodega Son Vives sign

Thank you Mariona!

See Son Vives visit: Click here

### Celler Son Vives ###

Son Bordils Wine Tasting

On By mallorcawinetastingIn Bodega Son Bordils1 Comment

logo son bordils

Wines Tasted:

◊   3 Whites   ◊      

Blanc de Raim Blanc 2014
Chardonnay 2014
Muscat 2014

      ◊   1 Rose   ◊  

Rosat 2014

◊   4 Reds   ◊

Merlot 2007
Cabernet 2007
Bisbals 2008
Negre 2010

Son Bordils wine tasted

We learned that all Finca Son Bordils whites and rosés are young, with no time in oak barrels, and that they mainly produce mono-varietal wines and only 2 blends.  Again, Ramón was meticulous on the temperature of the pour and firsts sips.

#1
Blanc de Raim Blancs 2014

Grapes: Premsal

Son Bordils Blanc de Blancs

Comment:
Tawnee: This is the best white from the bodega. My absolute favorite! I don’t know what it is going on with me, but this summer I am loving whites! This is a very common name and today for the first time, I find out why it is called Blanc de Blancs – it is a white wine made from a white grape! Of course, but if nobody ever told me, I never would have guessed it!

Merie: First Ramón poured the Blanc de Raim Blanc of 100% Prensal Blanc grapes.  Prensal Blanc is believed to have been on island since the Phoenicians in BC so it is considered “naitive.”  It has a pleasing light tropical and citrus aroma, with good fruit taste.  Ramón called it “fresco.”  Unexpectedly, this was our favorite of everything we tasted today and we each went home with a bottle.

#2

Chardonnay 2014

Grapes: Chardonnay 88%
Reisling 8%
Viognier 4%

Son Bordils ChardonnaySon Bordils Chardonnay Back

Comment:
Tawnee: I am in search of a Chardonnay that I like, this one was good, but not exquisite for my taste. Here is an example of how the bodega can put the name Chardonnay on the bottle, but not have 100% single grape.

Merie: The Chardonnay came next.  It is titled Chardonnay on the label because it meets the DO requirement of 85% Chardonnay grapes, but in fact this bottle was 88% Chardonnay, and 12% Riesling and Viognier to bolster the Chardonnay to their taste.  It is lovely and full-bodied with bright ripe fruit – no oak!  A good friend of mine who lives in London phone-orders several cases of this wine each year before summer starts, and it’s delivered to their Mallorcan mountain casa when they first arrive!

#3
Moscat 2014
100% Moscat,
(but different varieties)
Moscatel de Grano Menudo
Moscatel de Frontignan,
Muscat d’Alsace or Moscato d’Asti.

Son Bordils Moscat

Comment:
Tawnee: I like that this wine is with the name Muscat, but that it has many different types of Muscat grape. I like the originality of the name and the flavor.

Merie: The Muscat is nicely dry, not a sweet desert wine, with the unmistakable flavor and aroma of this famous grape.  I loved this!

#4
Rosat 2014
Monastrell 52%
Merlot 48%

Son Bordils RosatSon Bordils Rosat back

Comment:
Tawnee: This is my second favorite wine from Son Bordils. An excellent rose to accompany summer lunches.

Merie: This Rossat rosé is made from two red grapes, 52% Monastrell and 48% Merlot grapes and has a classic dark pinky-orange appearance.  The aroma was fine, but the taste was better!  Normally they make two Rosés, one 100% Monastrell and one 100% Merlot, but this year the yield was low so they made a blend of the two to good effect.

#5
Merlot
Merlot 100%

Bordils Merlot26.07.15 081

Comment:
Tawnee: As the bottle breathed, the flavors opened up. A very good red wine, full of flavor and body.

Merie: Next Ramón poured the 100% Merlot and I really wanted some cheese and crackers to go with this lovely wine.  The aromas were nice, the flavors better.

#6
Cabernet Sauvingon
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvingon

Cab Sav frontSon Bordils Cabernet

Comment:
Tawnee: I am beginning to see I like Cabernet Sauvingon. A solid, bold experience.

Merie: The Cabernet had a gorgeously balanced aroma and body, and the finish very clean, a really nice staple wine.

#7
Bisbals
Grapes: Merlot
Manto Negro
Cabernet Sauvingon

Bordils Bisbal frontBordils Bisbal back

Comment:
Tawnee: I like it! It has a very unique flavor- spicy and meaty. The name comes from the special name of the pine forest on Son Bordils- Ses Bisbals- which is like a bishop, and is fitting because it is where the little church is on the land.

Merie: Next Ramón poured us Bisbals, named after the old island Finca/farm house estate.  It is a blend of Merlot, Manto Negro (another “native grape”), and Cabernet, with 14.5% vol. and a nice tannin structure.  The aftertaste lingers and makes you want another sip.

#8
Negre
Grapes: Manto Negro
Cabernet Sauvignon
Callet

Bordils NegreBordils Negre Back

Comment:
Tawnee: Full of ripe red fruits and fennel. This is a great dinner wine at a great price!

Merie: On to their Negre (which means black in Mallorcan but is used to mean red in wines).  14.5% vol., 18 months in American, French, and Hungarian Oak barrels.  It is a blend of Manto Negro, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Callet (again, native).  They recommend it is best served at a cool 17-18° Celsius (62-64° F).  Dryer than the Bisbals, Ramón told us that the Callet grape has balsamic flavors when the vines are young.  He tasted with us and perceived flavors of red fruits, licorice/fennel, and toasty cocoa.  Yum.

Son Bordils Ramon

Thank you Ramon!

See Son Bordils Visit: Click here

### Bodega Son Bordils ###