Rosado – Mallorca Wine Tasting

Wines Tasted:

◊ 2 Whites ◊

Monte Sion – Blanc de Negre 2013
Stairway to Heaven – Sauvignon Blanc 2014

◊ 1 Rosé ◊

Stairway to Heaven – Rosado 2014

◊ 2 Reds ◊
Stairway to Heaven – Shiraz 2010
Monte Sion – Cabernet 2010

Castell Miquel’s owner Professor Popp is a successful scientist and his scientific search for consistency is a common thread in the wines. They believe that wine is medicine and we agree. Castel Miquel has consistent, non overpowering wines that are basically organically grown (awaiting approval). A unique experience up in the southern Serra de la Tramuntana mountains of Mallorca, this tasting room is beautiful both inside and out – overlooking the terraced vineyards and “castle.” It is a very unique experience. We enjoyed not only the wine at the tasting, but also the marmalades made at Castel Miquel. Another unique aspect of this bodega is the glass corks they use. An unforgettable experience.

#1
Monte Sion- Blanc de Negre 2013
Grapes: Monastrell 100%

Comment:

Tawnee: I love the uniqueness of tasting a white wine made from red grapes. This is a first in our Mallorca Wine Trail! The Monte Sion line from Castell Miquel is grown in Porreres, which is closer to the center of the island and flat lands. Blanc de Negre has a slightly tart taste. It is a stable wine with constant flavor from beginning to end. It would be a great compliment to a vegetarian dish.

Merie: Marta first poured the Blanc de Negre 2013. It is 100% Monastrell grapes. The name literally means “white of black” and translates as “a white wine made from red grapes that hasn’t been allowed to steep with the red skins and thus the wine has no color.” No oak, straight from stainless tank to bottle, it has a lovely almost imperceptible pinkish hue. Slightly tart in scent and taste, with a flavor of good water; it is lightly thirst quenching.

#2
Stairway to Heaven- Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc 100%

Comment:

Tawnee: Another first on our Mallorcan Wine Trail- Sauvigon Blanc. This was my favorite wine of our tasting! It has floral notes and a dry finish. It is easy to drink -solid and not too boastful. I could easily enjoy it with fresh crab or oysters!

Merie: The 100% Sauvignon Blanc 2014 is 12.5% alcohol by volume. No oak, straight from stainless to bottle. More fruit and lighter, not sweet, fuller aroma went super well with olive spread and crackers.

#3
Stairway to Heaven- Rosado 2014
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah

Comment:

Tawnee: The Stairway to Heaven line is from right outside the tasting room door – the terraces (stairs) of the mountainside. This is a rich colored rose – almost strawberry colored, which matches the nose on this wine. It has a delicious beginning, strong middle and a unique finish. It would be great with a salad full of ingredients and/or couscous.

Merie: The Rosado 2014 is made from a Cabernet and Syrah blend with a lovely rose color. No oak, straight from tank to bottle, with clear aromas of berry. I must say, the flavor was so much better after olive oil than after sweet marmalade, careful how you pair it!

#4
Stairway to Heaven – Shiraz 2010
Grapes: Syrah 100%

Comment:

Tawnee: Again a 100% wine – Syrah/Shiraz! I always savor these opportunities to try and really understand the real nature of the grape. These Syrah grapes have been 12 months in Hungarian oak and 12 months in bottle before being put on the market. Consistent flavor with a beautiful color in glass. I would serve it with pheasant or turkey.

Merie: Next we tried the 100% Shiraz/Syrah grape. 12 months in oak, 12 in bottle. Great aroma, very balanced. At first I did not enjoy the flavor, I found it thin, then disproportionately strong oak flavors overpowering the subtle grape. However, Marta told me to dip a cracker in olive oil and clear my palate, and it really was SO MUCH better after!

#5
Monte Sion- Cabernet 2010
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon 100%

Comment:

Tawnee: My favorite grape – Cabernet Sauvignon 100%. This Cabernet had notable consistence and well balanced tannins. The most expressive of the wines at this tasting. Ideal to be paired with veal and buttered vegetables.

Merie: Lastly Marta poured the 100% Cabernet. At 14.6% alcohol, it has a nice aroma, balanced and rounded. At first I found the flavor almost scientifically “middle of the road,” and on the tart side, so I reached for the Olive oil. After that, nice balanced tannins became obvious. Interesting!

Note: Castel Miquel offers a Cava in their product line, but the cava grapes come from Cataluña and that’s not on our Wine Trail!

Thank you Marta!

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### Castell Miquel ###

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 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

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%

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

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

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

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

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!

Thank you Isabel!

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### Bodega Macià Batle ###

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Mallorca Wine Tasting

Tag: Rosado