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On Friday, 5 May the Mosaic team was honoured to host a world-class tasting event, featuring an award-winning lineup from famed Spanish winery, Bodegas Carmelo Rodero.

We had the opportunity to visit the Bodega and meet with Carmelo and his family a few years ago, and managed to be lucky enough to import all of the incredible wine produced by this dynamic winemaker. After resting in the cellar for a while, we decided that it was time to share these wines with our loyal patrons. Carmelo Rodero’s childhood was spent between working in vineyards and wineries and his earliest memories involve his grandparents making wine in the traditional way using old presses. By the age of 14, Carmelo was tilling the land with the first tractors to be used in the area. After completing his military service, he started purchasing and cultivating his own vineyards. With the support of his wife, Elena, he tirelessly worked the vineyards and for 14 years the fruit of his initial 30 hectares was sold to world-renowned winery, Vega Sicilia, known for their top-notch red wines.

Convinced that the quality of his “black pearls”, as he likes to call them, could form the basis of a fine wine, Carmelo decided to seize the initiative to start producing his own wine and released his first vintage in 1991. Since then the Carmelo Rodero brand has always been acclaimed by wine critics. Nowadays, Carmelo's daughter Beatriz Rodero assists him as the head of the winery and she takes care of the wine making process.

Convinced that the quality of his “black pearls”, as he likes to call them, could form the basis of a fine wine, Carmelo decided to seize the initiative to start producing his own wine and released his first vintage in 1991. Since then the Carmelo Rodero brand has always been acclaimed by wine critics. Nowadays, Carmelo's daughter Beatriz Rodero assists him as the head of the winery and she takes care of the wine making process.

Guests were greeted in the foyer by with a glass of Crianza 2008 - a vibrant ruby coloured wine with varietal aromas and light toasty notes and a lingering finish. The perfect drink to sip while we introduced the winery to our guests, explaining more about the Ribera del Duero D.O. region as well the wine making philosophy of the Bodega.

The first wine tasted during the formal tasting event was the multiple award-winning Crianza 2012 – a deep ruby red wine with delicate and elegant roasted aromas and meaty, full-bodied texture. The Crianza was followed by the Limited Edition Reserva 2010. An attractive wine with a subtle nose of ripe fruit and spicy notes, that is perfectly balanced with a pleasant mouth-feel and lingering finish. A favourite around the table!

The third wine of the evening was the Limited Edition Reserva 2007 - a testament to the ageing potential of these wines. Displaying aromas of ripe fruit and nuances of cherry, violets, mocha and dark chocolate, it was surprisingly sweet on the palate. Superb!

The TSM 2011 was a more complex wine, made in the same style as the famed Unico from Vega Sicilia. Deep cherry colour with an intense nose of black fruit and mineral aromas and enticing balsamic notes made for a truly elegant, feminine wine. Guests were however blown away by the TSM 2009! With an almost black cherry colour with a rich and complex nose of black fruit and mineral notes, it was powerful yet balanced with good fruit intensity. Elegant with a sensational finish!

The final wine of the evening is the highly attractive and intensely dark cherry coloured Pago de Valtarreña 2009. Made from 100% Tempranillo with an elegant nose of black fruit, roasted notes and coffee nuances, this complex and meaty wine showed hints of toffee and pipe tobacco. Announced by our guests as the "wine of the evening"!

A wonderful tasting with great interest and participation from our informed guests, followed by another mouth-watering menu specially created by Chef Chantel to showcase more of these wonderful Spanish wines!

Santé!!

Germain