Tasting Report March 2025
CBWS Tasting held on 20/03/2025 at Los Amigos, Javea attended by 58 members and 1 guest.
Tasting Team members Sandy and Tim Fawle hosted the March Wine Tasting. Tim introduced Nicholas Hammeken Director of Innovation and Founder of Hammeken Cellars. This company has an interesting and innovative approach to the Spanish Wine industry and has 8 Winemakers working in 18 different DO’s, marketing their wines for the producers. They are based in Denia and have achieved very good points in the Spanish Peñin Wine Guide.
| Wine 1 Name and Vintage | ALBADES Malvasía 2024 DO Valencia. Guia Peñin 88 |
| Price per bottle | €5.15 |
| Wine 1 Description | ALBADES Malvasía 2024 DO Valencia To the north of the Les Caves de la Morera ravine, between the towns of Fontanars dels Alforins and Ontinyent, the Malvasía Aromática variety finds the ideal terroir to unfold its full potential. A bright greenish yellow colour. It has a high intensity aroma of apricot, lychee with a floral background of orange blossom. Fresh, with fruity notes. Balanced acidity and a long finish. |
| Wine 2 Name and Vintage | Mirada Rose 2024, Vinos de la Tierra Castilla Guia Peñin 90 Organic Rose |
| Price per bottle | €5 |
| Wine 2 Description | An elegant, fresh and smooth point of view. Mirada Organic Rosé is a well-rounded wine, balanced and made to enjoy quietly in relaxed environments. 100% Bobal. Age of Vines – 15years. Altitude 600-800m.Pale pink, with aromas of fresh strawberry, citrus and rose petal, finishes nice acidity and minerality on the palate. |
| Wine 3 Name and Vintage | Gotas de Mar 2022 DO Ribeiro vinos de Calidad. Guia Peñin 89 100% Godello |
| Price per bottle | €13.20 |
| Wine 3 Description | GOTAS DE MAR Godello Fermentado en Barrica 2022 DO Ribeiro .The vineyards benefit from the proximity to the Atlantic coast and the embrace of the Miño river. This is our Godello’s home, a little known variety that is gaining a lot of prestige. The “sábrego” terroir and the Atlantic climate give a strong minerality to this wine. 8 months in new French Oak barrels add the final touch to a unique and magnificent wine. The vines are 15 -25 year old. Brilliant pale lemon colour. Intense aromas of pear, yellow stone fruits, minerals, exotic toasted oak, freshly baked bread and a hint of fresh sea breeze. On the palate, fresh exotic fruits, prominent acidity, complexity, elegant toasted oak and stony minerals. Clean and lingering finish, layered and complex, refreshing. |
| Wine 4 Name and Vintage | Sancta Yusta 2023 DO Cebreros Guia Peñin 90 100% Garnacha |
| Price per bottle | €12.50 |
| Wine 4 Description | Sancta Yusta is the result of the close collaboration between our winemaking director, Marcelo Morales, and the most prestigious producers in the Cebreros area. Marcelo’s extensive experience making Garnachas has contributed significantly to achieving a fresh and elegant wine. Age of vines 30years old.Cherry red colour, clean and bright. Aroma of red fruits, with fresh floral and herbal touches. In the mouth it is balanced, with an elegant palate and fruity and fresh notes. |
| Wine 5 Name & Vintage | Oráculo 2021 Guia Peñin 91DO Ribera del Duero100% Tempranillo |
| Price per bottle | €30 |
| Wine 5 Description | A storyteller, Oráculo, from whose lips the wine gods speak…. in its bosom lays the ancient history of 80 year old vines. Tinta del País vines, touched by good fortune, are pure joy for your senses. Perched on one of the highest points of Ribera del Duero, their grapes tell the story of master oenologists.. Age of vines 80 to 120 years. 24 months in 100% New French oak barrels of 500L. Deep ruby red, with intense aromas reminiscent of ripe black cherries, delicate toasted oak, cigar box, savoury game, tobacco and Asian spices. On the palate is dense, layered and succulent. This wine is well balanced with lots of soft velvety tannins, intense extract, and it has a long lingering finish. |
| Closing Comments | A very interesting tasting and our thanks to Nicholas Hammeken for sharing and presenting these wines with us. Nicholas also gave us an insight into his opinions on the Spanish wine industry as well the current challenges on US tariffs |
| Misc | All wines are available from bodegas Aguilar in Ondara – https://aguilarbodega.es/ |
| Your name | Tim Fawle with thanks to Helen Granville for the photos. |
