Dinner with Alejandro Fernandez, Pesquera Winery Founder

[Serge Birbrair]

Very memorable tasting indeed, brought back lots of memories from the recent trip to Spain.

Alejandro, whose wine we've seen and tasted in every restaurant in Spain we've been to, is one down to earth farmer who revolutionized the wine making in Spain.

Stephen Metzer, the president of Classical Wines, the sole distributor of Pesquara in US was present as well, along with Shai Froelich of Opici Wine Company, Florida Distributor.

The wines tasted:
D.O. Cava Mont Marcal Cava Rosado Brut Reserva.
was completely wasted on me, as neither "rose" nor "bubbled" wines are my favorites.

Lusco Albarino, 2003 was another white which missed my mark, even though I liked the lack of "oakyness". The wine complimented steamed clams in white wine sauce rather well. Susanne enjoyed it more than I did, she is more tolerant than me, which is partialy explains why she tolerates even me...

Vino de Mesa de Zamora, 2000
was great with Prosciutto wrapped tuna with wild mushrooms and confirmed something I was saying all along -
you CAN have reds with fish and enjoy it!
American and French Oak, good combo.

D.O. La Mancha, El Vinoculo Reserva 2001
Provided lively linguistic discussion at the table as some of us took heart in the word "culo" which means arse in Italian. Was another good compliment to tuna and wild mushrooms.

D.O. Ribera del Duero, Condado de Haza 2000
was my favorite of the flight. Soft tanins, integrated fruit, balance and harmony plus....amazing compliment to Tournedoes of red tailed deer filet mignion.

Pesquera Reserva Magnum 2000
we never had this vintage in Spain, but we immediately recognised our #1-#2 favorite there. Brought LOTS of good memories and good times we had with friends. This wine, with very little imagination MAY be mistaken for Bordeaux....

Alenza 1996 - Bodegas Condado de Haza
Stil tanic, powerful, still elegant. Grilled Lamb Chop complimented the wine and my only wish was - less decanting time. My favorite of the flight. 1996 was a remarkable year....According to Stephen Metzer, they still have 1995 Pesquera Reserva but 1996 is all gone, gone, gone....


For dessert we had Don PX Gran Reserva 1975, the sherry I really liked. (I am not big into sherries and ports)

Andrew from http://winewatch.com , thanks once again for organising yet another incredible wine tasting!

[prester john]

Thanks for the note on the Pesquera Reserva Magnum 2000, Serge.

You have inspired me to recall the memories of a 1994 Pesquera Gran Reserva which I had about a year ago with an American friend visiting Melbourne and a few other oenophiles. I shall dig up the precise vintage year because I'm not sure that it was a 1995 but I'm sure it wasn't a 1996 or later vintage because I wanted to purchase some 1996 (a fantastic vintage) but it was most difficult to get in Australia.

However, I recall the wine well, because it was one of the truly memorable wines I have had. It was beautifully perfumed, impeccably balanced and had the body and structure to carry on, in my reckoning, for another 10 years easily. In fact, I opined at the time that it had not yet peaked in it's potential.

If you had not mentioned that it was your favourite, or one of your favourites, I would have been most disappointed. IMHO, it would have taken some stellar wine to have outshone this one on the evening I had it. In fact, I recall that it made the 1995 Cullen Cab Merlot of that evening look positively pedestrian.

I'm only sorry that we don't have much access to Alejandro Fernandez's wines here. He certainly is a master. I'm glad to hear he's just a "down to earth farmer" because I respect that sort of attitude greatly. The man is obviously happy with his lot in life and doesn't need to prove anything to anybody.

PJ.

[Serge Birbrair]

Thanks for the note on the Pesquera Reserva Magnum 2000, Serge.

You have inspired me to recall the memories of a 1994 Pesquera Gran Reserva which I had about a year ago with an American friend visiting Melbourne and a few other oenophiles. I shall dig up the precise vintage year because I'm not sure that it was a 1995 but I'm sure it wasn't a 1996 or later vintage because I wanted to purchase some 1996 (a fantastic vintage) but it was most difficult to get in Australia.

However, I recall the wine well, because it was one of the truly memorable wines I have had. It was beautifully perfumed, impeccably balanced and had the body and structure to carry on, in my reckoning, for another 10 years easily. In fact, I opined at the time that it had not yet peaked in it's potential.

If you had not mentioned that it was your favourite, or one of your favourites, I would have been most disappointed. IMHO, it would have taken some stellar wine to have outshone this one on the evening I had it. In fact, I recall that it made the 1995 Cullen Cab Merlot of that evening look positively pedestrian.

I'm only sorry that we don't have much access to Alejandro Fernandez's wines here. He certainly is a master. I'm glad to hear he's just a "down to earth farmer" because I respect that sort of attitude greatly. The man is obviously happy with his lot in life and doesn't need to prove anything to anybody.

PJ.

well...I had 1996 Gran Reservas in Spain and it was more French on the palate than Spanish. According to Stephen, 1995 Gran Reserva is more Spanish than French. I hope it will help you determi which year you did have.

Yes, Alejandro impressed me, he doesn't speak English, but that never stopped him from giving us all the talk which was liberally translated by Stephen's wife...my kind of guy!

[Serge Birbrair]

Just got the picture from the event:

Alejandro Fernandez, Pesquera Winery founder.

http://winetalk.com/gallery/serge/Pesquera1.jpg

[prester john]

Thanks for the replies and the picture, Serge.

I'm guessing you're the one holding the magnum?!

I also neglected to confirm that my thoughts coincided with yours in that the Pasquera did have very Bordeau-like nuances.

I'll let you know shortly what vintage I had.

PJ.

[Serge Birbrair]

Thanks for the replies and the picture, Serge.

I'm guessing you're the one holding the magnum?!

I also neglected to confirm that my thoughts coincided with yours in that the Pasquera did have very Bordeau-like nuances.

I'll let you know shortly what vintage I had.

PJ.

Good guess, Alejandro is 76 years young
Gotta be either 96 or 94 vintage, please let me know which one.