What better way to show customer appreciation than a free wine tasting.  None, as far as I'm concerned.  Debbie and Philip at Wine 101 invited all Wine Club members to meet Jose Antonio Pellicier (representing the winery) and Cesar Chavez (importer) and see what Bodegas Inurrieta had to offer.

Bodegas Inurrieta is located in the center of the Navarra Wine Region of Spain.  Some wine books tell you that you only need to know about Rioja and Rubiera del Duero to understand Spanish wines.  While those regions may get the most press, you do yourself a disservice to ignore the rest of this great wine country.

After a little research online earlier in the day, and getting to sample the wines, I had to ask Jose about their varietal selections.  I think Tempranillo when I hear the words Spanish wines.  But here of the four reds available, three were Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blends and the other Granache/Graciano.  So, that was my question, "Why no Tempranillo?"  Jose's answer was simple, "...because everyone else does Tempranillo."  It made perfect sense.  To get yourself noticed, you have to go outside the box and give the potential customer other choices for their wine dollars.

Everyone got the opportunity to tastes six wines.  There was one white, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a rose made from the Grenache grape.  Both were flavorful and easy to drink, but I must admit, I was there for the reds and they did not disappoint.  The first two reds were named Norte (North) and Sur (South).  Norte is a 50/50 Cabernet/Merlot blend that is aged in French oak.  Sur is a 75/25 blend of Grenache and Graciano (a local grape).  Sur in aged in American oak.  The North/South comes from the grapes: North - French varietals, South - Mediterranean.   The third red, named Cuatrocientos moves up the chain.  This wine is also labeled with the term crianza which means it must age a minimum of 24 months with at least six months in oak.  This release spends 14 months in a combination of French and American barrels.  Cuatrocientos is a 60/40 Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon blend and was my favorite.  The last wine available for tasting was the Altos Reserva 2004.  A reserva wine is aged a minimum of 36 months barrel/bottle before release.   I enjoyed Altos, but would really like to pair it with a good meal.  

A great time was had by all, and I got an autographed bottle of Cuatrocientos for the wine fridge.  This customer felt very appreciated. Next time, though, I've got to take some tasting notes...