Lopez de Heredia & Girardin Sale PLUS Laurent Drouhin visit March 18th

Hi Everyone, 

It's been non-stop with great wines and the momentum continues! This week I'll be sending offers on Domaine Faiveley and a sale on Tardieu-Laurent (superstars of both North & South Rhone).

For those of you available, Cork will be hosting our good friend Laurent Drouhin on Monday March 18th, at 4:30pm. Laurent has been a great source of inside info on Burgundy, keeping us up to date on vintage progression, weather changes, and where the various vintages of Drouhin are in their life cycles (the 2018 Cote de Beaune is in a fantastic window right now!).

This is a free event, but space is limited. If you'd like to join in tasting through both the Burg & Oregon wines, please send an email to matt@corkfinewines.ca to RSVP.

Lopez de Heredia

Lopez de Heredia is one of our most requested Spanish producers, known for their traditional, age-worthy Rioja. They're legends in the wine world, still producing the same way as when the winery was founded over 130 years ago. Following the traditions passed down through generations, their wines are released at least 5-10 years after harvest.

Quite rare among Rioja producers, Lopez de Heredia relies exclusively on estate-grown fruit from their prized vineyards: Tondonia, Cubillo, Bosconia, and Zaconia. It's their belief that the finest fruits stem from personal care and dedication to the vineyards themselves. The Tondonia vineyard, a sprawling 100-hectare estate on the Ebro riverbank, is particularly famous. Its alluvial clay and limestone-rich soil, combined with an average vine age of 45 years and organic farming practices, produce wines that reflect the first-class pedigree of the terroir.

This quote by Neal Martin captures the essence of Lopez de Heredia's magic: "I have adored, indeed occasionally worshiped, the wines of Lopez de Heredia for many years..." Reading about his pilgrimage to the vineyard and winery, Neal's descriptions focus on their commitment to the old ways. Indigenous yeasts adapted to high temperatures, no technological intervention during fermentation, and a skeptical view towards malolactic fermentation as a "modern invention" underscore a philosophy that is holds firm in the face of modernization.

Martin describes the wines as "taut, fresh, bucolic, utterly charming and amazingly long-lived" - defying the more recent trends of fruit-heavy, oak-laden profiles. Instead these offer a journey into Rioja's history, each bottle shaped by four generations of excellence.

These wines are exceedingly rare - we'll do our best to balance orders between customers as we can. The faster you order, the better chance we have to secure extra stock. Before you ask - we're trying to secure some of Heredia's white wine - orders that include Tondonia will be sent details on the white wine as we can - no guarantees on supply but the more we order the better our chances!

Justin Girardin

We're big fans of Justin's wines, he's the nephew of the renowned Vincent Girardin! Many of our Burgundy enthusiasts may already be familiar with Justin's reputation. For those who haven't had the pleasure of trying his wines, we've included detailed background about Justin in the email order form. Make sure to click the link for more information and discover these exceptional wines for yourself!

Talk soon,
Team Cork

Offer notes: all prices are per bottle and include delivery, tax, and deposit - no surprise charges or hidden fees. Limited quantities available. Order via the link below or send an email to matt@corkfinewines.ca with any questions.

THE WINES:

Portuguese Gems - Too many great wines, not enough space!

Quinta do Portal Douro Grande Reserva Tinto 2019 - retail $84.99, your price $69.99 - in cases of 6, minimum 2 bottles
94 Wine Enthusiast
Blend: Tinta Amarela, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cão
"Overt, inviting bouquet of dark forest fruits, cardamon, and sweet spices. Good texture and concentration. Full body with a lovely balance of tannins and fresh acidity. Elegant forest floor and long comlex finish." WE

Quevedo 'Q' Grande Reserva Tinto 2018 - retail $59.99, your price $49.99 - in cases of 6, minimum 2 bottles
93 Wine Enthusiast
"this Portuguese red is full-bodied, rich and satisfying -- crafted by the distinguished Quevedo family which boasts a rich history of growing grapes and making Port wine. This wine has flavours of dark fruit and chocolate, subtle oak, a suggestion of mocha and licorice. It’s delicious, but do serve it with food." WE

Plus two extra from Spain:
Bodegas Muga "Prado Enea" Gran Reserva Rioja 2015 - retail $119.99, your price $99.99 - in cases of 6, minimum 2 bottles
98 Decanter, 98 Wine & Spirits, 98 Wine Enthusiast
"Wonderful: a superb Gran Reserva, so finely balanced between the silky tannins and the elegance of maturity. It's fermented in oak, and spends three years in American and French oak barrels (all made by their own cooper). It then spends a further three years in bottle. 2015 made powerful wines, but this is supremely controlled. My favourite from the Muga stable." DC

Perez Pascuas Reserva 'Vina Pedrosa' La Navilla Ribera Del Duero 2009 - retail $69.99, your price $54.99 - minimum 2 bottles - 12 bottles available
93 Wine Advocate
"It has a tightly wound bouquet of red cherries, fresh strawberry and a touch of graphite that is very appealing, yet it would require some decanting to let it unfurl. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, tensile tannins. It has a very fine focus and symmetry, with a very fresh, raspberry and wild strawberry finish struck through with that graphite tincture that gives it a rigid backbone. It is what you might call a classic Ribera del Duero, and I suspect it will age very well." WA

Lopez de Heredia:

Cubillo Crianza 2016 - retail $41.99, your price $35.99 - in cases of 12, no minimums - 2-3 cases available
94 Suckling (2015 vintage)
"Complex aromas of cherries, figs and spices with some fresh flowers follow through to a medium to full body with creamy tannin texture and a sour cherry aftertaste. Lightly chewy at the end with fine tannins. So drinkable and refreshing but it has a pretty tannin backbone. Drink or hold." JS

Bosconia Reserva 2012 - retail $64.99, your price $54.99 - in cases of 12, no minimums - 12 bottles available
95 Suckling, 94 Decantalo
"Savory aromas of subtle earthy berries, oranges, iron and hints of walnut, tobacco and mushrooms. Fine tannins with high acidity on the palate with juicy, savory berries and a long, citrusy finish. A hint of tertiary caramel character at the end, making this very complex and complete." JS

Tondonia Reserva 2011 - retail $89.99, your price $71.99 - in cases of 12, no minimums - 2 cases available
95 Tim Atkin, 95 Suckling, 94 Wine Advocate
"Aged for nearly six years in very old barrels, Tondonia is one of Rioja's most proudly traditional wines. Tempranillo dominated, with 20% Garnacha and 5% of both Graciano and Mazuelo, this is complex, mature and well-structured, with plenty of acidity, sinewy tannins, some balsamic sweetness and a taut, focused, age-worthy finish. 2023-35 " TA

Tondonia Reserva Magnum - retail $179.99, your price $149.99 - in cases of 6, no minimums - 2 cases available

Pictured below: Mercedes Lopez (General Manager) and Maria Jose Lopez (Winemaker) - sisters!

Once orders are submitted, product quantities will be reserved. Due to the limited quantities available, products may become sold out and unavailable to order; vintages can change without notice, and are not guaranteed. To avoid disappointment, please do not delay. 

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