WINE OF THE WEEK - 2017 Vallformosa Cultivare Sumoll/Samso

Sometimes you’ve got to do something unexpected, wouldn’t you agree?

It’s like the thing that happens when you go to store for one thing and walk out with four things you didn’t need, right? Ok, maybe that’s not entirely unexpected, especially if you are me….but you get the drift, I’m sure :) I don’t always pick my wine of the week features with a plan in mind but sometimes I do and this time wasn’t one of those times that I followed the plan.

Here’s how it went down. I was walking through the store with a handful of wines that I wanted to try, focused on getting to the cash register and the friendly salesperson who was waiting to check me out when….BOOM…..I saw what looked like a veritable piece of art to my impressionist-loving mind. Of course, I had no choice but to stop and take a further look. I’ve already previously confessed how a pretty label can catch my eye…..

Well, it turns out the stop was worth it because what was in the bottle was intriguing beyond the intrigue of the label. There was also the price - fairly steep for the region in question - that made me go “hmmmm”. And the rest, as they say, is history. I pivoted swiftly to make this wine my weekly pick to be unable to pack it for my fellow wine lovers who care to listen to my opinion on such things :)

And with that, let’s get to this week’s wine pick. It’s a super cool one, for sure!

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2017 Vallformoa Cultivare Sumoll/Samso

This week’s wine comes from the northeast part of Spain, in the Catalonia region. Often only associated with Rioja and Sherry, Spain is in fact a rich hot bed of intriguing and delicious wines of all stripes (red, white, rose, fortified and sparkling) that are grown right across the whole country. There is also a dazzling array of indigenous grape varieties present in Spain. This week’s wine showcases these strengths.

What does this wine cost?

$49.95/bottle. Not at all cheap for a still wine from Spain, especially if it is not from Rioja. So the question is - is it worth it?

What in the (wine) world is Sumoll and Samso?

Sumoll is a dark, almost black-skinned indigenous grape that is found primarily in Catalonia, with some sparse representation in other parts of Spain and the wine world. It was at one point a dying breed that is seeing some resurgence in popularity, thanks to the efforts of a small group of winemakers who are committed to its revitalization.

Samso is the local Catalan name for Carignan.

Where does this wine come from?

To be precise, this wine is from the Penedes D.O. within Catalonia. Best known internationally as being the home of Cava, Penedes is in fact also a region from which quality still wines also originate. Though, to be honest, this might not necessarily be a well known fact outside of Spain!

Click here to read another blog post where I do a bit of a deep dive into the fascinating Penedes appellation.

Why is this wine unique?

This wine is very special in my view because it is a still wine from Penedes and because it contains the sumoll grape variety. This is a wine geek tipple, for sure!

Who makes this wine?

This wine is made by Vallformosa, a producer that is associated with high end Cava. With their Cultivare range, they have taken a step to the side and decided to dabble in the world of still wines, with a focus on marrying nature, culture and a respect for the land. Click here to learn more about Vallformosa.

A few Wine Geek “essential facts” about the wine (feel free to skip this if you don’t care about detailed wine-making information!):

Variety - Sumoll/Samso Blend

Vinification - aged for one year in new french oak barrels

ABV - 13.5%

Residual Sugar - 2 g/L

My tasting notes:

This wine is stunning in the glass and on the nose! It displays very expressive aromatics, thanks to the Samso (Carignan) in the blend - bright red fruits, turned earth and vanilla notes persist. On the palate though is where this wine gets really interesting. There is an elegance alongside a touch of good old-fashioned funk of the very best variety and I swear I got some licorice too! It’s certainly a palate that’ll stop and make you go hmmm. There is fantastic acidity, tannins and overall balance too.

Aging potential:

2-3 years.

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

If you’re putting out the money to buy this wine, it has to be because you like getting off the beaten track and trying new things. Since this is the case, I suggest drinking this wine on its own, to really understand it. However, if you want to pair it with food, I think it’ll pair beautifully with pork, lamb or an earthy bean stew.

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 91 points

Lifted, bright and interesting. Structured with finesse.

If you’re located in Ontario, you can find this wine at the LCBO under Product #21460.

FINAL VERDICT:

Definitely a wine for all of the wine geeks you know, I think this wine would also do well for many other wine enthusiasts. It comes with a gorgeous package and a really interesting backstory and what is in the bottle is delicious too.

Having said all of this, I would acknowledge that this wine may not be the right choice for people who are truly just starting out in the wine world and just beginning to develop their palate as it might be a bit too unfamiliar :)

If you’ve tried this wine already, or decide to pick it up and try it after reading this post, I’d love to hear from you and hear what you think of it! Please do drop me a line.

Until next time, wishing you love, light and of course - good wine! :)

Cheers!

XOXO

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