David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
 | | 01/09/2003 11:49 AM |
| In my search to find this wine for <$55, I called a place in MA, recommended to me by Anne @ K&L. The guy, Bob, said when he was in Spain, he tasted a vertical of the Numathia dating back to 95-96 time frame and that this wine didn't age well at all, so he passed.
I thought I "heard" somewhere that '98 was the first year for this wine. Was Bob's claim legit? | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12467
| | 01/09/2003 1:55 PM |
| | That is interesting, because I just read a post by Short that when he had this Wine he states, "It was so closed...", which tells me it is very young & tight & needs time. So, I am also confused (how to approach this Wine). Who can help with info/TNs? | | | |
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Joseph Bembry
Wine Lover
Posts:4874
| | 01/09/2003 2:15 PM |
| I stand by the drink window in my TN. There was obviously enough fruit, concentration, tannin and acidity for this wine to last at least 10 years and probably more.
FWIW, Parker on the '98 version:
'98 - " best cellared for another 2-3 years and drunk over the following two decades."
jb | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 01/09/2003 2:18 PM |
| Yeah, that was my exact sentiment when I had the '98 about three-four months ago.
I guess the question I was really asking is was there a vintage of this wine prior to '98 or was he full of it?
I already didn't believe him about the ageability issue. | | | |
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Joseph Bembry
Wine Lover
Posts:4874
| | 01/09/2003 2:23 PM |
| In Issue 136, Parker calls the '98, "a sensational new offering." I take that to mean it is the first vintage. I could be wrong.
jb | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10750
| | 01/09/2003 4:49 PM |
| Here is the entire review with an apology for copyright issues. I haven't been able to find out any additional information.
Know that I'm buying all I can find of this wine. It is going to be a staple of wine parties for the next few years!
From a Spanish Wine page:
Dominio de Eguren is a new venture from Rioja producer Sierra Cantabria in the now fashionable DO Toro region. This is the winery's first vintage and Numanthia 1999 is nothing short of spectacular! It can only be described as immense, a huge wine with incredibly powerful fruit and still in its infancy. Needs time to reach its full potential and would surely overpower all but the heartiest of food. Should go well with game: venison or wild boar.
Deep, dark almost black in color. Powerful fruit aromas [blackberry/gooseberry] literally charge out of the glass accompanied by marked yet integrated quality oak and pencil lead minerality. Enormous palate with rich ripe fruit and lively yet elegant tannins and tremendous length. Wonderful stuff!
Wine Advocate #136 (Aug 2001) Robert Parker 95 points
The soon-to-be-released1999 Numanthia confirms just how special these wines are. An amazing effort from Toro, it was made from yields of 1.5 tons of fruit per acre, aged 18 months in new French wood, and bottled with neither fining nor filtration. A black/ruby color is followed by an explosive perfume of sweet blackberries, cassis, licorice, minerals, and smoke. With great intensity, fabulously sweet tannin, and high glycerin levels, this wine establishes a new benchmark for the Toro appellation. There are 300 cases of the 1999 for the American marketplace.
A sensational new offering, this wine will prove to be a breakthrough effort for the Toro appellation. Made from old (70-100 years), ungrafted vines planted at an elevation of 2300 feet, yields were a minuscule 1.5 tons of fruit per acre. The wine was aged 18 months in 100% new French oak, with malolactic in barrel, and was bottled without fining or filtration. This 100% Tinta de Toro (the local name for Tempranillo) comes from a vineyard with sandy, chalky-textured soils overlaying clay. The wine is named after a legendary Spanish city that was destroyed (after twenty years of resistance) by Roman legions 133 years before the birth of Christ. It is to Spain what the hilltop village of Masada is to Israel ... a monument to foreign aggression and national resistance.
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 01/09/2003 6:40 PM |
| | So, basically, the only place to get this gem, at least at present, is Zachy's for the oh-so-reasonable price of $55? I can't even find it anywhere else for "public" sale. | | | |
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Joseph Bembry
Wine Lover
Posts:4874
| | 01/09/2003 7:22 PM |
| Mdriver and Everyone,
I just got off the phone with PJ's Wine Warehouse in NYC. They have 78 bottles of the '00 Numanhia in stock for $39.99 (net). I would call them immediately and buy as much as you can afford. The price for this wine will only get higher. (212) 567-5500 or pjwine.com
jb | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 01/09/2003 7:49 PM |
| Sorry guys, I just bought all 78 bottles.
Kidding, only kidding. | | | |
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Wineaux
New Orleans, LA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1414
| | 01/09/2003 7:51 PM |
| | Thanks JB for the tip. I just got off the phone w/ PJs after buying 3 Numanthia's. | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 01/09/2003 7:55 PM |
| | These guys are going to sell all this stuff today, I'll bet. | | | |
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Joseph Bembry
Wine Lover
Posts:4874
| | 01/09/2003 7:57 PM |
| No problem. Glad to help. I only hope PJ's gives me a deal on my next purchase for "helping" them out. I won' t hold my breath.
BTW, I would call them as opposed to ordering on the site. I just went to the site and it is moving EXTREMELY slow. I bought 3 of my 6 from them and recieved them timely and in good condition.
jb | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 01/09/2003 8:00 PM |
| I hope they hook you up. I mentioned your name when I bought mine.
And you're right about the site moving decrepitly slow. | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12467
| | 01/09/2003 8:23 PM |
| 6 bottles.
I mentioned your name & VinoCellar.
And, wait until the Ratings come out. How much do you guys think it is going to cost?
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 01/09/2003 8:25 PM |
| | I'd be really surprised if it got above $60-$65. But then again, who knows. | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10750
| | 01/09/2003 8:35 PM |
| More good news! My local store (which will ship) is going to get something like 6 additional six-packs in. It will probably take a week for them to arrive but you will be able to call in your order and have them shipped to "shipping friendly" states.
The price will be approx $187 a six-pack w/o tax and with a case discount. That's ~$31 a bottle!
Send me a private message if you're interested. I'll give you the contact info and you can go from there. | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 01/09/2003 8:38 PM |
| | That's a great deal. A bit better than what I got, but PJ's will ship to Mass, so I'm happy. | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10750
| | 01/09/2003 8:57 PM |
| The store folks think I'm some weird Numanthia pusher. | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 01/09/2003 8:59 PM |
| Well, winetex, you sort of are.
We're all in the Wine Mafia. | | | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Bottler
Posts:3478
| | 01/09/2003 9:20 PM |
| | It's great to see everyone hot on the heels of a great Spanish wine! Buy 'em all, I say. | | | |
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