Gonzalez Byass Brings The Best Of Spain To Your Glass

González Byass, one of Spain's most well-known sherry producers, has a heritage dating back to 1835 when Manuel María González Angel partnered with his English agent, Robert Blake Byass. It only seemed natural that after well over a century of sherry winemaking, they expanded into wines in 2008 purchasing Vinas del Vero wineries. Now their offerings have grown to  include:

Beronia Rioja Reserva 2008

What do you get when you blend 94% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano, 2% Mazuelo using the best grapes from the oldest vineyards in Spain, age it in French and American oak barrels for a minimum of 20 months, and then complete the ageing process for 18 months in the bottle before releasing it to market? A deep cherry-red wine unleashing tantalizingly spicy hints of clove and cinnamon while sipping building to notes of candied fruit and balsamic in the background with dark chocolate on the nose. An overarching complex astringency reveals clean straight forward distinct essences of the bold 94% Tempranillo without masking the subtle yet potent nuances of the Graciano and Mazuelo grapes. This widely diverse flavor experience is made possible by a slow controlled fermentation along with double barrel aging. First the American oak permeates it with sweet characteristics of vanilla and coconut while the French oak produces spiciness yielding a perfect balance of acidity and silky tannins setting the stage for a long satisfying finish.

Vilarnau Rosado Cava Reserva

How easy isn't it to find a cava that's merely a drier, perhaps crisper version of Prosecco? Just add orange juice at brunch and you have a Mimosa, right? Well this here is a cava with character. It would truly be degrading to mix and lose the wonderful complexity that gives it such a full body and rich flavor experience. Situated in the municipality of Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, capital of the Cava Denomination of Origin in the heart of Catalonia, Vilarnau dates back to 1949. In 1982 the Gonzalez family purchased the property and began modernizing their vinification and ageing processes while still remaining true to their philosophy of producing only top quality cavas. Their Rosado Reserva is made with 90% Trepat and 10% Pinot Noir grapes macerated 4 hours at 46°F extracting the most definitive color and aromas from the skins. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine is then blended and bottled for the secondary bottle fermentation lasting approximately 6 weeks in underground cellars at a constant temperature of 59°F. In the glass, this cava showcases a brilliant redcurrant hue with pink highlights. The bouquet is filled with hints of strawberry and raspberry. Dry honeyed notes on the nose quickly unfold on the palate with a complex mélange of cranberry and citrus essence.

Lepanto OV

Double distilled in two Charentais pot stills procured from Cognac France dating from the 1960s, Lepanto is the only brandy produced entirely in Jerez Spain making it a unique direct descendent of Sherry wine. Production begins with meticulously selecting the best Palomino grapes. After distillation, only the holanda (heart) with an alcohol content of 65-72% is barrel aged in American oak using the same traditional Solera and Criaderas systems used for Sherry wines.  Lepanto OV is aged for 12 years in barrels that have previously contained Tio Pepe and then for another 3 years in barrels that have previously contained old Olorosos or Vintages.  The resulting flavor profile is clean and vigorous aromas with hints of nuts, spices and mature wood. Intense and complex on the palate. An intense amber color with dark copper tones rounds out the flavor profile.  Best served in a brandy glass on its own or with ice.

Lepanto PX

Created in the same manner as the OV but containing more sugars, this brandy's hue is dark amber with mahogany undertones. Broad rich aromas of raisins and figs from the Pedro Ximenez along with hints of oak from time spent in the barrel.  Smooth and elegant on the palate with an unmistakable bouquet of walnut and raisins.  Sweet peppery mouthfeel yet extremely mellow, you're getting a rare combination of uncloyingly sweet nectar with more complex dried fruits and spices.

Soberano

Dating back to 1913, this brandy was given the Soberano name based on the Gonzalez family's friendship with the King of Spain. A noticeably young personality with an informal character, this brandy comes from the fermented must of Airen grapes grown in Central Spain's La Mancha. Using a continuous distillation system in modem steel columns, the Soberano holandas are then aged in American oak barrels that have previously contained Sherry yielding dark amber with mahogany touches. Aromas of raisins and oak. Light spicy fruitiness.  Young and playful, this brandy jousts with your palate using a wide range of parrys and counterpoints.  Its light airiness opens up flavors of vanilla and clove with a clean finish.  

Photos courtesy of Gonzalez Byass.  Coverage made possible by participating in a sponsored tasting.