tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-217071622024-03-13T07:13:48.806+01:00Latest News from Castro MartinRecent press, latest news and some light-hearted anecdotes from the Bodega.
For more detailed information about us visit our permanent website:
www.castromartin.comBodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.comBlogger445125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-39302922446016473792011-07-15T06:56:00.002+02:002011-07-15T12:11:47.386+02:00The last post!....... on Blogger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLL1W4xuMiuHe6Wx9f4s5DWV6pjU7rfx4leUxVCPRYqN-PaoHkgwsMRWiV_79SR82E1L_Uuhl44b94W8pRV6AZNuKVH5Cb-rFsEDZzCuCxyvskxz1dJ3ChnkzVVjwGewV_sJQc/s1600/wevemoved_s.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLL1W4xuMiuHe6Wx9f4s5DWV6pjU7rfx4leUxVCPRYqN-PaoHkgwsMRWiV_79SR82E1L_Uuhl44b94W8pRV6AZNuKVH5Cb-rFsEDZzCuCxyvskxz1dJ3ChnkzVVjwGewV_sJQc/s320/wevemoved_s.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After more than 5 years as loyal Bloggers we have finally closed up shop and defected to WordPress.<br />
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For those of you who don't know, WordPress is actually quite similar to Blogger, except that we are now able to fully integrate our blog with our main website.<br />
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The real beauty of this is that not only are we able to regularly update the blog, but we can also easily update our main website too - adding new information, updating and adding new photos etc. Indeed our new website now includes a page of downloads, where you can find pdf files of Vintage Reports, Tech Sheets, Bottle Shots, Labels etc, etc.<br />
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The new site will eventually carry a selection local recipes on our food and wine page, but for now it simply includes some great food shots (actually taken using a small pocket digital camera).<br />
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We can now be found at <a href="http://www.castromartin.com/"><strong>www.castromartin.com</strong></a> - simply <strong>click Blog</strong> on the main menu.<br />
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Many thanks to our loyal followers, we hope that we will enjoy your continued support in our new home!<br />
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So, it's goodnight from me, and goodnight from her indoors....Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-8583520885633632262011-07-10T11:24:00.000+02:002011-07-10T11:24:33.252+02:00Rain at last!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hxUsmiE_fT65lP3YUHWVPZiASm4ZAchqy4Z5tiAgsID2Ur193UoupT1t32Is7EoNu7QF5m-oZRvfELdSKx7zLZggBVEWD9rBKiyONBQejkSFtO3mYiJALPRWxZ8rg33oy8ad/s1600/beach-lover-rain-drops.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hxUsmiE_fT65lP3YUHWVPZiASm4ZAchqy4Z5tiAgsID2Ur193UoupT1t32Is7EoNu7QF5m-oZRvfELdSKx7zLZggBVEWD9rBKiyONBQejkSFtO3mYiJALPRWxZ8rg33oy8ad/s1600/beach-lover-rain-drops.gif" /></a></div><br />
It's probably quite fitting that one of my last few posts on Blogger (we will hopefully launch our completely new, all singing, all dancing website later this week), should be about the weather.<br />
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So far, the month of July has been cool and cloudy. Lots of overcast days, odd spots of sunshine, but also quite a lot of mist and drizzle - just in time for the Galician tourist season that starts to gather momentum at the beginning of the month. The significant point is that, despite the drizzle that we have had, it's hardly been enough to penetrate the canopy in our vineyards, and the soil has remained mostly dry.<br />
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Thursday and Friday of this last week, has however, provided us with the first real rain since February/March. Not torrential rain, but steady rain that persisted throughout the two day period. Of course now that the sun has returned, the damp will be trapped at ground level and the humidity will provide an excellent breeding ground for disease. My guess is that we will probably be spraying at some point in the next few days.<br />
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Bearing in mind that we are obliged to occasionally treat our vines, prolonged periods of dry weather obviously mean that we spray less, saving time, money and the environment. Every cloud has a silver lining, if you'll pardon the pun.Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-69946436833445372342011-07-06T19:19:00.000+02:002011-07-06T19:19:14.479+02:00The correct temperature?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eXfxg0b9dW-0DYyGzvUU4n-DyroEXKdcwjmG5xL3gAOvPe11PYhDbKwk5nh7uwnqu1f_m03EKZf1JPE3NV2gQ_nWy9UdF8HF6pRfR78bHphi7V0zyRMj4X11QoGPJLkoLLPJ/s1600/Dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eXfxg0b9dW-0DYyGzvUU4n-DyroEXKdcwjmG5xL3gAOvPe11PYhDbKwk5nh7uwnqu1f_m03EKZf1JPE3NV2gQ_nWy9UdF8HF6pRfR78bHphi7V0zyRMj4X11QoGPJLkoLLPJ/s320/Dog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I very rarely eat grapes, probably because we making a living out of growing them. (I guess it's like the people who work in chocolate factories that eventually give up eating chocolate).<br />
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The other day, for some unknown reason, I bought a few grapes and popped them in the bottom of my fridge. When I tasted them later I remember thinking to myself that they were a bit acid - I left the remainder of the bunch on my kitchen counter. A little later I picked at a few more, but this time they tasted somewhat sweeter and generally more flavourful. One simple but important difference - they were warmer!<br />
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Of course this one of the fundamentals of wine tasting too - how your perception of wine is altered by the temperature at which you drink it.<br />
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Obviously I'm not suggesting that you should drink your albariño warm (albeit that this is the best way to expose many potential faults), but conversely, if you drink it too cold, not only will it exaggerate the acidity, but will also help to mask the true character of your wine. <br />
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If you find yourself being offered a tooth-shatteringly cold white wine in a restaurant, then cup the bowl of the glass in your two hands, and gently swirl it around until the temperature recovers a little - then, and only then, should you taste and pass your judgement.<br />
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Most red wine is served at 'room temperature', which to be honest is a little vague. So if your room is a little too warm, your red wine might also be adversely affected. An over heated bottle will throw all the alcohol to the forefront, perhaps giving your glass a bit of alcoholic 'burn' - not literally, but just a sensation of heat in the back of your throat. This, quite naturally, is more exaggerated in heavy, alcoholic red wines, and is quite easily remedied by chilling the bottle just a little - but not too much!<br />
If you chill a red wine too much, this will simply exaggerate the tannins and could make your wine taste hard, harsh and maybe even a bit metallic.<br />
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As you will gather, temperature can make a bit difference to your enjoyment of any wine.Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-13671239233521238132011-07-04T08:55:00.000+02:002011-07-04T08:55:55.172+02:00Sneak preview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQbTpGLgAFzVFz3N7k06_U8FSxk6uTUzWOy3K9RKEg5ecfrXAoD5fFqt7_DdU73xEbmi_qgeyRZeDQkWBEu1Oppkkh97z4QvrO6HznkiK1JvKIcjOSwPafKDKz4lDUXcq_ZlG/s1600/Site+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQbTpGLgAFzVFz3N7k06_U8FSxk6uTUzWOy3K9RKEg5ecfrXAoD5fFqt7_DdU73xEbmi_qgeyRZeDQkWBEu1Oppkkh97z4QvrO6HznkiK1JvKIcjOSwPafKDKz4lDUXcq_ZlG/s320/Site+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
You may have noticed that our blog has been a little abandoned recently, and as always, there is a perfectly good excuse.....<br />
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The screen capture above is a sneak preview of the homepage of our new website, which has been under construction for the last couple of months.<br />
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The framework is done, the pages are set up, and now I am just going through the painfully slow part of adding the text and selecting the photographs that we are going to use. Any spare moment that I have had in front of my computer over the last couple of weeks has been occupied by this task - hence the fact that our blog has been a bit overlooked. Sorry about that.<br />
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We hope to have the full new site up and running in the next week or so. As they say, watch this space!Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-17002100552679998132011-06-28T20:39:00.003+02:002011-06-28T21:13:50.597+02:00Tea and toast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Kz2k62Z9E5syQP_EJ4LvJi94EX3ljhokoYdiHJZ6vGBRZDiawLcBEoxL1LlW_98J-5jLIWDjm68usS8K1sdJGrTU6nGvbFWoKOFDxEOMFhd4brFwfMZ7RHDg1KJD4dOCsL8H/s1600/marmalade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Kz2k62Z9E5syQP_EJ4LvJi94EX3ljhokoYdiHJZ6vGBRZDiawLcBEoxL1LlW_98J-5jLIWDjm68usS8K1sdJGrTU6nGvbFWoKOFDxEOMFhd4brFwfMZ7RHDg1KJD4dOCsL8H/s320/marmalade.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There is an old saying that goes "a little of what you fancy does you good", and to prove a point I woke up the other day with a craving for some thick cut marmalade on a slice of hot buttered toast. Fortunately I had all the ingredients in my fridge and cupboards, and savoured every mouthful, accompanied by a mug of piping hot Yorkshire tea. It's sometimes the really simple pleasures that manage to hit the spot. Another such example - a rare fillet steak with a thick, freshly-made bearnaise sauce. Simple, but truly a match made in heaven....<br />
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Fortunately we are all have different tastes and enjoy different things, so when I used to get asked "which wine should I drink?" my reply was always the same - drink the wine that you enjoy.<br />
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Referring back to my post of a week or two ago about food and wine matching, I was lucky enough to dine in a good restaurant in Vigo yesterday. They had a special French promotion, which is highly unusual in Spain and so I jumped at the chance of eating (and drinking) some old, familiar favourites. An excellent Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume 2008 from probably the best co-operative that I know (anywhere in the world) - La Chablisienne, and a drop of Sauternes, Chateau d'Arche, with dessert.<br />
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The Chablis was super dry, racy and stylish, with a shot of steely gunflint running through it. People often talk about the influence of the soil on wine, and I swear that in this case, I could actually taste the calcareous kimmerigian clay and chalk that dominates the region. An absolute joy with the shellfish that I was eating. It's really easy to get excited about wine when a humble meal somehow becomes more memorable for all the right reasons.Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-30716410890790720752011-06-23T12:11:00.002+02:002011-06-23T12:15:19.675+02:00The next new thing - Château Trump!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MSF7C9dHUIcM5Ahg8IyOJLmnMrEHf-RHYEbI3PBZk9Jti7Zmbp9KuYgJJgKZZP0Yw_vmRwPTuEIFhaHQ_5MsRjwY81kqPU8MHiUZE01wUtiNAwTWX-fpWbRnZ9D98ZmWd6yT/s1600/Trump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MSF7C9dHUIcM5Ahg8IyOJLmnMrEHf-RHYEbI3PBZk9Jti7Zmbp9KuYgJJgKZZP0Yw_vmRwPTuEIFhaHQ_5MsRjwY81kqPU8MHiUZE01wUtiNAwTWX-fpWbRnZ9D98ZmWd6yT/s320/Trump.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Trump Las Vegas (in a lovely part of town)</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">You may not be aware, that our favourite business entrepreneur Donald Trump recently seized upon the misfortune of a pair of embattled socialites to buy their winery at a knock-down price. The 776 acre Kluge winery in Virginia has been under new ownership since April, and it should come as no surprise that the folically challenged Mr Trump has no intention of becoming winemaker. Indeed, the former owner Patricia Kluge will stay on - "She has a great instinct for wine, which I don't," Mr Trump said. Forgive me for being a bit cynical at this point, but if she had such a great instinct then why was her entire Estate sold to Trump for one tenth of its pre-recession value? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Those in the know say it won't be too long before the new brand of Château Trump appears on the market, no doubt with a label design smothered in gold (which appears to the trade mark of all his businesses).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">P.S. I will confess now that have never tasted a wine made in Virginia.</div>Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-61828442210885006752011-06-22T08:23:00.004+02:002011-06-22T12:02:45.726+02:00The longest day, but the shortest summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBGF7By6WYckSbR7KsI6egq16ii92KSpUJD6v5_ZkvDxrgWDvhmfub2XUUA7bv-gvgqdO97mYodL-VPe36FVT6hsuqOtNl6iXvp4o6j1b9blm4843B9dpez0rSxma-5OMZDqq/s1600/stonehenge-solstice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBGF7By6WYckSbR7KsI6egq16ii92KSpUJD6v5_ZkvDxrgWDvhmfub2XUUA7bv-gvgqdO97mYodL-VPe36FVT6hsuqOtNl6iXvp4o6j1b9blm4843B9dpez0rSxma-5OMZDqq/s320/stonehenge-solstice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Please don't get me wrong, I am not announcing that summer is over already, but having just celebrated the longest day of the year (21st June in the Northern Hemisphere), we now look forward to possibly our shortest summer.<br />
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Our calendar for summer 2011 will have to be altered dramatically, as we plan for the early harvest. The first thing to disappear will be the planned closure of the Bodega for one week in August. Indeed, the week that we wanted to close may well end up being the week that we start to pick, so I guess that I might have to ask our team to work instead! <br />
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But the preparations for harvest actually start much earlier than that....<br />
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Not only do we have to order all the materials that we need, but obviously we have to ensure that we have enough space in our tanks to receive the new wine, and this usually involves a programme of bottling to create a bit of spare capacity.<br />
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As the wine has to pass through cold stabilisation, filtration etc. before it is bottled this also takes time and forward planning, and so working backwards from the anticipated harvest date, it means that we will probably have a very short summer indeed.<br />
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To finish on a more positive note, at least I will save on a bit of sun cream this year!Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-45304778549728892292011-06-21T15:42:00.004+02:002011-06-22T12:04:31.891+02:00Never stand still!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLztteHJKe2e1o2IQBg_HZfTxVule01_hOPe_6s7p74JWCkvaSLfIUZmfxjwHpAWWXfJAntLsi1vCcvo25Ts9TcXAK-JrZuWq482JaB2s3nUjSVcnXgTp4rSREljWLmoT2jNgE/s1600/Select+series.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLztteHJKe2e1o2IQBg_HZfTxVule01_hOPe_6s7p74JWCkvaSLfIUZmfxjwHpAWWXfJAntLsi1vCcvo25Ts9TcXAK-JrZuWq482JaB2s3nUjSVcnXgTp4rSREljWLmoT2jNgE/s320/Select+series.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Oxygen Transfer Rate (OTR), and how the type of closure can influence the quality of our wine long after it leaves the cellar. Of course the conditions chosen for bottle storage will also determine its evolution, meaning that the loft (attic) of your house is really not an ideal location, but then that's another story.....<br />
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We have already established that Nomacorc is the best closure for our wine, and select the most suitable quality for our products no matter what the cost (synthetic is by no means cheaper than natural cork). However, in our constant quest for improvement, and with the help and advice from our friends at Nomacorc, we are now taking our cork expertise to the next level.<br />
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The new Nomacorc Select Series is available in three categories - not based on quality, but based on the density of the material. The differing densities have a significant influence on OTR, and therefore have a direct effect on how the bottled wine will evolve.<br />
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It would be easy for us to simply read the published statistics and to follow the recommendations of Nomacorc, but for such an important decision we have decided to make an analysis based on our own test bottlings. Under controlled conditions we have bottled three batches of the same wine, using the three different examples of the Select Series. Over the next 6 to 12 months we will pull corks at regular intervals, and then taste and analyse each bottle to determine how the three different corks influence the development of our wines.<br />
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If we discover that any one of the three works better than our current quality, then we will make the change. If there is no improvment then we will simply continue as we are, thus applying one of my favourite philosophies - if it ain't broken, don't fix it!Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-41962191923317834912011-06-17T08:17:00.001+02:002011-06-17T08:18:49.039+02:00Mist, mizzle, drizzle, but no real rain....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjkmQMCWP2MrSCuECUPUKvn3ZOcjdGcYA_Aywem4_N4ae9j1GqbuQyufWj5KW7EB-eHiW9wd4YtqxgKWML4Mo-9BvHRN0qApr6iBAafhyphenhyphenr4iIow7FA1FI4TlM2xtaojCRAkKI/s1600/Cloud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjkmQMCWP2MrSCuECUPUKvn3ZOcjdGcYA_Aywem4_N4ae9j1GqbuQyufWj5KW7EB-eHiW9wd4YtqxgKWML4Mo-9BvHRN0qApr6iBAafhyphenhyphenr4iIow7FA1FI4TlM2xtaojCRAkKI/s320/Cloud.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
And now time for a quick weather update...... (admit it, you've been dying to know!)<br />
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A day or two before my friends arrived for a long anticpated visit from New Zealand, quite inevitably, our weather changed. After weeks, nay, months, of warm sunny weather, the temperature suddenly dropped by around 8°C, and the skies filled with cloud.<br />
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To be perfectly honest we could have done with a good soaking of rain, but so far we have had nothing more than a week of low cloud, the horrible 'hanging' mizzle that somehow just sticks to your clothes, and a few light showers.<br />
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Once our vineyards dry out, then I will be the first to admit that a bit of treatment is going to be needed - I have said it once, and I will say it again - the Galician climate is simply too unpredictable for us not to intervene at some point.<br />
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Having said all that, we are still anticipating an early harvest. My guess is still the end of August.Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-58087017524109989172011-06-12T10:28:00.002+02:002011-06-17T20:16:12.437+02:00Adagio for Albariño<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JRiqZYQl4YSyTvLsUcRi5DGhSjmMNBVCRxGLH5d_VqabcJagdzgPYWnBceCo6m-meCMdeW3nzAfJkyAh6LhQev-m7L0AOmF0Wh9jd3Jks9CRZ1YUQh-UBQC-QizJSQoWaMCe/s1600/timthumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JRiqZYQl4YSyTvLsUcRi5DGhSjmMNBVCRxGLH5d_VqabcJagdzgPYWnBceCo6m-meCMdeW3nzAfJkyAh6LhQev-m7L0AOmF0Wh9jd3Jks9CRZ1YUQh-UBQC-QizJSQoWaMCe/s320/timthumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Ever wished your glass of malbec was more musical or that your sauvignon sings? No, of course not. But we all grew up knowing that our mothers' glassware could make sweet music. The glasses pictured above have been made to satisfy that kid inside. Each glass is marked with musical notations to denote the exact amount of albariño required to create the perfect pitch (we assure you that albariño is by far the best wine for this purpose).<br />
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Unfortunately these glasses don't come cheap, so start saving up so you can play that sonata. And at least if you don't succeed in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKRj-T4l-e8&feature=player_embedded">creating musical magic</a>, you can always console yourself with a decent glass of Castro Martin!Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-66884020653125201032011-06-10T13:13:00.005+02:002011-06-14T20:50:31.646+02:00Wine transformed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICFilwMW9b8zLsUr9f3KrSXNP8sgVuHpYKVduVFwSIcqSo4eE6EGpao0foQWNbxG5gbdBR8oYbcghsGLTvaBXSInLOcPUwg54_Ui_4w2Uiyr6jLxLSpaGzmNgiQuU8xA-s66-/s1600/Beaugraviere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICFilwMW9b8zLsUr9f3KrSXNP8sgVuHpYKVduVFwSIcqSo4eE6EGpao0foQWNbxG5gbdBR8oYbcghsGLTvaBXSInLOcPUwg54_Ui_4w2Uiyr6jLxLSpaGzmNgiQuU8xA-s66-/s320/Beaugraviere.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I sometimes write about wine and food pairing, quite simply as I am fascinated by the subject. It's true that there is a lot of snobbery associated with this subject, and quite rightly so. Some of the old fashioned, traditional views just don't stack up, such as drinking red wine with fish, which can be perfectly acceptable given the right combination..... And thereby lies the secret.... the right combination. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is no doubt that some of the old rules do still apply, and using them simply as a general guideline can sometimes help steer you towards finding new food and wine matches - it's just a matter of trial and error, and believe me there will be a lot of errors along the way!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some combinations just don't work, and can clash very badly, but the most important thing to remember is that it is actually your <u>perception</u> of the wine that will be modified, and doesn't necessarily mean that the wine by itself is poor. I read only a day or so ago about a serious taster who assessed some wines at a tasting, marked them down as being pretty mediocre, but then had to amend his score when he enjoyed the very same wines with food - the wines had been transformed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can quote a very good example of my own from many years ago. I was lucky enough to be eating at the Restaurant Beaugraviere in Mondragon, near Orange at the southern end of the Rhone Valley. It's a restaurant that specialises in truffles, and in those days was not quite as expensive as it is now (the dining room, shown in my picture has also been upgraded quite a lot). We selected one of their speciality dishes of scrambled egg with truffle, and had pretty much given up on the idea of finding a suitable wine - eggs as we know are notoriously difficult to match. The sommelier however, suggested that we try an old white Chateauneuf-du-Pape (from my fading memory I think it might have been a Chateau Rayas Blanc 1983, but I could be wrong). When we were invited to sample the wine before serving, it came out of the bottle as a heavily coloured rather tired looking wine, that was seriously starting to lose it's fruit. We were not really impressed, but opted to persevere - and boy, what a transformation! With the eggs the wine was just sensational, which obviously explains why this experience has been etched into my memory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just to finish, I once had the very opposite experience with a beef dish, that I decided to enjoy with a good Red Burgundy. The beef was served with a jus, a reduction of the beef stock made with a drop of red wine, giving it a very strong umami flavour. In theory it should have worked - so why was I getting such a harsh, bitter, metallic sensation in my mouth? When I made a few enquiries I finally discovered that the pureed potatoes had been made with a touch of horseradish sauce! Once again my wine had been transformed, but this time not in a good way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We live and learn.</div>Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-16818780463597001632011-06-07T08:37:00.001+02:002011-06-07T08:39:15.710+02:00Change your point of view<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg861QbOfoHzUmPe4X6RHjFMEvAODNLc22tHPr18hJ85e3j85ElmZTeROyD9fQtqcb_-FwUZCMytPwWfqIlFy0h1T_tFIXEJWSP9-ByJeJssd1fF9HZJbRYqx43Zo5CO4x0ka0i/s1600/Snapshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg861QbOfoHzUmPe4X6RHjFMEvAODNLc22tHPr18hJ85e3j85ElmZTeROyD9fQtqcb_-FwUZCMytPwWfqIlFy0h1T_tFIXEJWSP9-ByJeJssd1fF9HZJbRYqx43Zo5CO4x0ka0i/s320/Snapshot.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
If you are new to our blog, or maybe just bored with the way it looks, then I have just discovered a completely new and pretty dynamic way that you can view it (it's an especially good way to look back through our archives, and to view some of my lovely pics!)<br />
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Simply add the word 'view' to the end of our normal URL - in other words try <a href="http://castromartin.blogspot.com/view">http://castromartin.blogspot.com/view</a> <br />
Once you are there you will find a drop down menu in the top right hand corner of the page, which offers you several different options of how you change the layout.<br />
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Try it! It's a bit of fun.....Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-53642643389611096622011-06-02T12:15:00.001+02:002011-06-02T15:04:50.940+02:00Height Cuisine or Haute Cuisine?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8P7uAlESOVeI9H8Fa8V2SVWb-gaiJLmiB0A49jfls2e9pgjmpdENDQxFs13AvhoU7I780CBpcJfdAg981fiWzH5NoLm3g5kZUvcZ9QkRbxOwNxZUa2MmfEOg6O3DISgQcKxs/s1600/In+flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8P7uAlESOVeI9H8Fa8V2SVWb-gaiJLmiB0A49jfls2e9pgjmpdENDQxFs13AvhoU7I780CBpcJfdAg981fiWzH5NoLm3g5kZUvcZ9QkRbxOwNxZUa2MmfEOg6O3DISgQcKxs/s320/In+flight.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
I'm sure that we have all had some widely varying experiences when it comes to in-flight dining on aircraft, from the sublime to the downright inedible (ever tried Ainsley Harriott's cup-a-soup on Iberia?) But when did you last stop to consider the amount of work that goes into selecting the food and wines that are served during your flight?<br />
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Of course many airlines boast Michelin starred chefs to select and design their menus, and indeed I have heard rumours of regular transatlantic flyers being persuaded to a particular carrier based on the quality of in-flight catering on offer.... and why not?<br />
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At Castro Martin we are lucky enough to have had our wine selected for service at high altitude, but did you know that how you perceive your glass will be determined by the length of time that you spend in the air? Cabin pressure can play havoc with your tastebuds over time, and the wine that you adore on the ground might taste tough and bitter after several hours cooped up on a plane.<br />
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During the forthcoming 'Taste of London' event later this month, our friends at British Airways will be showcasing their experiences on how food and wine works in the air, and explaining the science behind some of their menu and wine selections.<br />
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Personally, I find this subject truly fascinating, and by way of a 'taster' would highly recommend taking a look at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PzeuVCBzQc">this video</a> of an in-flight wine tasting.Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-52542329409490677712011-06-01T14:14:00.002+02:002011-06-01T15:40:02.763+02:00Perhaps the worst timed mailshot of all time?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPin8PbvMLnorSzL87x3_OWT3h6gkb9hjKzH59HgSynWLrX9AqUEacO-DnFgnPsKGU0dAEmX368Wgebc8Pe4Q_MKuLnNi9rxF8LYtYj6xGtGte7-acDYy3SNmFTOCbrp_N3BW/s1600/Cucumber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPin8PbvMLnorSzL87x3_OWT3h6gkb9hjKzH59HgSynWLrX9AqUEacO-DnFgnPsKGU0dAEmX368Wgebc8Pe4Q_MKuLnNi9rxF8LYtYj6xGtGte7-acDYy3SNmFTOCbrp_N3BW/s320/Cucumber.jpg" t8="true" width="280px" /></a></div><br />
You would think that someone may have had the sense to either postpone this mailshot, or at the very least, change one of the photos.<br />
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At the very height of the E. coli scandal in Germany, with people <u>allegedly</u> dying from eating Spanish cucumbers, would you send out a mailshot effectively saying "we have a safer way of transporting your produce", and then include a photo of a sliced cucumber? Perhaps they are implying that the produce might have been sabotaged whilst in transit? Whatever the intention I am not quite sure whether this is an example of very opportunistic marketing or it is just plain stupid!<br />
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Spain is now faced with a huge problem (regardless or not as to whether the outbreak did originate from these shores). The speculation alone has done untold damage to the export of a large proportion of fresh Spanish produce around Europe, in a typical knee-jerk backlash. Millions of euros are being lost on a daily basis, and in the midst of an enormous economic crisis, Spain can ill afford it.<br />
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I must say that I find it uncharacteristically irresponsible of the Germans to point the finger at Spain without conclusive, irrefutable evidence. Talk about kicking a country when it's down....Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-69597256505943110102011-05-28T09:28:00.002+02:002011-05-28T20:10:04.625+02:00Summer Harvest?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwE5rqSfLYScyhxSiBIVq-gXA925jeW-IDDRh0kGT9FhqLz325G20ki_vfevlPDWdDbfspTx4li5lOTbratKvqbspXYgM1_Xi1u1T-6WC_LZDFKDZsd7VI2UB7nkL98nCccY7/s1600/Light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwE5rqSfLYScyhxSiBIVq-gXA925jeW-IDDRh0kGT9FhqLz325G20ki_vfevlPDWdDbfspTx4li5lOTbratKvqbspXYgM1_Xi1u1T-6WC_LZDFKDZsd7VI2UB7nkL98nCccY7/s320/Light.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I mentioned a week or two ago that our flowering had been extraordinarily early this year, and the recent weather has only served to perpetuate the problem - daytime temperatures of mid to upper 20's (75° - 85°F). Using the traditional calculation often used by growers, 100 days between the time of flowering and the harvest, this would, in theory at least, give us a date for picking of week commencing 23rd August.... Looks like there might be less sunbathing time this summer!<br />
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Althought we 'enjoyed' a wet winter here in Galicia, and the water tables were well replenished, we have not had any rain at all for some weeks now and certainly surface soils are getting pretty dehydrated. We will therefore have to take this into account when we start our work on the canopies. Certainly 'green harvesting' will not cause any problems, and indeed, should only serve to enhance the quality of the fruit left on the vines, but leaf thinning is a different matter.<br />
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Leaves, as we know, are the powerhouse of any plant and provide all the sugar and nutrients required for growth. During the summer we actively remove a percentage of the leaves, not only to provide the fruit with better exposure to the sun, but also to ensure that not all the energy is consumed by thick foliage. The trick is to find the correct density of leaves, and the exact amount that we eventually remove will therefore be determined by how our weather evolves over the next couple of months.Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-44977845080571012232011-05-26T07:46:00.002+02:002011-05-26T14:06:02.529+02:00Trucks of convenience?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Bbbu_PcaNog71rwuIMLh8QKGJgLV64vFDVpL89NDDqQSvvWT0tssTDoe69JOH6AK9DZ2LWcwX_GfaRFv0wrE2oeGdmOTEy1SAgFvKWDyoEtZ3Dc0va9PnM7fCCiGpbhDJTQO/s1600/Lorry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Bbbu_PcaNog71rwuIMLh8QKGJgLV64vFDVpL89NDDqQSvvWT0tssTDoe69JOH6AK9DZ2LWcwX_GfaRFv0wrE2oeGdmOTEy1SAgFvKWDyoEtZ3Dc0va9PnM7fCCiGpbhDJTQO/s320/Lorry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In the early part of the 20th century American ship owners, frustrated with increased regulation and high labour costs, initiated the practice of registering their vessels in Panama. The practice later became known as 'flags of convenience', and these days nearly half the world's merchant fleet are registered in lands foreign to their country of ownership.<br />
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Now, I could be completely wrong, but I rather have the impression that a similar practice has been adopted by the international road haulage industry. With increasing regularity collections made at our bodega are made by trucks, very often registered in Ireland, and nearly always with an eastern European driver.<br />
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I often rush outside hoping to enjoy a bit of conversation in English, only to realise that the driver's English is even worse than my Spanish (which I'm ashamed to admit is still not that good).<br />
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So, what's the story behind this I wonder? Almost certainly a method for cutting costs?<br />
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<u>Footnote</u>: This post was based on a collection made at the bodega yesterday, and we have since had another collection this morning. Today's odd combination is as follows:<br />
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Tractor unit: Dutch<br />
Trailer unit: Belgium<br />
Driver: Ukrainian<br />
Wine: Spanish<br />
English speakers: NoneBodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-53024436711514767892011-05-25T07:29:00.001+02:002011-05-25T08:17:01.516+02:00Another month, another city<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX0-7SPl2zTgNehGkyp_W2rVXVmpF3X7RbYhAjNBb9tAPsaC5oV8c9tgtyL8piOiC2Wi2oNwELgSr88EAXDEv6Qm4uV-lx5ZRP1NYIc3gF8UTdLpJjUlqkH-PJwXYhLxk7wQq/s1600/Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX0-7SPl2zTgNehGkyp_W2rVXVmpF3X7RbYhAjNBb9tAPsaC5oV8c9tgtyL8piOiC2Wi2oNwELgSr88EAXDEv6Qm4uV-lx5ZRP1NYIc3gF8UTdLpJjUlqkH-PJwXYhLxk7wQq/s320/Ireland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Let's get one thing clear - Angela and I both love travelling (not that we can always afford it). For the last couple of years we have managed to include one or two customer tastings during our annual holiday, which might seem above and beyond the call of duty, but there is also a plus side....<br />
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Often, when we are obliged to travel to tastings, we try to include a spare day in our itinerary to take in the local sights, and perhaps a bit of shoe shopping for Angela - the Imelda Marcos of the wine industry.<br />
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Our recent trip to Northern Ireland was actually an exception to this rule, as just getting there and back was so complicated that we restricted ourselves to just a short hop, in and out, with precious little time for sightseeing. We did however learn one valuable piece of information for our next visit - in future we will try to fly to Belfast City airport rather than Belfast International - the latter is a long, long way from the city centre.<br />
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The tasting itself was a huge success for us as the customers of our importer could not have been more appreciative of our wine. Castro Martin was one of the stars of the show, yet again, and totally justified the time and effort in getting there. It's just so great to meet our end consumers.Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-31235139872538309882011-05-20T10:42:00.000+02:002011-05-20T10:42:25.779+02:00O.T.R. not O.T.T.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfU8GTXByd1z8oUkE2czlsh5813gcm2Ptu10s6RMAvJDxFaXb-yUDewLjQVlw6mdOF1u0RrzLzZNGBl0F8bLFpCWqz80XoRL_wOZwBp_T3qEYVOwxYzYETxGe3IzLk98WLfXX/s1600/OTR+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfU8GTXByd1z8oUkE2czlsh5813gcm2Ptu10s6RMAvJDxFaXb-yUDewLjQVlw6mdOF1u0RrzLzZNGBl0F8bLFpCWqz80XoRL_wOZwBp_T3qEYVOwxYzYETxGe3IzLk98WLfXX/s320/OTR+2.jpg" width="265px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Angela measures oxygen in the head space</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The care and attention that we take in making the best wine that we can does not stop at the cellar door when pallets are shipped out to our customers, we obviously try to guarantee (as far as we can) that our customers will enjoy our albariño once they pull the cork.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You may have heard me comment on previous occasions that one of the biggest enemies of the winemaker (and possibly more especially white wine makers) is that of oxidation. Now, oxidation can and does occur at every stage of the wine making process, and so we make it our goal in life to ensure that it is kept to the absolute minimum, thereby ensuring the freshest possible wine that we can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fruit oxidation starts from the first moment that the skin of the grape is broken, and quite obviously is exacerbated every time the grape must or finished wine is exposed to the air. It is also made worse by the use of pumps that serve to agitate the wine as they force our precious liquid through the pipework. In the case of Castro Martin the need for pumping is largely offset by the very design of the building itself. Our vinification takes place over three different levels and we can therefore simply move our wine around by gravity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the wine is actually made there are three further opportunities for oxidation to take place. The first is during the tank storage period, which is why we ensure that our wine is kept under a 'blanket' of nitrogen, and also explains why we store in tank, and only bottle as and when floor stock is required.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second is at the time of bottling, where we do our very best to ensure that all possible oxygen is removed from the empty bottle and that nitrogen is added once again, a split second before the cork is put in. The small gap in your bottle between the cork and liquid (known as the head space) can perhaps unbelieveably account for up to 80% of the total oxygen contained within the bottle - the rest being present in the wine itself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The third opportunity for oxidation is after bottling, when the cork finally seals the package. Over the years we have spent a lot of time studying this, and run many tests on different types of wine closure. The best and most expensive natural corks are of course very good, but will always be subject to a small percentage of spoilage caused by TCA (cork taint). The secret therefore is to find something that behaves like a cork, but does not allow a wine to become tainted. Our own solution is Nomacorc, a synthetic closure that provides a very good (and consistent) seal, whilst at the same time allowing an almost microscopic transfer of oxygen, measured by OTR - the oxygen transfer rate. Believe it or not a closure that provides a completely hermetic seal can also cause problems. The sulphur that is added to protect wine needs to escape slowly over time, and if it becomes trapped it will eventually be absorbed back into the wine. This can actually cause a different type of 'off' flavour (sometimes similar to burnt rubber).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IRiJ1ePUs_kp5oYf2b-NQOQjHoLz1tZAHhDKrvVtXdsq3aH8fLRcv0KA8pdIpSjo5NuHE3XPq20_TAn5p5h2YIfmNTW97KjQzeoz57bd227cScNLMgHge30bzl30AJ6cpSsb/s1600/OTR+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IRiJ1ePUs_kp5oYf2b-NQOQjHoLz1tZAHhDKrvVtXdsq3aH8fLRcv0KA8pdIpSjo5NuHE3XPq20_TAn5p5h2YIfmNTW97KjQzeoz57bd227cScNLMgHge30bzl30AJ6cpSsb/s320/OTR+1.jpg" width="240px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Oxygen readings taken in tank</em></div>Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-29910777583332383572011-05-19T08:39:00.000+02:002011-05-19T08:39:03.775+02:00Wine as a weapon?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhsDLdxlC_JZ4eJbm3b5rA9sOuTZeS3DpgWDE4mnfKsIdS-tAP5eevKSF9OULyQNyIRluOP8e0O-xos4uOoKH_AGNUGIGgoyqLWGCeYC_znqVt5HbSL6M2D7uSMXdWwGt7FPb/s1600/3295903-broken-bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhsDLdxlC_JZ4eJbm3b5rA9sOuTZeS3DpgWDE4mnfKsIdS-tAP5eevKSF9OULyQNyIRluOP8e0O-xos4uOoKH_AGNUGIGgoyqLWGCeYC_znqVt5HbSL6M2D7uSMXdWwGt7FPb/s320/3295903-broken-bottle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We have just travelled back from a very successful tasting in Ireland, carrying a few gifts in our bags as we passed through the airport. Amongst our hand luggage we had some pieces of glassware, and this action served to rekindled a thought that I had a long time ago concerning airport security.<br />
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No doubt we have all heard many a tale of wine producers (and others) losing their corkscrews to over-zealous security guards. Nail files, pen knives, nail scissors and the like, no matter how small, have also fallen victim to the ever tightening restrictions. On our flight today one poor Expat returning to the USA even had his precious Heinz salad cream and HP Sauce confiscated as it was somehow deemed a threat. I know from experience as I once lost two jars of peanut butter in exactly the same way!<br />
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I'm sure that you have already guessed where I'm going with this..... I find it incomprehensible that passengers can still shop for glass bottles in duty free and then happily carry them on to the aircraft. Surely a broken bottle would constitute more of a serious threat to the cabin crew than some poor winemaker's corkscrew?Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-87373351135204967172011-05-19T08:35:00.000+02:002011-05-19T08:35:43.226+02:00First New Zealand, then Japan, and now Spain!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSotULBTXU0r7UqIZ_0JSj-v4zTifaKfr1dm8_H1HNI2T-GDw503vTpNnWVi9juQYR94166B_qIqWIHdaWx2YKOeOWURdRPWIt4H6EJOTmtPkznZGa13MqqguCIbn6Pnw8W1YG/s1600/Quake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSotULBTXU0r7UqIZ_0JSj-v4zTifaKfr1dm8_H1HNI2T-GDw503vTpNnWVi9juQYR94166B_qIqWIHdaWx2YKOeOWURdRPWIt4H6EJOTmtPkznZGa13MqqguCIbn6Pnw8W1YG/s320/Quake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
These days we are so used to watching big budget disaster movies, and news footage from distant shores on our TV screens , that it has become all to easy to detach ourselves from the reality of life. That is, until the disaster unfolds on your very own doorstep.<br />
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After earth quake disaster in New Zealand and the utter devastation of Japan's huge quake and tsunami, we now have death and destruction in Murcia, Southern Spain (only 120km from Alicante). Although the quake measured only 5,2 on the Richter scale it occured only 1km below the earth's surface, and was therefore more damaging. At the time of writing it is reported that 10 people have lost their lives, mostly crushed by falling buildings. It is more than 50 years since Spain experienced a quake of this magnitude, and it was neither predicted, nor expected.<br />
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Well, perhaps that is not completely true....<br />
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Very, very strangely an earthquake was predicted on 11th May 2011, but in Italy. Many Italians fled Rome amid fears of a pending earthquake! In 1915 the late Italian self-styled seismologist Raffaele Bendandi predicted that the "the big one" would strike Rome on this exact date. Panic developed as rumors spread across social media networks including Facebook, Twitter, and some Italians actually evacuated the city.<br />
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Unfortunately for all concerned, right date, but simply the wrong country.Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-25865239396269759952011-05-10T16:44:00.002+02:002011-05-11T07:58:32.775+02:00(Very) early flowering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXmDuytUFmq2kw8Mrv8XzmUX7g61jV2kYWtGh2n4amTrY8ZdQjAlwvqd3gItsnM-I2vhhjbS3vcKfKH9ZAp3E9k7q7zvNuv30SRKoeeoRX2MwpLHj9u9hFLS8CHa_WEHhOq07/s1600/Flowering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXmDuytUFmq2kw8Mrv8XzmUX7g61jV2kYWtGh2n4amTrY8ZdQjAlwvqd3gItsnM-I2vhhjbS3vcKfKH9ZAp3E9k7q7zvNuv30SRKoeeoRX2MwpLHj9u9hFLS8CHa_WEHhOq07/s320/Flowering.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Angela surveying the flowering</em></div><br />
Around this time last year I seem to recall posting a picture of some highly coloured blooms as a representation of the flowering in our vineyards, and this year is no exception. Nothing to do with our vines, but at least a bit more colourful to look at!<br />
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On a more serious note, we have an extremely early flowering just starting here in Galicia. The temperature as I write is about 27°C (just over 80°F) and the forecast for the rest of the week is set fair, so all looks quite rosey in our garden (if you'll pardon the pun). The number of bunches per vine appears to indicate a big harvest, albeit that this is no guarantee of real quality, and so I rather suspect that there will be a good deal of 'green harvesting' during the summer months.<br />
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Naturally this early flowering (probably at least two weeks earlier than normal), will mean that the 2011 harvest will be premature too. If the fine weather continues I would estimate picking at the very beginning of September, similar to our 2006 vintage. Only time will tell.Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-29065801232359721792011-05-06T11:39:00.005+02:002011-05-07T18:46:39.049+02:00Black sheep of the Castro Martin family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0CaSWWGWdYsiS_R3kMfIO2lxYHE2TwlKSUvrHZOdH49UbaKZ2CbwYhmjIFBhjuQZ6Iz8HNhR6l114vaOxFpY-AarDnz4aZtX_Q6pEk7nT9QOM1hBZOE7cZsV62dz1c4jofpV/s1600/Black+sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0CaSWWGWdYsiS_R3kMfIO2lxYHE2TwlKSUvrHZOdH49UbaKZ2CbwYhmjIFBhjuQZ6Iz8HNhR6l114vaOxFpY-AarDnz4aZtX_Q6pEk7nT9QOM1hBZOE7cZsV62dz1c4jofpV/s320/Black+sheep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I mentioned a few weeks ago that we have been keeping sheep in our Pazo vineyard, which is proving to be a much more efficient, not to mention ecologically friendly, method of keeping the grass under control. Absolutely no use of herbicides (as always), and also greatly reduced fuel use by our tractors - normally employed in summer to cut the grass.<br />
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About a week ago Angela's sister visited the sheep to give them a few treats (fresh oats and a little bread), and was horrified to discover that a couple of cats had invaded the sheep's small shelter..... until she looked more closely.<br />
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It turns out that they were not cats at all, but instead were a couple of completely black lambs. Clearly their mother had spent too much time in the sun!Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-80494163727132155572011-05-01T08:34:00.005+02:002011-05-05T08:19:01.277+02:00Early warning system<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWWQpHSnUleaY7yUctJ8s9c0DWrzRUqOjtcS3q5GX9BCe9x3KgA83qBxBLlrAEDZCO6OeGb0iWA1fBY57qvEl4rThZOtJ7lw_9EDi7_LGFgdZS7GlCeOC15a4ukuMvl2NN831/s1600/Rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWWQpHSnUleaY7yUctJ8s9c0DWrzRUqOjtcS3q5GX9BCe9x3KgA83qBxBLlrAEDZCO6OeGb0iWA1fBY57qvEl4rThZOtJ7lw_9EDi7_LGFgdZS7GlCeOC15a4ukuMvl2NN831/s320/Rose.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Before you start thinking that the roof of our bodega is bristling with antennae and satellite dishes, that is not exactly what I mean. Yes, I do have a small Oregon Scientific weather station sitting on my desk, but I am actually talking about something much more low-tech, but nonetheless effective..... rose bushes.<br />
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I am convinced that the vast majority of people believe that roses are present in many a vineyard simply to add a splash of colour, but perhaps I should explain that this is not the only reason. Of course it's true they do add a touch of colour, but their function is actually much more important - they act as an early warning system to the vigneron.<br />
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Rose bushes are susceptible to many of the same diseases as grape vines, and in most cases are actually more sensitive. The indicators for oidium, mildew etc are more likely to appear on the roses before our vines become infected, and we can therefore leap into action with the appropriate preventative measures pretty much before the problem takes hold.<br />
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The picture above was taken a day or so ago in our El Pazo vineyard - not only do you notice the advanced years of our vines, but you can also clearly see the vigorous growth for the time of year. Could be another early harvest.Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-74843105382156349152011-04-27T11:35:00.005+02:002011-04-30T09:05:48.282+02:00A Royal Toast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVR9NHYzbMN3sqJbDenxyzpLLWMBhPFFK0I5-xMGoxrqv6rT80mgQakbA6FElCWJp3X5GWWohdLeufPTOWk1DWpVJwLI_U7ZJoO0IUM-X1sDV-bsFx2Hu-i33_jH2DtxyLYVM/s1600/0185-535x714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVR9NHYzbMN3sqJbDenxyzpLLWMBhPFFK0I5-xMGoxrqv6rT80mgQakbA6FElCWJp3X5GWWohdLeufPTOWk1DWpVJwLI_U7ZJoO0IUM-X1sDV-bsFx2Hu-i33_jH2DtxyLYVM/s320/0185-535x714.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
I don't suppose that I could really let this week pass without making some comment about the Royal Wedding - and don't try to pretend that you don't know which wedding I'm talking about.... The coverage here in Spain has been almost as extensive as that in the UK, and I was actually quite amused to see the infamous TV movie of Kate and William on our screens yesterday evening. Of course it was made doubly funny as, not only did the actors bear little resemblance to our Royal couple, but on top of that they were dubbed into Spanish. Will I get locked in the Tower of London if I say that it was hilarious?<br />
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Anyway, to date I have not heard any mention of the type of wines they will be drinking with the Royal Wedding Buffet, but I dare say that there might be the odd bottle of Liebfraumilch floating about (which is apparently the Queen's favourite tipple). Perhaps I should write to the Palace and tell Her Majesty that our Albariño is not wildly different from her beloved Riesling (or perhaps Muller-Thürgau). I use the word 'beloved' because the literal translation of Liebfraumilch is 'beloved ladies milk'.<br />
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Of course the last time we had a Royal Wedding in Spain, we know for a fact that they did enjoy a bottle or two of Albariño with their meal, although for some odd reason we were not allowed to mention who the producers were (no Royal Warrants this time then).<br />
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<u>Post Wedding Footnote</u>:<br />
One thing that I have noticed which always puzzles me, is the Spanish obsession to translate people's names. For example, the happy couple are now officially known as Guillermo y Catalina, our Queen is Isabel, our Prince is Carlos, and his sister is Ana. Correct me if I'm wrong but I can never remember the King of Spain being referred to as King John Charles, and his wife Queen Sophie......Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21707162.post-79636128603701545152011-04-22T11:53:00.001+02:002011-04-22T11:58:19.243+02:00For £2.99 a bottle it ain't Albariño!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcQjv0Ywo9w5ddWKytf7MCEyMcqJ0ppZfXrQIlLfa-dmB5ud9V7ApF9qCYRgDPd9d3rX2erurtRVAeqqckCteO4CRfPeYBeIbVNQP-oPk_w7H7KSKvZJ78cNQhoj9GnTxufor/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOcQjv0Ywo9w5ddWKytf7MCEyMcqJ0ppZfXrQIlLfa-dmB5ud9V7ApF9qCYRgDPd9d3rX2erurtRVAeqqckCteO4CRfPeYBeIbVNQP-oPk_w7H7KSKvZJ78cNQhoj9GnTxufor/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There has been a lot of press recently about the price of wine and the ability of consumers to distinguish between good wine and cheap 'plonk'. As a wine professional I do hope that my own palate allows me to separate the wheat from the chaff, and my personal guideline to doing this is quite simple - you look for the 3 S's, in other words structure, structure and structure.<br />
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By this I mean the way in which a wine is put together, whether all its component parts are in balance - fruit, tannin, acidity, alcohol etc. For example, wines that are very well constructed might be described as having a fine structure, or in the case of a young wine that is not very forthcoming, a tight stucture. It's really the degree of harmony between these different elements that determines whether a wine is just average, or perhaps something really special . <br />
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The only thing I can say, is that the best wines (in my opinion) are not always the most obvious, they do not necessarily hit you between the eyes and yield themselves to you the moment you pull the cork. They often need time to 'open up' either in the bottle or in the glass, but boy, when they eventually do deliver you will know immediately, and the very best will have the ability to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end!<br />
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Indeed, there are many adjectives that you can use to describe a very fine wine, and journalists are much more adept at painting a picture than I am (they are, after all, attempting to translate the sensation of taste into words). I have never really been gifted when it comes to waxing lyrical about wines, but instead consider myself more of a technical taster, focusing on the component parts and how they might evolve and marry together, either now or sometime in the future. This is after all, the fundamental role of the buyer - to possess that special crystal ball.......<br />
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As always I digress. The original subject of today's post is the price of wine, and in particular a selection that I saw advertised on my TV at £2.99 a bottle. How do they do it (and do I really want to know)?<br />
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If you actually start to analyse the cost of getting a bottle to your supermarket shelf you might begin to understand what I mean.<br />
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By simply deducting the UK duty and VAT from your £2.99 bottle you are immediately reduced to a mere pittance of 69p! Then take into account, that this 69p has to include warehousing and shipping costs, the cost of the bottle, label, cork, capsule and carton - Oh! and by the way, the cost of the wine itself AND any profit for the wine producer and UK retailer.<br />
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Just a minute, my calculator has blown a fuse, it's trying to tell me that this simply doesn't add up! It's right, it doesn't add up. I think it's what they call a 'loss leader' - a product that sells below it's actual production cost.<br />
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I end by asking myself the inevitable question - can a wine at this price point really be any good?Bodegas Castro Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282806859945385614noreply@blogger.com0