El Gaitero was founded in 1890 by Valle, Ballina y Fernández families as a cider factory that developed into a long and successful venture. The alliance and shared vision of the brothers Alberto and Eladio del Valle, Bernardo de la Ballina and Ángel Fernández gave its name to the company. These entrepreneurs, like many enlightened Asturians of the time, recognized the potential of apple planting and the industrialization of the region as a means of fostering prosperity in Asturias.
They acquired the machinery that would enable them to begin production of ‘champagne cider’ in the borough of Villaviciosa. At that time many Asturians emigrated to America in search of a better life and future. During this long journey cider could easily spoil, so in order to keep all of its properties intact, the champagne method was used. In the late 19th century, and following the arrival of Obdulio Fernández, the company would experience the first of its golden ages: securing the strategic site at La Espuncia and converting El Gaitero cider into a household name around the world. The business partners made further investments aimed at centralizing production of El Gaitero on a single site - a strategy that would be reinforced years later, with the construction in 1915 of the company’s own bottle factory. In the 1950s, and under the management of José Cardín, the company experienced a period of unprecedented growth thanks to the extension work carried out on the mill and the diversification of the El Gaitero brand.
Today, El Gaitero group is a modern, forward-thinking company boasting a hundred-year history that perpetuates the value of its heritage and traditional production methods, whilst constantly looking ahead to innovation and development based on the use of cutting-edge technologies. Its facilities, which have been declared an Industrial Heritage site, now extend over more than 40,000 square meters and its cider production stands at 27 million liters a year. The company is committed to developing products based on innovation and tradition, such as its modern and refined ciders and sparkling bruts.
The grapes for this sparkling are sourced from high elevation areas throughout Spain. Don Piere offers a crystal clear pale yellow color, small and abundant bubbles of great finesse and elegance. The nose shows light and pleasant citrus and fresh fruit aromas. Well-balanced and refreshing on the palate with fruity flavors, good acidity and pleasant texture.
mixed in a Bellini. Ideal sparkling to share with friends and celebrate.The wine is a great match with appetizers, grilled fish, or desserts and cocktails,
Michel Rolland, Pomerol vintner and consultant to many of the world's top wineries, teamed with Washington State wine visionary Allen Shoup to produce this limited release wine.
With its intense color and inviting aromas of dark berries, licorice, baking spice and a hint of smoke, the Pedestal is a bold wine that leaves a lasting impression. Dark fruit flavors integrated with sweetness from the barrel and richness from the tannins come together seamlessly, lingering across a structured mid-palate and lengthy finish.
Winemaking: Hand-harvested grapes were double-sorted to remove green material that might impart harsh tannins, then most of the lots were cold soaked to build richness and flavor before undergoing whole-berry fermentation in 55L upright French wood tanks. This, combined with gentle pump-overs throughout fermentation, enhanced the wine’s color, texture and mouthfeel. The finished wine was aged 22 months in 85% new French oak barrels.
Review:
"I loved the 2014 Pedestal Merlot and it’s 81% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. It offers a downright voluptuous and incredibly sexy style in its ripe black currants, toasted spice, chocolate and licorice aromas and flavors. Broad, expansive, layered and pleasure bent, with ripe tannin, it's a knockout Merlot that's going to have 10-15 years of drinkability. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #231, June 2017), 95 pts
Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz is made from 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Shiraz .
Encompassing everything the Hill-Smith family stands for and the perfect representation of Yalumba’s history and ethos, The Signature is a sentimental favorite. A classic Australian blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, the first vintage release of The Signature was in 1962. Since then, this outstanding wine has acknowledged more than 57 Signatories; people who have enhanced the traditions and culture of Yalumba.
Seductive and alluring florals, cool mints, red pomegranate with fine blackberry fruits and dark cherry aromas. The palate is delightfully generous with dark red cherry fruit that merges into ironstone tannins. A medium to full bodied wine with a long, flowing tannin profile.
Review:
A full-weighted, archetypal Aussie blend. Cabernet and shiraz, both from the Barossa. The top wines of Yalumba have undergone considerable refinement in recent years. The tannins, better managed; the fruit, more restrained; the oak, judicious. Here, an example. Fresh and lithe. Scents of anise, bay leaf and kirsch, with a nourishing core of beef bouillon. An expansive sweetness grows in trajectory, with a douse of menthol at the finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.
-James Suckling 94 Points