JORGE ORDOÑEZ COLLECTION
SPAIN 2021
Why Buy: Who doesn't love the extraordinary wines of Jorge Ordoñez? This master blender, broker, and businessman works only with artisan producers who cultivate ancient vineyard sites planted with the oldest clones of indigenous cultivars. The aim? As Ordóñez himself puts it: to put forth "honest wines with a sense of history, culture, and place." All true, but so understated that it almost sells how powerful and alluring they are, and how much spirit they possess. Having done a recent portfolio tour of his wines, we were reminded yet again why we keep coming back to his rich, soulful reds and layered, elegant whites. The octet we bring you today (including one 97-pointer, one 96-pointer, two 95-pointers, and two 94-pointers) speaks loudly, and lustily, of terroir, tradition, and taste (in both senses of the word).
What They're Saying: Wine Enthusiast lauded the Vatan Arena Tinta de Toro 2016, in a 97-point rave, for its "plush tannins" and "vibrant acidity," and the way it "linger[s] on the palate."
The Story: Ordóñez is, in many ways, a man apart, a trailblazer. While many of his contemporaries focus on the replantation of Spain's oldest vineyard sites with higher yielding clones and international varieties, Ordóñez, as alluded to up top, has pursued a different path, and, in so doing, has showcased the magic and depth of the wines of his native land. Ordoñez, who grew up in the family wine business in Málaga, Spain, and moved to the U.S. in the late 1980s, has become a name synonymous in the wine world with the best of Spanish wine, and he has introduced the American market to some of the most iconic brands of Spain, as well as his country's most innovative regions. His vaunted portfolio includes hidden treasures from such lesser-known Spanish regions as Rueda and Montsant, as well as the country's most famous region, Rioja. Names like Viñedos Sierra Cantabria have become widely recognized as pioneering brands — brands that showcase the intensity and power that Ordóñez has made his signature, and that is redefining the style and quality of Rioja's wines.
Our Tasting Notes: You're not going to find a lot of wines that are sexier than these. The reds combine intensity and concentration with structure and elegance, but even more than these qualities, it's the soulfulness they deliver, their sly charm, the sense of mystery they conceal. These are wines that beg you to slow down and savor them, but also: to appreciate the moment, to appreciate life. The whites are not nearly as big and plush — nor are they meant to be — but they convey much the same confidence and charm. There's a striking depth to them that many reds never match, along with a steely minerality and, perhaps most impressive of all, a clarity that speaks of precision and definition without ever coming across, merely, as sharp.
Fun Fact: If you're a fan of Albariño, Godello, Garnacha, Monastrell, and Txakoli, then you have Ordoñez to thank; he was the first to introduce these wines to the world, transforming them from exotic varietals to market mainstays.
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source direct, so you can be confident that your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2024. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in GA, IL, KS, MI, NM, NY, or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Monday, April 15th, 2024.
