Eric Solomon imports select wines from Spain, France and Portugal. In the seventeen years he has been doing this his Selections have come to represent quality and value. And, as you can gather from some of the following, he is pretty well received by the wine press. But don’t take their word for it. Come join us this Saturday and see how these stack up against your palate. Ken O’Hara will be on hand to tell us more and pour:

The Prada family began to plant Godello in 1885 on old stone terraces high on the hillsides surrounding the river Sil, which cuts through the scenic valley of Valdeorras in Spain’s northwest region of Galicia. Influenced by high levels of rainfall and relative humidity from the Atlantic, the delicate terraces of crushed blue slate are organically cultivated with grass cover between rows to prevent erosion. Wine & Spirits, gave the wine 91 points: “The platinum color and talc-like scent suggest the wine is youthfully tight. That tension follows through the finish, where the aromas last with notes of lilies and sage. Its ripe tones of white peach and almonds fill out the leanness. Decant it for striped bass stuffed with herbs.”  You bring the bass. 

Mariano Lopez took over the winemaker reins at Castano and turned his focus toward balancing the fruit and tannins of older vine Monastrell. Apparently it has worked. The Wine Advocate gave the Hecula 91 points: “The 2004 Hecula is a single vineyard selection of 100% Monastrell, 50% tank aged and 50% aged in French oak. Exhibiting aromas of toasty black fruits with milk chocolate in the background, this is a super-rich effort with terrific depth and concentration for its humble price. It is a remarkable value for drinking over the next few years.”

The daughter of one of the pioneers of the "new" Priorat, winemaker Sara Perez learned the art of fashioning elegant wines. After years as a consultant throughout Europe, she now focuses on her own project, La Universal. The Dido has rich plum, black currant, mixed with some smoky herbs. It’s complex, smooth and supple in texture.

The Priorat has achieved world acclaim for producing extraordinary red wines from nature's harshest and most dramatic terrain. No estate exemplifies this more than this emerging "cult wine" of the village of Porrera. Perched precariously atop the highest terraced slopes, the Marge is composed of 70-100 year old Grenache with miniscule yields. Reminiscent of a Chateauneuf du Pape, Marge has excellent balance and nice acidity that carries the fruit, cedar and minerals to exceptional heights with soft tannins that provide a nice backbone. Oh yeah, Marge got Five Stars from Decanter who called the wine one of “outstanding quality and virtually perfect.”