Bodegas M

Bodegas M is the dream and collaboration of Michael Young, Margo Shugart, and Alan Kinne. Having lived in Spain and "cut his teeth" on Rioja wines, Michael has realized in Bodegas M a life-long aspiration to bring the best possible Spanish styled wines to market. Michael works as Sales & Marketing Director for L'Aventure Winery in Paso Robles, and has 32 years experience in wine sales & marketing with companies such as LVMH and Champagne Louis Roederer. He and partner Margo Shugart aim to express the pleasure to be found in "all things Spanish" in the marketing of these wines, which will also include an Albarino with the next vintage. Alan Kinne has joined the partnership as winemaker, commencing with the 2007 vintage. His extensive experience and familiarity with Spain and its grape varieties, coupled with his passion for Iberia, and his deft hand with these varieties, make him the natural candidate for the title Senor Tempranillo! Bodegas M 2006 Tempranillo was harvested from the Booker Vineyard The original selections, from the Vina Pedrosa and Pesquera properties in Spain's famed Ribera del Duero, were taken from 60 year old vines and first hand-carried to the US by Alan Kinne years ago. At Booker Vineyards, the high-density plantation (2,100 vines per acre) yielded just 2.2 pounds of fruit per plant, or roughly 8 clusters, or one bottle per vine. The vines are all planted on a south facing hillside. "Of note", mentions Jensen, "is that, for some reason, in early September, the grapes stop moving, with little or no change in sugar and acid levels". "This gives the grapes around an extra 30 days to develop phenolic maturity". The result is a rich, concentrated, wine with a long palate, and complexity in the mouth.

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