Vin de Terra Imports, Inc. - Viñedos de Ithaca

Joseph Puig and his daughter Silvia were equally infatuated with Greek mythology when they first bought Viñedos de Ithaca in Gratallops, DOC Priorato, recalling how the Greeks first cultivated the land with the ancient grapevines they saw before them. Acutely aware of the historical significance, Silvia and Joseph wanted to pay tribute to the ancient winemakers by naming their winery, Viñedos de Ithaca, after the kingdom where Odysseus was born.

Both Joseph and Silvia have a wonderful sense of humor and joy for what they do. “Wine should be fun”, an idea they hold close to their hearts. A philosophy they have conveyed and captured throughout the winery. Their hard and demanding work in the vineyards together with the love for wine is reflected in the outcome of the final product. Both Joseph and Silvia have a strong interest and fascination for history, especially that of the Greeks whom settled throughout the Mediterranean and the mythology. They have gone as far as to name each barrel of wine with a mythical name like Kronos, Argos, Artemis, and Hermes on their barrels, again to have fun and at the same time, adding life to their cellar. They could have just as easily had a very boring numerical system but not the Puig’s. Having their winery in the middle of one of the most prestigious and renowned wine demarcations of Spain, they choose to incorporate this philosophy to the wine labels too, naming the Odysseus, Akyles and Penelope (Odysseus’s adoring wife) beaucase it’s humorous, it plays upon a theme.
The vineyards and the cellar are located in Gratallops, 350 meters altitude just south west of Barcelona, in the province of Tarragona. The soil is the famous “llicorella” (slate-based) which dates from the Paleozoic period. This soil is like a mosaic in which the roots of the vine look for water deep down into the soil. With this kind of soil, the intense heat and the unforgiving drought of this area gives the wine a particular style - a rather mineral and intensely concentrated ripe fruit character

Click here to visit the winery's web site.

Garnacha Blanca 2006 'Penelope' 500ML (4-pack)
100% Garnacha Blanca that is picked late in the harvest (from slate soils) from a 75 year old vineyard near Scala Dei. Vinifed entirely in steel, the alcohol level is natural (no fortification). Has aromas of white peaches, wet stones, floral character, honey with just a touch of mint and tarragon. On the palate it offers a lovely creamy texture that is rich and viscous with juicy stone fruit flavors. All comes across with great purity that is clean and wonderfully round. Demi-sec style. Extremely small production.

Garnacha Peluda 2006 'Penelope' (4 bottles) 500ML
Made from 100% Garnacha Peluda which is also used in the blend for the Tinto. Has a great nose of red fruits, spicy and warmth with cinnamon, candied fruits, walnuts, figs, meat and melon all mixed together. While on the palate it delivers a lovely expression of lively roses, bright cherry fruit, cranberry , blood oranges and watermelon with spice all the way through the finish.

Odysseus Tinto 2002 750ML
The nose shows intriguing spices, dark berry fruit with identifiable Garnacha and Cariñena varietal characteristics that create an amazing harmony. Palate follows the nose and you are reward with a complexity that is easy to enjoy. Approximately 35% Grenache, 35% Cariñena and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon with the last 10% composed of Touriga Nacional, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Caladoc. More fruit from the Ithaca’s own vineyards but still using old vine fruit with low production (approx. 1/2 pound / vine). Vinified in open 400 liter French oak barrels (60% Quercus Sessili / 40% Quercus Alba). Aged in the same barrels for approximately 10 months and racked periodically as needed. No filtering or fining before bottling. 1100 cases produced.

Odysseus Tinto 2003 750ML
Vinified in 400 litre open barrels, the grapes come also from very old vines with a very low production (0,250 Kgs.Per vine). Careful battonage is done during fermentation to get the best color extraction of the grapes. Varieties are: Caiñena, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon…there is also a tiny 10% composed by Touriga National, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Caladoc. It is a genuine original, medium bodied, good quality tannins with correct alcohol levels. It’s not an aggressive wine, instead a very versatile and good companion to all sorts of food.

Odysseus Tinto 2004 750ML
Very delicate racking was done in this vintage, only when needed. Shows a strong mineral element, ink, iodine, while on the palate it offers a very elegant feel, with delicate chocolate character, blackberries with very good acidity, notes of brioche that come together to a soft but compact and refined texture on the finish.

Odysseus Tinto Black Label 2006 750ML
This is the second release made at Vinedos de Ithaca for their flagship wine - Black Label. Made from a blend of 40% Garnacha, 20%Syrah, 23% Carinena, and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon that is aged for 14 months in exclusively French oak barrels. The wine delivers deep, dark aromas with a savory, marrowlike quality, very intense character of dark Belgian chocolate mixed with wild blackberries. It has a dramatic quality to it, but with clean fresh flavors mixed with the more intense, concentrated dark fruit profile. It is surprisingly accessible for its youth and yet has the core and structure to support long term agin. The long and intense finish elevates the wines power and mouth coating quality that would benefit from aeration to truly show all its potential.

Akyles Macabeo 2008 750ML
Made from 100% Macabeo grapes that go through 50% oak fermentation and 50% stainless steel. By doing this the wine has both complexity, weight and fresness at the same time. The aromas of toasted hazelnuts, wild herbs and complex spices mixed with faint notes of jasmine, dried apricot are the wines signature notes. In the mouth it is very expansive and alive with a persistent aftertaste. The subtle oak hints add an additional distinction and layer to the wine. Very limited production.

Odysseus Garnacha Blanca 2005 (750ML)
Light pale golden color. The nose is intoxicating and alive with white flowers, peaches in syrup, light green herbal notes, apricots and more. Really a fun wine to sniff! In the mouth this wine has a rich body to it with medium acidity and a unique sweetness that ends dry. Light mandarin orange, peach, orange zest, white flowers…almost honeysuckle, all combine which leaves your mouth with a richness that lingers. The finish while dry has a note of slight bitterness, perfect to leave your mouth looking for more.
2003 vintage - Wine Spectator Magazine, July, 2005 – 90 points! 2004 vintage - Wine Spectator Magazine, October, 2005 – 89 points!

Odysseus Garnacha Blanca 2006 (750ML)
White Priorat wine made from native Garnacha Blanca grape. Notes of peach, pear, and honeysuckle on the nose with a with great texture, peach, notes of tarragon, faint salty notes and a creamy texture with a long, silky finish. Great personality crafted in an original style. The wine was carefully fermented in the "old-style" without temperature control and a unique maceration within the French oak barrel for 8 hours. Limited production of 400 cases.

Odysseus Pedro Ximénez 2007 (750ML)
Pedro Ximénez is best known as a sweet sherry grape. After discovering a parcel of old vine PX within their vineyards Joseph and Sylvia decided to vinify the PX separately. The final result is a unique rich, dry white wine and the only still wine made from PX grapes in Spain. Apricots, peaches, nectarines and green apple find room in the nose with additional highlights of roses. Higher toned than the Garnacha Blanca showcasing abundant bright fruit a wonderful mouth feel and a finish of golden raisins. The grapes are sourced from a 75-year old vineyard near Scala Dei. 150 cases made.

Odysseus Rosado 2007 (750ML)
This lagrima (free run juice…no pressing) style rosado uses some of the same fruit as the Odysseus Tinto (90% old vine Garnacha plus Cabernet Sauvignon, Cariñena and Touriga Nacional), macerated on the skins for a few hours to extract a bit of color and then fermented in stainless steel. A dark watermelon colored rosado with abundant berry-like fruit and elegantly balanced acidity. Not to be mistaken for a frilly summer picnic wine, this award winning wine tops out at 14.5 percent alcohol. Easily the best Spanish rosado I’ve tried.150 cases produced.

Akyles Tinto 2007 (750ML)
Made from a blend of 42% Garnacha, 18% Garnacha Peluda, 25% Carinena, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Spends 10 months in French oak barrels. All of the juice comes from their own vineyards in Gratallops. It delivers a very attractive and clean nose with aromas of blackberries, forest berries, licorice, belgian dark chocolate together with fine notes of violets. On the palate, it is smooth, soft texture with just a touch of spice, all coming across beautifully balanced with very good character. It has a silky and persistent personality.