(May 4, 2015) — Tapas Embrujo, located on the Danforth at Broadview, is a truly authentic tapas restaurant with a long history in Toronto – pre-dating the current local trendiness of tapas. The Directors have had their eye for a little while on a small parcel of high quality Spanish wines & Sherries in our cellar; and the recent revamping of Tapas Embrojo’s menu gives us the perfect opportunity to pair these outstanding wines with great food. The menu is detailed overleaf, but features calamari, duck confit, Iberico ham (named after the black footed pigs, and regarded by many as the finest ham available), beef tenderloin sautéed with mushrooms, and an intriguing dessert of goat cheese, honey & marmalade. A vegetarian menu is also available.

So what about the wines then? The evening will begin with one of a pair of Equipo Navazos finos. This remarkable enterprise has blazed a trail for sourcing unique barrels of very special Sherries. We will be pouring their La Bota de Fino ‘Macharnudo Alto’ No 27 on the Tuesday and their La Bota de Manzanilla ‘Navazos’ No 22 on the Monday night. These wines were rated 18.5 and 18 points respectively (2 levels above distinguished) by Jancis Robinson, who is a tough marker.

Then the evening takes on a bit of a Marqués de Murrieta theme. We begin with their Albarino with the calamari and then move on to two Riojas Blancos, the Capellania 2002 and the Gran Reserva 1998 with duck confit. Next comes their flagship wine, Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva, 2001, which is partnering the Iberico ham & Manchego cheese. This wine should be at its peak. With the tenderloin we are pouring the 1998 Terrasses of Alvaro Palacios from Priorat and 1970 Tinto from Palacio de Arganza in Bierzo. Alvaro Palacios has spearheaded the emergence of Priorat with stunning wines. While the Terrasses is Palacios’ entry level wine, it is made from old vines giving structure to a fruit driven wine. Bierzo is another newly dynamic region.
Dessert should be a real treat. We are pouring Alvear Pedro Ximénez Solera 1927 (Montilla). This intensely sweet sherry is very well balanced with notes of caramelized fig and Coopers Oxford Marmalade; it should be a great foil for the dessert.

So come and join us for a superb evening of Spanish wine & food! Sign up early as numbers are limited.

As always with our tastings, this event will be strictly non-smoking, and we request your cooperation in not wearing any scented after-shave or perfume. Please don’t drink & drive. Broadview Subway Station is very close by.