Le Caveau - South American Wine Tasting - Feb 11, 2012
Special Guest: Joe Herrig of Global Wines featuring a tasting of South American wines. Global Wines is brand new to the state and we will be showing the following hand picked selections from their book:
Also, don't forget to check out Joe's blog Suburban Wino (see links to the left of this entry).
100% Torrontés
This wine shows aromas of white peach, orange rind and flowers (think Viognier or Muscat aromas). Juicy, pure fruit on the palate where the lovely floral notes are echoed. This white finishes juicy and long, and not a bit heavy thanks to ample acidity.
Torrontés is highly productive and is just under ten percent of all white grape plantings in Argentina, however as a varietal, it made up almost 20 percent of all white wine sold in Argentina in 2008.
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2) 2009 Fingerprints Bonarda - $13.99
100% Bonarda
This wine has deep red color with violet hints. The wine shows ripe cherry and plum on the palate that is light to medium bodied. It has a lovely, lingering finish with rounded and sweet tannins. Equally enjoyable with food or by itself.
As the story goes, Bonarda is an Italian grape that was transplanted to Argentina in the 1800’s. As popular as Malbec has become, it only recently surpassed Bonarda in acreage cultivated.
***ABBIE's FAVE!***
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3) 2010 Yllum Pinot Noir Reserve $22.99
100% Pinot Noir from Tupungato
With a medium garnet color, this wine shows aromas of ripe red fruits with notes of coffee and mushrooms. The palate is fresh and focused with red berry fruits and spice balanced by nice acidity.
The fruit for this wine comes from Tupungato inthe Valle de Uco and is grown at 3900 feet above sea level. Yllum means meeting place in the local Huarpe indian tongue and Tupungato means star viewpoint (Tupungato, a stratovaolcano is the higheast peak in Argentina).
4) 2008 Alma de los Andes Malbec Classic - $14.99
100% Malbec from Agrelo and Medrano
Deep ruby black color with a purple rim, it shows blackberries, ripe plum, and spice on the nose. The medium to full bodied palate is rich with dark fruit but comes off balanced with a silky elegance.
Winemaker Pablo Durigutti gained wide experience while working with the Rutini winery and with his older brother Hector Durigutti at Altos Las Hormigas
5) 2009 Casa Rivas Carménère Gran Reserva - $23.99
85% Carménère, 10% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
14.3% alcohol
This wine has a deep, ruby red color, with a [BIG] nose of plum and black pepper, coffee, and spice. On the palate it's concentrated with red fruits, round tannins and and nice structure, finishing long and silky.
Cuttings of Carménère were imported by Chilean growers from Bordeaux during the 19th century, where they were frequently confused with Merlot vines. They modeled their wineries after those in France and in the 1850s cuttings from Bordeaux, which included Carménère grape, were planted in the valleys around Santiago
Awesome! Thanks for the write-up. I've been bad about reading all the blogs lately, but the least I can do is keep up with the local folks!
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