Masi Tupungato Pinot Grigio-Torrontes equals "Argentinian soul, Venetian style"

I had this Pinot Grigio-Torrontes blend last night and very tasty it was too.I have had this wine a couple of times before and I seem to choose it when I am looking for something with good definition of  fruit and a full- bodied yet steely backbone.It reminds me of a fat Riesling with an intense lime backbone.Torrentes generally vinifies into a wine with a distinctively perfumed bouquet but this is not the case with this particular wine.Yes it has concentration, but it is not the intensely floral style that one expects, so the Pinot Grigio obviously tames it .On reflection this wine  could be described as a Pinot Gris in the Alsace style as opposed to a Pinot Grigio in the Italian style.
It is a memorable wine for the money@ €12

Evelyn
The Vintry

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Doña Paula Malbec 2008

In the words of Mika... Big and beautiful comes to mind when you take a sip of this luscious deep coloured  red. There are plums, blackberries and some coffee aromas. On the palate it is soft and round with sweet tannins. Malbec is a real favourite with a lot of my customers and for all those red meat eaters out there you need to try it with a juicy sirloin steak.... There is a reason why it is known as the "Original Steak Wine"

 From the Mendoza region of Argentina this is 100% Malbec and a true expression of what the grape can produce. Argentina have really taken Malbec as their own even though it has a long history in the Cahors region just south of Bordeaux. Here the grape produces a highly tannic wine with black fruit  and violet aromas. It only reached  Argentina in the late ninteenth century where originally due to high yields it was served as a  mediocre table wine. As winemaking techniques improved and yields controlled, it has gained worldwide recognition and deservedly so.

 The Claro group which are the Chilean company behind Santa Rita and Terra Andina to name but a few acquired vineyards in the late 1990s in Argentina and Doña Paula was founded. As winemakers they believe in protecting the environment and try to do their utmost to ensure that neither the environment or their workers are at any risk by avoiding pesticides and allowing natural processes to control pests.

Give this a try for €13.99 and you won't be disappointed.
Till next Time
Clare
Cellars, the Big Wine Warehouse
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Zarapito, Budget wines.

It's great to have a few options when choosing some under €8 wines. So, in view of current budgetary requirements, it's an area that we need to concentrate on to offer our customers the best in this category.

Zarapito comes in both white and red blends.

The Red is a Malbec - Bonarda blend. These are typically Argentinian grape varieties. Bonarda, I find to be too fruit filled with little structure as a varietal but teamed with Malbec which is quite a dark liquorice and black chocolate grape these really work well as a duo. Even better as a mid-week t.v wine retailing at €6.99.

The White is again typically Argentinian. The blend is Torrontes - Chenin blanc. Fresh and zesty with lots of balanced citrus and tropical fruit flavours. 

Same price as 2 cappuccinos from your local petrol station only far more palatable.

O&O

Ruth. 


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My Budget Pick - Las Moras Viognier

This winery has been voted argentinian wine producer of the year twice, they together with their sister company Bodegas Trapiche are the world's fifth largest and Latin America's largest producer of wine. The winery is situated in San Juan in Argentina and has a semi-desert climate with over 300 days of sunshine a year allowing minimum pesticides to be used in cultivating the grapes.
Viognier is believed to have been brought to France by the Romans where it is the single grape variety permitted in Condrieu, the famous rhone white. It is a difficult grape to grow and some even believe the name of the grape is called after the Roman word translating to "road to hell" . Viognier is prone to powdery mildew and thrives in the heat so San Juan is an ideal climate as it prefers warm climates. Typically viognier is meant to be drunk young as it does lose it's perfume as it ages.

 Las Moras means Mulberry tree and is so called as the property is covered in them. It is a great little crowd pleaser so a perfect party wine.  Very aromatic nose which is typical of this variety. Accai flowers and ripe apricots on the nose. In the mouth it is full bodied with some spice and slight honey tones so it works really well with spicy foods; Thai cusine or even a chicken curry. This really offers great value for money and let's be honest that's what it is all about at the moment. The Viognier is just one from their single varietal range but they also have a chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, malbec, shiraz and the latest addition a pinot grigio. I got to try the range when Pablo Ghiorzi (export manager) was in town last Thursday and at the new special offer price of  €6.99 you would be hard pressed to get more for your money

Till Next Time

Clare

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