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Argentina Discovery Box
In my humble, but equally correct opinion, Argentina is the most exciting source of decent, exciting wines at prices that are so sensible, only a fool should resist! I've been tasting long and hard recently, often deep into the early hours of the morning, in search of the most compelling wines from the region. I have selected 6 wines to give you a very fine flavour of what all the fuss is about. To encourage you to give them a go at home, if you buy 1 bottle of each we'll give you 10% off. Or come and taste them with us this Friday 25th, between 4pm and 7pm.
Buy 1 bottle of each for £59.99 (Save 10%)
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Lorca Torrontes, Mendoza 2008 - £8.99
A bit of an emerging star, this Torrontes grape, and this is a great introduction to its joys! Soft, full and rich yet wonderfully fresh and delightfully aromatic without being blousy or overly perfumed. Delicate notes of jasmine flower and citrus notes on the nose, finishing light and crisp (and drier than the nose would have you believe) and leaving you wanting more. (And apologies for the amount of 'ands' in that sentence (and brackets)).
Please call 01606 882101 to order today
Xumek Syrah, Zonda Valley 2007 - £10.99
Drive north from Mendoza city along Argentina's equivalent to the famous Route 66 and, after about two hours you will arrive in the desert town of San Juan. Keep driving and follow signs for the Zonda Valley and your journey will take you behind a crease of mountains and into a valley that looks more lunar than earthly. The place is vast and beautiful almost beyond description. Zonda valley is the birthplace of the aboriginal Huarpe Indians, and a reverent air of ancient culture still pervades the unspoilt landscape. In wine terms, the soil is stony and poor; flood irrigation using snow-melt from the Andes allows vines to survive amidst the endless supply of sunshine; and the dry air means the grapes are blissfully free of pests and require very little in the way of spraying. This Xumek Syrah shows why San Juan is causing a bit of a stir. This is a muscular mouthful of wild red fruits, scintillating spice and gorgeously ripe tannins. There's a kind of Barossa Shiraz swagger to it, but with a gentler, more classical Northern Rhone morishness. Cracking value at £10.99.
Please call 01606 882101 to order today
La Poderosa Malbec, Patagonia 2006 - £9.75
In 1952 Ernesto 'Che' Guevara ventured on a magical journey through the wilderness of Patagonia on his precious Norton 500 motorcycle, which he nicknamed La Poderosa - The Powerful One! (The story was recently immortalised on celluloid in the movie Motorcycle Diaries.)
A fitting moniker, then, for this robust and powerful Patagonian red, with its bucket loads of ripe black fruit characters kept nicely in trim with chunky but ripe tannins and a tasty lick of oak. A masterful blend of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Tannat; this is drinking great now but will develop handsomely over the next 2-3 years.
The wine is made by Bodega Del Fin Del Mundo, the world's southernmost winery!
Please call 01606 882101 to order today
Urano Malbec, Mendoza 2007 - £9.95
Urano, the god of the skies in Greek mythology, is a reference to the magnificent clear blue skies of Mendoza which, framed by the Andes, create special conditions for vine cultivation. With the Urano range, fruit always plays lead fiddle, least not in this unctuous, silky-textured Malbec. Subtlety and balance are enhanced through ageing in French and American oak. None of the heftiness that dogs so many Argie Malbecs at this price.
Please call 01606 882101 to order today
Crios Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza 2006 £8.99
Intense, dark ruby colour with enticing aromas of ripe black plums and blackcurrants. The richly textured plum and currant flavours are joined on the palate by accents of dark chocolate and some vanilla-scented oak. Ripe, vibrant tannins and a fresh, balanced acidity give the wine excellent structure and a very long finish.
90 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Dec 2007
Please call 01606 882101 to order today
Pulenta Estate Gran Corte, Mendoza 2006 - £17.99
This has become our best selling + £15 wine, and just a quick sniff will tell you why! This is their best effort yet, and it's probably no coincidence that this vintage has more Malbec (45%) in the blend than in any other year. Alongside the other cast members from Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc, Merlot & Petit Verdot), it has developed into an utterly compelling wine with striking flavours, offering arguably the greatest bang for one's buck in the shop (and therefore, by implication, the world). It's plush and rich, with deep, spicy, brambly fruit and a brooding finish with an obvious-yet-unimposing oak influence perfectly integrated with the polished fruit. £17.99/bt
Please call 01606 882101 to order today
