#Gualtallary Valley

[woodfinder8754]

Olivewood Estate Homestead, Residence Of Canadian Charles Chaff

The 2013 is the current launch and it's consuming superbly right now. Pair yours with a thick steak cooked on the grill. Grapes for this Argentine red mix are grown in Alejandro Vigil and Adrianna Catena’s Gualtallary vineyard within the Uco Valley. It is a mix of eighty olivewood estate five % Cabernet Franc and 15 p.c Malbec and it's deep purple within the glass with aromas of brown baking spices, ripe black cherries and just a whiff of mint. In the mouth there are flavors of black raspberries and black plums with a touch of milk chocolate and a pleasant raise of peppermint in the finish.

Unfortunately we are not able to find the page you're searching for. Golfweather.com provides a detailed climate forecast for the exact longitudinal and latitudinal location of every golf course world broad. It's a beautiful place with an exquisite olivewood estate golf course, the newly constructed lodging is completely wonderful. Do your self a favour and pay the lovely place a visit. We had a lovely time there and will definitely go once more. The waiting time of 50 minutes for breakfast is merely too long.

Another purpose is that almost all consumers work in the Sandton, Randburg and Johannesburg CBDs, and they find that properties in North Riding are accessibly priced and located,” adds Chimbwanda. Though Sandy Lane Hotel and Sandy Lane Estate are two completely different entities, residents who turn out to be members at the lodge acquire extra access to the hotel’s five-star facilities, together olivewood estate with tennis courts, spa amenities and connoisseur dining. “This is by far the best property anybody can purchase right now in Sandy Lane Estate, if in search of a statement home with a sea view. It’s worth noting that lower than 10% of the houses on the estate have a sea view, so it is a very coveted characteristic,” Mr. Parra stated.

Luxurious 6 bed Sandy Lane Estate Villa with spectacular views of the West Coast and Caribbean Sea. Discover the best top things to do in East London, South Africa together with Burnside Touch Farm, Olivewood Private Estate & Golf Club, Hood Point Lighthouse, East London City Hall, Khaya La Bantu Cultural Village. Zillow Group is dedicated to ensuring digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. We are repeatedly working to enhance the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and lodging requests. If you wish to report a problem or seek an lodging, pleaselet us know.

Thanks to reasonable late summer time and early fall temperatures in 2018 he was capable of enable his grapes to slowly mature on the vine resulting in a wine with elegant structure and balanced acidity. There are aromas of chocolate lined cherries, cassis and black olives in the bouquet. In the mouth there are flavors of rich, ripe darkish fruits and just a contact of dried thyme and oregano with a strong spine of minerality. One truism of wine and meals pairings that may by no means exit of style is that purple wine and steak are an ideal match.

[k1reynolds]

Review: Domaine Bousquet Gaia Rosé 2020

Review: Domaine Bousquet Gaia Rosé 2020

In 1990, winemaker Jean Bousquet went on vacation to Argentina. A third-generation winemaker from Carcassonne, in southern France, Bousquet immediately fell in love with the Gualtallary Valley, in Mendoza. Though no vineyards existed there at the time, he recognized the winemaking potential in the region. The Gualtallary Valley is in the high mountains, with elevations reaching over 5,200 feet,…

[syrahqueen]

A Focus On Organic - Summer Sipping With Domaine Bousquet

A Focus On Organic – Summer Sipping With Domaine Bousquet

“By nourishing the land and treating it with respect, we know that the land will give us back its finest fruits.” –  Anne Bousquet

 In recent years winemakers have been making huge investments in Tupungato to take advantage of the sky-high altitude.  Twenty years ago, before all the big names, it was Jean Bousquet that had the vision to plant vines in Gualtallary Valley in the Tupungato district…

[wineanddinosaur]

Banville Wine Merchants: Celebrating Family With Every Bottle

Now more than ever, many are seeking to transform a simple toast into a special occasion. And what better way to celebrate the joys of life and the importance of family, both inherited and chosen, than with a bottle that honors generations of artisanship, superior quality, and a commitment to the land?

Family-owned Banville Wine Merchants (BWM), founded in 2004 by Lia Tolaini Banville, is a national importer with a passion for fine wines and spirits. A strong female leader in a male-dominated field, Lia sought to create a modern, independent business that pays homage to legacy estates, champions small producers, and boasts a label for every occasion. Honoring her deep connection to Italy with a diverse collection of elegant wineries, Banville has extended her import portfolio to over 50 hand-picked selections, stretching from the “Great Boot” to South America. So this season, raise a glass to great grapes and familial ties with a bottle from this impressive roster.

Lia Tolaini Banville (above), a strong female leader in a male-led industry, founded Banville Wine Merchants in 2004.

A Sumptuous Road Trip Through a Terroir That’s as Diverse as Italy Itself

Journeying through Italy’s Chianti Classico region brings wine lovers from the north near Florence down through the Chianti Classico communes to the southernmost commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, which is just seven miles east of Siena and 18 miles north of Montalcino. This area of Chianti Classico is known for producing wines of strength, elegance, and longevity and was the motive for choosing the Montebello and Vallenuova vineyards as the perfect home for Tolaini. Capitalizing on the varied elevation of the property’s natural, south-facing amphitheater, Pier Luigi Tolaini planted high-density vines in the prized Galestro soil and built a state-of-the-art winery in a renaissance Tuscan villa on the property. He understood the great potential that this land possessed and knew it was where he would realize his dream of making world-class wines.

Sustainable and organic farming practices are an important focus at Tolaini, as is showcasing Tuscany’s native variety, Sangiovese, with the estate’s single-vineyard Chianti Classico Gran Selezione and Tre Bicchieri-winning Vallenuova Chianti Classico. Pier Luigi had a great passion for Super Tuscans as he loved Bordeaux and the juicier Napa wines of the mid-1990s. His flagship wine, Picconero, is made from Cabernet Franc and Merlot and continues to garner rave reviews.

Tolaini epitomizes the concept of “family business” and today Pier Luigi’s daughter, Lia Tolaini Banville, is running the estate and preserving her father’s legacy while bringing new ideas and innovation, all while honoring the distinct terroir of Castelnuovo Berardenga.

Tolaini sits within the Chianti Classico area, known for producing wines of strength, elegance, and longevity.

Lia launched Donna Laura Wines in Castelnuovo Berardenga in 2004 to honor the legacy of her beloved aunt and mentor, Zia Laura. With each bottle, Lia captures the essence of conviviality, the Italian tradition of family together at mealtime. Wine is a part of each family meal and is as vital as bread and salt. Focusing on sustainable and organic farming practices that forgo harmful chemicals to insure a vibrant ecosystem, Donna Laura wines are an expression of the native Tuscan varietal, Sangiovese. Balanced and approachable, these wines are ideal for everyday enjoyment and a reminder of family and food and how they are synonymous at the Italian table.

Traveling from central Italy to the mountainous countryside of the northeast, at Cantina Terlano in South Tyrol each varietal is aged to optimization, whether that takes years or even decades. Here, winegrowing was introduced in pre-Roman times, the land long prized for its sunny climate and location above the floodplain. One of the oldest cooperatives in Italy, many growers and their families have worked with Terlano for over 100 years. Terlano is known for producing wines with incredible aging potential. The wines’ longevity is in part a result of the combination of the soils’ high mineral content –– Terlano’s vineyards are nestled within a rich volcanic rock, its porosity ensuring optimal soil drainage –– and old vines, as well as the rigorous selection of vibrant, fully mature grapes. The Selections are often held in large wooden barrels and left to age on the lees before bottling, allowing each to blossom into a wholly unique character and complexity.

Tradition and time-honored relationships, forged over almost two centuries of craftsmanship, are the pillars of success at Farina Wines. Located in the heart of Valpolicella Classica, the original historic region of Amarone and Ripasso winemaking in the Veneto, Farina is owned by Claudio and Elena Farina, two cousins who represent the third generation of this winemaking family, with the guidance of Sandro, Claudio’s father. With an ideal climate for grape-growing, thanks to the moderating influence of nearby Lake Garda and the fresh breezes from Monte Baldo and the Monti Lessini hills, Farina is well known for producing velvety, rich Amarone wines and vibrant Ripasso blends. All of Farina’s wines are made from varietals that are indigenous to the Veneto, including Corvina, which is known as the “queen“ of grapes here. Corvina, with its thick skin and loose bunches, is particularly well suited to the region’s traditional appassimento technique. After careful selection in the vineyard, the grapes are dried for a few months in a special room called a “fruttaio,” then gently pressed. Fermentation follows in stainless-steel tanks and then the wine ages in large, Slavonian oak barrels for a minimum of 24 months. This long, traditional winemaking process produces the signature Amarone wines that Farina is famous for — distinct, with a sophisticated structure that balances the traditional velvety, rich, unctuous beauty of this wine with a modern freshness.

Farina wines balance the traditional velvety, rich, unctuous beauty with a modern freshness.San Salvatore 1988 sits within Cilento National Park in the Campania region of southern Italy. The estate’s rich biodiversity, enhanced by its proximity to the sea and high-altitude vineyards, together create an ideal environment for crisp whites and expressive red wines made from varietals like Falanghina, Fiano, Greco, and Aglianico, which were originally introduced to the region by the ancient Greeks. Launched in 2006 by entrepreneur and hotelier Giuseppe Pagano, who named the project after his son, Salvatore, born in 1988, San Salvatore 1988 fuses the latest in winemaking techniques with organic sustainable farming — no artificial products or chemicals. Its power supply is from an onsite facility that helps to reduce the winery’s carbon footprint. Roaming the vineyards is a herd of 650 bufala (buffalo that supply milk for the Pagano family’s historic mozzarella production) that provide an all-natural fertilizer that aids in the integrated biodynamic cycle of complete recovery of the land. ​ San Salvatore’s Pian di Stio Fiano has received the coveted Tre Bicchieri award from Gambero Rosso for the three most recent vintages.

A unique Mediterranean paradise with a strong and independent spirit, Sardinia has been home to Mario Pala and his family for many generations. Since 1950, Mario’s family has grown grapes on their estate in southeastern Sardinia in the town of Serdiana. Their eight vineyard sites encompass a wide range of terroirs from limestone hills overlooking the sea to sandy plots located just a few miles from the shore. The Pala family is passionate about making wine using organic farming practices that reflect the importance of terroir, tradition, and respect for the environment. A champion of native Sardinian varietals like Nuragus, Monica, and Bovale, Pala is also well known for its refreshing Vermentino and seductive Cannonau wines that honor the distinct terroir of this extraordinary island.

A World Apart

The MacDonald family and the te Pā team challenge themselves to champion new techniques of sustainable water management and soil regeneration.

A newer addition to the BWM family, New Zealand’s te Pā Family Vineyards was founded by Haysley MacDonald, who traces his ancestry to the early Māori settlers who landed in the Wairau Bar region some 800 years ago. In 2003, MacDonald transformed the family farm into vineyards, with the flagship Marlborough estate extending from the Lower Wairau Valley to newer plantings in the Awatere Valley. At the Seaside Reserve vineyard in the Lower Wairau Valley, resilient vines and a frost-free environment enable an earlier ripening of grapes, yielding crisp Sauvignon Blanc and flavorful Pinot Gris. At the Redwood Hills estate vineyard in the Awatere Valley sub-region, clay and stony loam soils produce vines with deep roots that pull from the coastal influences and sunshine to produce a distinctive white wine. As kaitiaki (stewards of the land), the MacDonald family and the te Pā team are committed to conservation, challenging themselves to champion new techniques of sustainable water management and soil regeneration.

Several hours and continents away, the family-run Argentinian Andeluna winery has adopted a similar approach to honoring the land. Located on the rocky terrain of Gualtallary, Tupungato, Mendoza at the foot of the Andes,  the winery’s name merges the words ANDE (the Andes) and LUNA (moon in Spanish) to evoke passion and magic, its high altitude literally elevating the label above all others. Initially founded in 2003, the Barale family-owned winery utilizes Gualtallary’s altitude and calcareous soil to produce reds with intense fresh and fruity expression. Focusing on heritage wines that capture the area’s unique terroir, the family has produced some of Argentina’s top Malbec and Cabernets.

Ultimately, what shines through in each of Banville Wine Merchant’s many producers is a commitment to community and a passion for locally sourced, lovingly cultivated vines. But no matter what your mood or desired flavor profile, there is something for everyone in Banville’s diverse portfolio. Maybe even a pairing for your next family get-together.

This article is sponsored by Banville Wine Merchants.

The article Banville Wine Merchants: Celebrating Family With Every Bottle appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/banville-wine-merchants/

[perfectirishgifts]

Giving Cinderella Her Due: A Look At Cabernet Franc

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/giving-cinderella-her-due-a-look-at-cabernet-franc-2/

Giving Cinderella Her Due: A Look At Cabernet Franc

Tenute Argentiera’s iconic Ventaglio Cabernet Franc vineyard in Bolgheri

“Cab Franc is the ultimate Cinderella grape,” exclaims Leah Jørgensen, owner and winemaker of Jørgensen Cellars in Willamette Valley. “Historically, in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot got all the attention, while Cab Franc was the one who did all the work. The truth is she’s the belle of the ball.”

While its hard to imagine the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère being underappreciated, Cabernet Franc is often overlooked by wine lovers. Yet, it remains a secret weapon of wine makers. It’s time to start pay attention to Cabernet Franc.

As a blending grape, Cabernet Franc plays well with others. It delivers high acidity, smooth tannins, and notes of spice and herbs, making it more than capable of taking the lead in blends from Napa Valley and Bordeaux’s Right Bank, most notably in Château Cheval Blanc. Recently, it is making a name for itself as a single variety wine.

Cabernet Franc grape close up. Saumur, France

Uco Valley is home to Argentina’s top Malbec. However, Gualtallary, within the Tupungato GI, has an ace up its sleeve—Cabernet Franc. “The potential power of Cabernet Franc illustrated through our terroir is best expressed here,” shares Gonzalo Fernandez Gregorat, winemaker of Rutini Wines, who has been producing Cabernet Franc in the region for 20 years. Rodrigo Serrano, winemaker of Domaine Bousquet, attributes the wine’s soft expressions in the mouth to the region’s elevation and alluvial soil. In the hands of the region’s top producers, the grape transforms into the sexy elegance of the Argentine Tango.

Under the Tuscan Sun, Tenuta Argentiera’s Ventaglio Vineyard, on their Bolgheri estate, signals a new awakening for the property. Ventaglio, meaning fan, represents the winery’s cru, or best, vineyard. And, it’s all planted with one grape: Cabernet Franc. “Ventaglio is my heart and blood—the place I find a new beginning,” shares owner Stanislaus Turnauer. Produced in small amounts in the best vintages, Ventaglio represents the flagship of Argentiera’s portfolio, taking expectations and understanding of the grape to new heights—a Cru Super Tuscan comprised mainly of Cabernet Franc.  

Napa Valley wineries such as Gamble Family Vineyards, Ehler’s Estate, and Cliff Lede Vineyards produce rich, robust expressions of Cabernet Franc. Chris Tynan, winemaker of Cliff Lede Vineyards, believes Napa hosts the ideal conditions for the grape to ripen “to perfection.” 

Inspired by Right Bank Bordeaux, the Cliff Lede High Fidelity “spotlights the playful symbiosis of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, accentuating their individual layers of complexity.” Jason Lede, hospitality manager of Cliff Lede Vineyards “loves it for its plush, fruit-forward qualities.” Adding, “It’s approachable yet still has incredible concentration.”

Both Leah Jørgensen as well as Alison and Eric Smith Story, owners of Smith Story Wine Cellars in Anderson Valley, find their Cabernet Franc inspiration in France’s Loire Valley. And, both believe the trick to an exceptional glass starts in the vineyard.

To limit the grape’s natural “greenness,” Smith Story carefully monitors the grape, harvesting once a perfectly ripe mid-core is achieved. “Resulting in a vibrancy and a nice lift of acidity at the end is a truly magical sip found in our Smith Story Cabernet Franc,” shares Alison Smith Story.

Adding to this, Jørgensen maintains the timing of leaf removal and irrigation of the vine is key in limiting the wine’s greenness while it ripens. This allows the fruit to shine as the green notes become tertiary, creating a pleasant herbal expression. She also contends, in order to coax out the grape’s fruitiness, new oak should never be used in aging.

Jørgensen Cellars offers a variety of expressions of Southern Oregon Cabernet Franc.

Jørgensen sources her Cabernet Franc from Applegate and Rouge Valleys, areas of Southern Oregon containing limestone soil with ancient marine sediments similar to the Loire Valley. Crater View Ranch Vineyards, the source for some of her fruit and a vineyard she believes grows some of the best Cabernet Franc in the world, contains a high concentration of this soil. Because Loire Valley is revered for its expressions of the grape, these soil similarities offer Oregon growers guidance in cultivating the fruit.  

Cabernet Franc’s acidity and tannin structure allows Jørgensen to craft a unique expression—a blanc wine, inspired by former Anne Amie winemaker Thomas Houseman’s L’Iris white Pinot Noir as well as Crémant de Loire sparkling wines. However, she is not making an arbitrary white wine from red grapes. Rather, building on the grape’s structure for intentional symmetry between the white and red wines.  

Lori and Mike Budd, owners of Draceana Wines in Paso Robles, feel in love with Cabernet Franc at first taste many years ago. In 2013, the couple launched their own label with one wine. “After hunting California, we realized there was not a lot of Cab Franc out there. So, we decided to form our own niche with the foundation of the wine we really, really love,” explains Lori Budd.

Today they craft two styles.  A classic multi-site clonal cuvee, and single site and clone reserve expression. “The reserve is mother nature in a glass,” shares Budd. “There are so many different expressions of the grape—there’s a Cab Franc for everyone,” believes Lori Budd.

Surprised a grape with Cabernet Franc’s pedigree did not have its own celebration day, Budd says the “Jersey girl in her” took up the charge to correct this oversight. In 2015, she single-handedly established December 4 as #CabFrancDay.

The date honors Cardinal Richelieu, who is credited with bringing cuttings of the grape to the Loire Valley in the 17th century. Lore holds he planted the vines at St Nicolas de Bourgueil where it grows to this day. From its humble beginnings, #CabFrancDay is now an international celebration.

While its increasingly easier to find wineries focusing on this grape, it remains underappreciated. “Cabernet Franc is an underdog—it needs to be fought for,” explains Budd. “It delivers so many different expressions. There is a Cab Franc out there for everybody.”

a selection of high-quality Cabernet Franc wines

2017 Cliff Lede Vineyards ‘High Fidelity’ Napa Valley ($95) is crafted of 48% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon in a nod to both Right Bank Bordeaux and classic rock n’ roll, in a “Smoke On The Water” sort of way. Notes of black currant, fig jam, black pepper, smoked charcuterie, and fresh tobacco dazzle the senses. Concentrated yet approachable, with a crushed velvet mouth-feel and a long, mouth-watering finish.

2018 Domaine Bousquet GAIA Cabernet Franc Gualtallary Estate Vineyard Uco Valley ($30) represents the first time the wine is produced as 100% varietal. It offers soft aromas of bright fruit, mint, pepper, warm baking spice, and floral notes. Firm, gripping tannins contrast its fruit-forward juiciness and mid-palate minerality. Its broad on the palate with a lingering freshness.

2018 Jørgensen Cellars Mae’s Vineyard Blanc de Cabernet Franc Applegate Valley Oregon ($30) is a stunning wine. Layers of lemon, apricot, and apple are joined by fresh picked savory herbs, fresh white flowers and blossom, white tea, and trailing toasted hazelnuts leap from the glass. Complexity follows through on the palate with rich texture balanced by firm acidity, offering an elegance and mid-palate lift. This wine is a must.

2018 Jørgensen Cellars Cabernet Franc Southern Oregon ($25) follows in the footsteps of the Blanc in that it is layered and complex. Aromas of a dried bouquet leap from the glass of this flagship red wine, followed by delicate berries, warm spice, savory dried herbs, and trailing smoke. Vibrant best describes the palate, its fresh with lots of energy and lift. A steal for the price.

2016 Jørgensen Cellars ‘Clos Rouge Valley’ Reserve Cabernet Franc Southern Oregon ($50) falls to the opposite end of the spectrum, word descriptors do no justice in this distinction. Elegant layers of red floral notes (fresh and dried) mingle with tea, savory herbs, cocoa bitters, and black pepper, but more than the sum of its part, the flavors weave together like a tapestry. With a crushed velvet mouth-feel and linear focus, this medium-bodied wine begs for food.

2018 Ravine Cellars Cabernet Franc Finger Lakes New York ($21.95) is a bold single variety wine. Dark fruit, olive tapenade, dried herbs, fresh tobacco, and trailing pepper elicits the senses. Fine-grained tannins from large cask aging offer a smooth mouth-feel. A fruit-driven plate is juicy yet balanced with earthiness in a full-bodied wine with a long finish.

2016 Smith Story Cabernet Franc Sonoma Valley ($48) is a single variety wine intentionally crafted in an elegant, refined style. It offers bright notes of red and black fruit mingling with fresh herbs, violets, subtle spice, and black tea. The palate is fresh with nice lift and mouthwatering acidity. A food wine in a classic old-world style.

2015 Tenuta Argentiera Ventaglio Bolgheri IGT ($300) is the inaugural release. It is crafted of 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine stands out for its cru quality: Lush, sultry, layered, complex, and structured. It’s robe of dark fruit, crushed flowers, dried herbs, warm spice, and a cedar, tobacco, mineral earthiness goes on for days on the palate. Long age-ability but hard to resist now.

2018 Zuccardi ‘Poligonos’ San Pablo Cabernet Franc ($30) is located in the center of Uco Valley, in the heart of Tunuyán, a region defined by its close proximity to the Andes Mountains. Winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi vinifies this wine in concrete vats with indigenous yeast. The resulting 100% Cabernet Franc is fresh and lively, with layers of blue and red fruit, dried herbs, and graphite. The palate exhibits tension between its smooth tannins and bold mountain nature, walking a tight-rope between new and old-world styles.

More from Spirits in Perfectirishgifts

[winewonkette]

It doesn't have to be Valentine's Day to share your love of bubbles. Try these Argentine sparklers from Mendoza and Domaine Bousquet. Both are made using the Charmat method from certified organic fruit from high-altitude vineyards in the Gualtallary zone of Mendoza's Tupungato Valley. SRP $13 #wine #bubbles #Argentina #celebrate (at Another Wine Blog)

[cacophonyofolives]

Drunken Globetrotting Good Ideas (Domaine Bousquet Recent Releases)

Anne Bousquet

Anne Bousquet has some of her best ideas when drunk.

This isn’t something that I have experienced firsthand, mind you, but comes by way of her own admission (during an NYC media lunch at which I was recently a guest). And it’s the opinion of her wine-growing father, Jean Bousquet.

More on that later. The point is that some of Anne’s vinous ideas (sober or not) are very, very good. Such as her credo that “we just want to make high quality wines that others can afford.” That one is definitely a winner, as her wares from Domaine Bousquet harken back to a time when many of us marveled at the QPR of Argentina’s wines.

The backstory goes something like this: Anne grew up in a wine-centric family in Southwest France, moving to Minnesota and then Boston to pursue education and work, respectively. While she was busy building up her CV, dad Jean (in the 1990s) decided to plant vines in the Gualtallary Valley of Tupungato in Argentina. Jean knew a good thing when he saw it, favoring the high elevation conditions there and planning to go organic. Anne was in the process of moving to Brussels when dad called, suggesting that she come back to the family biz, which a few years later saw Anne moving yet again to another country to join her father in tiny-put-promising Tupungato as the eventual Domaine Bousquet CEO. Subsequent culture-shock ensued.

“The town of Tupungato hadn’t done much to capitalize on tourism,” Anne told me, ” so the wines really had to step up.” The last few years have seen Tupungato’s more forward-thinking wineries take the lead in terms of the type of gastronomy-focused endeavors that are meant to attract wine-lifestyle-loving tourist dollars to the region. But to do that, the wines have to be worth the trip, which in this case, they are.

By the way, Anne now splits time between Miami (where Bousquet’s importing company is based) and Tupungato, because apparently her passport had a little bit of space left on it…

NV Domaine Bousquet Brut Rosé (Tupungato, $13)

Now this was a bit unexpected; a charmat-method Pinot/Chardonnay blend that takes full advantage of the freshness that Bousquet’s high-elevation vines are capable of preserving. A gorgeous pale salmon color, an emphasis on bright raspberry and strawberry fruitiness, and a hint of earth and rose petal all combine into something that is ridiculously gulpable, and yet carries just enough complexity to make you pause said gulping momentarily in order to ponder its finer points.

2016 Domaine Bousquet Reserva Malbec (Tupungato, $18)

One of those wines that make you wonder why the price tag doesn’t have a higher number on it, this Malbec is 100% estate fruit and sees a smidgen of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah mixed in to the final blend. Ten months in French oak (in increasingly reused percentages) rounds this out into a rich, jammy, dark-fruited palate profile, but the main draw is the amalgam of violets, savory meatiness, mineral, and spice on the nose. Focused, fresh, and at turns lovely (yes, I wrote “lovely” with respect to Malbec), it’s a great food-friendly choice that punches a bit above its weight class.

2015 Domaine Bousquet Gaia Red (Gualtallary, $20)

Ok, we can finally get to the drunk story. As Anne relayed the tale to me, half-jokingly: “I was drunk in a restaurant in Adelaide, and I called my father, who was planting the vineyards in Argentina, and I said ‘you have to plant Syrah! I’m in love with it!’ It was maybe the only time with business that my father listened to me. He said, ‘I always told you, you have your best ideas drunk!’ We like Syrah, because we’re from the South of France.” It’s also worth mentioning that the subsequent wine takes its name from the Greek Mother Earth goddess, who was the parent of Uranus (insert your own immaturely crude joke here).

A wine with that kind of history had better be pretty good, and Gaia is absolutely good enough to live up to that story. A blend of 50% Malbec, 45% Syrah, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, all grown at about 4000 feet elevation and taking advantage of the natural acidity preserved in the grapes farmed at those heights. This wine is a beast, but a tamed one; Deep, plummy red and black fruits mingle with minerals, spices, graphite, game meat, and pepper. Stick the words “Napa Valley” on this label and the wine would likely be selling for about $50, so I consider the sub-$30 price in this case to be a nice bargain. That Syrah is promising indeed, and probably the main contributor to the sexiness that this red exudes.

Cheers!

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Copyright © 2016. Originally at Drunken Globetrotting Good Ideas (Domaine Bousquet Recent Releases) from 1WineDude.com - for personal, non-commercial use only. Cheers! source http://www.1winedude.com/drunken-globetrotting-good-ideas-domaine-bousquet-recent-releases/

[sommeliercourses]

Drunken Globetrotting Good Ideas (Domaine Bousquet Recent Releases)

Anne Bousquet

Anne Bousquet has some of her best ideas when drunk.

This isn’t something that I have experienced firsthand, mind you, but comes by way of her own admission (during an NYC media lunch at which I was recently a guest). And it’s the opinion of her wine-growing father, Jean Bousquet.

More on that later. The point is that some of Anne’s vinous ideas (sober or not) are very, very good. Such as her credo that “we just want to make high quality wines that others can afford.” That one is definitely a winner, as her wares from Domaine Bousquet harken back to a time when many of us marveled at the QPR of Argentina’s wines.

The backstory goes something like this: Anne grew up in a wine-centric family in Southwest France, moving to Minnesota and then Boston to pursue education and work, respectively. While she was busy building up her CV, dad Jean (in the 1990s) decided to plant vines in the Gualtallary Valley of Tupungato in Argentina. Jean knew a good thing when he saw it, favoring the high elevation conditions there and planning to go organic. Anne was in the process of moving to Brussels when dad called, suggesting that she come back to the family biz, which a few years later saw Anne moving yet again to another country to join her father in tiny-put-promising Tupungato as the eventual Domaine Bousquet CEO. Subsequent culture-shock ensued.

“The town of Tupungato hadn’t done much to capitalize on tourism,” Anne told me, ” so the wines really had to step up.” The last few years have seen Tupungato’s more forward-thinking wineries take the lead in terms of the type of gastronomy-focused endeavors that are meant to attract wine-lifestyle-loving tourist dollars to the region. But to do that, the wines have to be worth the trip, which in this case, they are.

By the way, Anne now splits time between Miami (where Bousquet’s importing company is based) and Tupungato, because apparently her passport had a little bit of space left on it…

NV Domaine Bousquet Brut Rosé (Tupungato, $13)

Now this was a bit unexpected; a charmat-method Pinot/Chardonnay blend that takes full advantage of the freshness that Bousquet’s high-elevation vines are capable of preserving. A gorgeous pale salmon color, an emphasis on bright raspberry and strawberry fruitiness, and a hint of earth and rose petal all combine into something that is ridiculously gulpable, and yet carries just enough complexity to make you pause said gulping momentarily in order to ponder its finer points.

2016 Domaine Bousquet Reserva Malbec (Tupungato, $18)

One of those wines that make you wonder why the price tag doesn’t have a higher number on it, this Malbec is 100% estate fruit and sees a smidgen of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah mixed in to the final blend. Ten months in French oak (in increasingly reused percentages) rounds this out into a rich, jammy, dark-fruited palate profile, but the main draw is the amalgam of violets, savory meatiness, mineral, and spice on the nose. Focused, fresh, and at turns lovely (yes, I wrote “lovely” with respect to Malbec), it’s a great food-friendly choice that punches a bit above its weight class.

2015 Domaine Bousquet Gaia Red (Gualtallary, $20)

Ok, we can finally get to the drunk story. As Anne relayed the tale to me, half-jokingly: “I was drunk in a restaurant in Adelaide, and I called my father, who was planting the vineyards in Argentina, and I said ‘you have to plant Syrah! I’m in love with it!’ It was maybe the only time with business that my father listened to me. He said, ‘I always told you, you have your best ideas drunk!’ We like Syrah, because we’re from the South of France.” It’s also worth mentioning that the subsequent wine takes its name from the Greek Mother Earth goddess, who was the parent of Uranus (insert your own immaturely crude joke here).

A wine with that kind of history had better be pretty good, and Gaia is absolutely good enough to live up to that story. A blend of 50% Malbec, 45% Syrah, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, all grown at about 4000 feet elevation and taking advantage of the natural acidity preserved in the grapes farmed at those heights. This wine is a beast, but a tamed one; Deep, plummy red and black fruits mingle with minerals, spices, graphite, game meat, and pepper. Stick the words “Napa Valley” on this label and the wine would likely be selling for about $50, so I consider the sub-$30 price in this case to be a nice bargain. That Syrah is promising indeed, and probably the main contributor to the sexiness that this red exudes.

Cheers!

Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting Guide and start getting more out of every glass of wine today!

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Copyright © 2016. Originally at Drunken Globetrotting Good Ideas (Domaine Bousquet Recent Releases) from 1WineDude.com – for personal, non-commercial use only. Cheers! Source: http://www.1winedude.com/drunken-globetrotting-good-ideas-domaine-bousquet-recent-releases/

from Linda Johnson https://meself84.wordpress.com/2018/02/15/drunken-globetrotting-good-ideas-domaine-bousquet-recent-releases/

[wine-picks]

🇦🇷🍷 It's Saturday night and I'm enjoying this lovely, sustainable 2019 Zuccardi Q Cabernet Sauvignon (89 pts, $20) from Uco Valley tonight. Arrived in LCBO VINTAGES last year, while new vintage is coming next weekend. Full review: https://rebrand.ly/scjyetu

[static-pouring]

Drunken Globetrotting Good Ideas (Domaine Bousquet Recent Releases)

Anne Bousquet

Anne Bousquet has some of her best ideas when drunk.

This isn’t something that I have experienced firsthand, mind you, but comes by way of her own admission (during an NYC media lunch at which I was recently a guest). And it’s the opinion of her wine-growing father, Jean Bousquet.

More on that later. The point is that some of Anne’s vinous ideas (sober or not) are very, very good. Such as her credo that “we just want to make high quality wines that others can afford.” That one is definitely a winner, as her wares from Domaine Bousquet harken back to a time when many of us marveled at the QPR of Argentina’s wines.

The backstory goes something like this: Anne grew up in a wine-centric family in Southwest France, moving to Minnesota and then Boston to pursue education and work, respectively. While she was busy building up her CV, dad Jean (in the 1990s) decided to plant vines in the Gualtallary Valley of Tupungato in Argentina. Jean knew a good thing when he saw it, favoring the high elevation conditions there and planning to go organic. Anne was in the process of moving to Brussels when dad called, suggesting that she come back to the family biz, which a few years later saw Anne moving yet again to another country to join her father in tiny-put-promising Tupungato as the eventual Domaine Bousquet CEO. Subsequent culture-shock ensued.

“The town of Tupungato hadn’t done much to capitalize on tourism,” Anne told me, ” so the wines really had to step up.” The last few years have seen Tupungato’s more forward-thinking wineries take the lead in terms of the type of gastronomy-focused endeavors that are meant to attract wine-lifestyle-loving tourist dollars to the region. But to do that, the wines have to be worth the trip, which in this case, they are.

By the way, Anne now splits time between Miami (where Bousquet’s importing company is based) and Tupungato, because apparently her passport had a little bit of space left on it…

NV Domaine Bousquet Brut Rosé (Tupungato, $13)

Now this was a bit unexpected; a charmat-method Pinot/Chardonnay blend that takes full advantage of the freshness that Bousquet’s high-elevation vines are capable of preserving. A gorgeous pale salmon color, an emphasis on bright raspberry and strawberry fruitiness, and a hint of earth and rose petal all combine into something that is ridiculously gulpable, and yet carries just enough complexity to make you pause said gulping momentarily in order to ponder its finer points.

2016 Domaine Bousquet Reserva Malbec (Tupungato, $18)

One of those wines that make you wonder why the price tag doesn’t have a higher number on it, this Malbec is 100% estate fruit and sees a smidgen of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah mixed in to the final blend. Ten months in French oak (in increasingly reused percentages) rounds this out into a rich, jammy, dark-fruited palate profile, but the main draw is the amalgam of violets, savory meatiness, mineral, and spice on the nose. Focused, fresh, and at turns lovely (yes, I wrote “lovely” with respect to Malbec), it’s a great food-friendly choice that punches a bit above its weight class.

2015 Domaine Bousquet Gaia Red (Gualtallary, $20)

Ok, we can finally get to the drunk story. As Anne relayed the tale to me, half-jokingly: “I was drunk in a restaurant in Adelaide, and I called my father, who was planting the vineyards in Argentina, and I said ‘you have to plant Syrah! I’m in love with it!’ It was maybe the only time with business that my father listened to me. He said, ‘I always told you, you have your best ideas drunk!’ We like Syrah, because we’re from the South of France.” It’s also worth mentioning that the subsequent wine takes its name from the Greek Mother Earth goddess, who was the parent of Uranus (insert your own immaturely crude joke here).

A wine with that kind of history had better be pretty good, and Gaia is absolutely good enough to live up to that story. A blend of 50% Malbec, 45% Syrah, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, all grown at about 4000 feet elevation and taking advantage of the natural acidity preserved in the grapes farmed at those heights. This wine is a beast, but a tamed one; Deep, plummy red and black fruits mingle with minerals, spices, graphite, game meat, and pepper. Stick the words “Napa Valley” on this label and the wine would likely be selling for about $50, so I consider the sub-$30 price in this case to be a nice bargain. That Syrah is promising indeed, and probably the main contributor to the sexiness that this red exudes.

Cheers!

Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting Guide and start getting more out of every glass of wine today!

Shop Wine Products at Amazon.com

Copyright © 2016. Originally at Drunken Globetrotting Good Ideas (Domaine Bousquet Recent Releases) from 1WineDude.com - for personal, non-commercial use only. Cheers! Source: http://www.1winedude.com/drunken-globetrotting-good-ideas-domaine-bousquet-recent-releases/

[k1reynolds]

Domaine Bousquet: Taking Winemaking to New Heights

Domaine Bousquet: Taking Winemaking to New Heights

We wrote about Domaine Bousquet not long ago, when we received a sample of their Gaia Rosé 2020. In that post, we wrote a little about the history of the Bousquet family and the creation of Domaine Bousquet in the Gualtallary Valley, high in the mountains in Argentina, and the fantastic wine. So naturally, we were honored when we were invited to a virtual tasting including discussions with Anne…

[twelvebyseventyfive]

Adding appellations: developing new GIs and why conjunctive labelling is important

I’ve been involved in quite a few discussions of late about developing new appellations (technically, geographic indications [GIs]) in new world countries, particularly New Zealand.

Currently, New Zealand only has regional GIs: Marlborough, Central Otago, Hawke’s Bay and so on. Within each of these regions there are unofficial sub-regions, but these are not officially defined. So Central Otago has Gibbston, Bannockburn, Lowburn, Alexandra, Bendigo, Wanaka and Pisa, while Marlborough has Awatere, Southern Valleys, Rapaura, Wairau Valley, Upper Wairau, Lower Wairau, Brancott, Omaka, Waihopai, Fairhall and Ben Morven, plus probably others. These aren’t defined and in some cases are overlapping. And if Awatere were its own region, it would be the second largest in New Zealand.

Currently producers are free to use these additional names on labels, as long as they are telling the truth. And there are also instances where producers’ names include places in them. For example, Rapaura Springs have just bought over 100 hectares in the Awatere, so they aren’t making wines that are just from Rapaura, which would create an inconsistency if Rapaura were to become a GI.

There have been moves to create official GIs in New Zealand. In Central Otago, the first GI will be Bannockburn, but plans to get this approved have run into a slight hitch: conjunctive labelling. This hurdle also foiled attempts to get Seaview in the Awatere recognized.

Conjunctive labelling is when the name of the subappellation is accompanied by the larger regional appellation, and usually it’s a very good idea, and ideally it should be mandated. So in Bannockburn’s case, the wine should be labelled ‘Bannockburn, Central Otago.’ This is important because it helps consumers who might not already know Bannockburn, and because it maintains brand equity in Central Otago. But the EU, an important export market, doesn’t allow New Zealand producers to practise conjunctive labelling.

Now a famous producer like Felton Road could label their wine ‘Felton Road Block 5 Pinot Noir 2016 Bannockburn, New Zealand’ and still sell it easily because everyone who buys Felton Road knows they are from Central Otago. But for most wines, the lack of the regional name would be a problem.

In France, for example, just the appellation name is allowed. You have Chambolle-Musigny on the bottle, and consumers are expected to know this is in Burgundy. Some appellations are so well known, this isn’t a problem. And in some regions, such as Alsace, the only appellations are Alsace AOP, Cremant d’Alsace AOP and Alsace Grand Cru AOP. That’s for quite a sizeable region.

Then there’s a separate discussion: does New Zealand need subregional GIs? There are many possible answers. Regions such as Marlborough and Central Otago are relatively young (1973 and 1982, respectively), but they are now at the stage where people are beginning to unravel the subregional identity as it applies to wine. In some ways, it’s a good thing that regions take their time because if you rush into this, it can stifle the healthy evolution of a region. Identifying subregionality is part of the journey of a wine region and it can enhance the region’s prestige and help ‘premiumize’ the offering. At the non-involved consumer level, though, it is often unnecessary and confusing. Geeks like complexity, and GIs help a region tell its story, once we reach the fine wine dimension.

GIs can be polarizing, and it’s bad news if they are established for political motives. They have to mean something in terms of wine quality and character, or else they are worthless. So for Marlborough, I think a good start would be ‘Southern Clays’, referring to the bits in the southern valleys with clay-based soils, often on hillside sites, which are producing most of the region’s best Pinot Noir. I would also do something that’s rarely done in the New World but which is common in the old: restrict the GI to specific grape varieties. So for Southern Clays, the GI should just be for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, varieties that do really well here. This would be a useful GI that would really help Marlborough’s reputation with Pinot Noir, in particular. Such a GI would merely be an official sanction of what quality producers are already observing.

There are also examples of unofficial appellations, and New Zealand has a few of these. In Hawke’s Bay, there is a Gimblett Gravels association, and also a Bridge Pa Triangle group: both of these are producer clubs, effectively, where a distinct terroir is being promoted. Chile has the Vigno group (for old vine Carignan-based wines in Maule). And Germany has the Grosses Gewachs, which is a special member club for top-level wine estates. Soon Marlborough will have the ‘Pure Marlborough‘ designation, which is likely to cause some controversy.

An example of a new world wine region where some new GIs are badly needed is the Okanagan Valley in Canada’s British Columbia. This is a very diverse region, with distinct climatic differences between the northern and southern ends. The problem this creates is that it’s a region that grows a lot of different varieties, and this dilutes its marketing message. New GIs would really help, and a BC Wine Appellation Task Group has made some sensible recommendations, including mandating conjunctive labelling.

And finally, one example of a sensible new world GI that has been thoughtfully defined is Gualtallary, in Argentina’s Mendoza region. This high altitude subregion has been defined on the basis of distinctive terroir differences, following an extensive scientific survey. If GIs are created with a lot of thought on the basis of good evidence, they can be a very positive step in the evolution of a wine industry.

from jamie goode's wine blog http://www.wineanorak.com:/wineblog/new-zealand/adding-appellations-developing-new-gis-and-why-conjunctive-labelling-is-important For Fine Wine Investment opportunities check out Twelve by Seventy Five: http://www.twelve-by-seventy-five.com/

[johnboothus]

The Argentine Winemakers Shaping the Future of Malbec in the Uco Valley

Wine regions are like onions. Peel back the outer layer that represents the region as a whole, and you expose its subregions — Burgundy, for example, pares away into the Cote d’Or, Cote Chalonnaise, and Maconnais. Beneath this layer lie smaller communes, such as the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. Within communes are village appellations, which house classified vineyards — a.k.a. the onion’s core.

With each layer, we approach the heart, the concept of terroir — a unique combination of soil, topography, and climate that makes every wine individual and unreplicable. Of course, in cases like Burgundy (and almost all Old World regions), the deeper you go, the pricier the wine gets. 

A contrarian example is Argentina, a New World region known for its fruity and easy-drinking, if sometimes unremarkable, Malbecs. Its production hub of Mendoza is a complex, concentrically layered region hidden in plain sight. Within the vast region’s five remarkably different sub-regions lies the Valle de Uco (Uco Valley), the high-altitude home of the nation’s best Malbec production. 

A growing number of winemakers there, such as Sebastián Zuccardi and Edgardo del Popolo, among many others, are proving that world-class terroir — the core of the onion — exists in the Uco Valley. They’re doing this by establishing new appellations known as Geographical Indications (GIs), which in turn serve as shorthand for consumers to easily identify some of the best- quality Argentine wines that might go otherwise unnoticed.

For del Popolo, who works across the majority of the Uco Valley’s GIs in his roles as CEO and general manager at Susana Balbo Wines and co-owner of the boutique project PerSe, the importance cannot be overstated. 

“As producers, we have to take this opportunity — given to us by regional diversity — to attract consumers and help them understand that Argentina is about much more than just ‘Malbec,’” he says. 

Zuccardi agrees. “When you talk about [Malbec], you are talking about a commodity — something that you can plant in every place in the world,” he says. “But when you talk about the place, this is something that is unique.”

The Diversity of the Uco Valley

Among the Uco Valley’s complexities are its variations in altitude, temperature, soil, and sunlight. The area is approximately 45 miles long and 15 miles wide, with roughly 70,000 acres of cultivated vineyards within it — the latter a near-identical figure to Burgundy.

Zuccardi refers to the Uco Valley’s product as “mountain wine.” But, he adds, “just talking about the Uco Valley is not enough because of the difference in altitudes and the variation of soils that we have.”

The Uco Valley is geographically split into three departments — Tupungato, Tunuyán, and San Carlos, each divided by the rivers Las Tunas and Tunuyán. Tupungato, the northernmost of the three, ranges in altitude from around 1,600 meters above sea level at its highest point (where it’s closest to the Andes) to around 850 at its lowest (in the east). Tunuyan and San Carlos experience similar, though not quite as extreme, altitude variations.

“This gives you a lot of variability in terms of weather,” Zuccardi says, referencing the temperature differences and varying sunlight intensities. These factors influence the ripening period for grapes and the optimal point at which they should be harvested. 

While the entire region is planted on alluvial soils, a blend comprised of a combination of clay, silt, sand, and gravel deposited over many years by running water, compositions vary dramatically across the three departments. 

With such impactful geographic and climatic variations, it seems farcical that, when recognized at all, the Uco Valley continues to be viewed as just one cog within the Argentine Malbec machine. The absurdity of this idea is compounded when compared to obsessed-over Burgundy — not in terms of quality or prestige, which Burgundy wins, but in pure numerical and scientific terms. Both account for roughly the same area of cultivated vines, though one is microscopically analyzed at vineyard level, while the other is often viewed as a homogenous mass. 

Putting GI on the Map

In 2008, Familia Zuccardi, along with bodegas (wineries) Chandon and Catena Zapata, sought to have the Uco Valley’s Altamira district recognized as a standalone appellation by the country’s National Institute of Viticulture (INV).

Located within the San Carlos department, the southernmost within the Uco Valley, the Altamira district was already home to 100-year-old vines and some of the most varied soils within the valley. The bodegas commissioned the National University of Cuyo to research the soils and climate, and produce satellite mapping to demarcate a new GI.

In 2013, after five years of research, the INV approved the 3,500-acre GI, officially recognizing it as La Indicación Geográfica (IG) Paraje Altamira, or IG Paraje Altamira. 

“We have been working with great scientists and professors in edaphology [a branch of soil science] and have been able to learn and share research that forms an important base for the future of Argentine wine,” Luis Reginato, Catena Zapata’s head of viticulture, said in an interview.

The process proved to be forward-thinking: Multiple districts within the Uco Valley have since been granted GI status following the extensive work and research of local bodegas. These include La Consulta and Pampa El Cepillo, also located within San Carlos; and Los Chacayes and San Pablo in Tunuyan. Two of the four, Pampa El Cepillo and San Pablo, were granted GI status this year. 

Many other applications are in the pipeline, most notably Gaultallery in Tupungato. Although domestic (Argentinian) consumers have been enthusiastic about the developments, del Popolo says, “It’s been a learning curve for all. As producers, we’ve learned to give more importance to soils and to divide regions, which we might not have done in decades gone by.” Meanwhile, the next challenge is communicating that message to international markets.

“Many times I’m asked: ‘What is coming after Malbec in Argentina?’” Zuccardi says. “The answer is more Malbec, but communicated in different ways.”

Five Uco Valley Winemakers to Try

While terroir-driven bottles from Old World regions such as Burgundy are prohibitive at best, geographically specific Malbecs from the Uco Valley are widely available on the market. They’re a slight upgrade from mainstream Malbec, but many retail for around $25 in the U.S., providing an affordable intro to the concept of terroir and a glimpse at the future of Argentine winemaking. 

Altos Las Hormigas

Altos Las Hormigas makes terroir-driven wines by practicing minimal-extraction vinification; using neutral oak and natural yeast; and adding very little sulfites. Look out for its “Appellation” series of Malbecs (Gualtallary, Paraje Altamira, Vista Flores). Average price: $40.

Bodega TeHo

Co-owners and co-winemakers Alejandro “Colo” Sejanovich and Jeff Mausbach offer two stunning expressions of the Altamira GI in the form of their “TeHo” and “ZaHa” Malbecs. Average price: $35.

Catena Zapata

With over 100 years of winemaking experience in Mendoza, the Catena family played a pioneering role in developing high-altitude winemaking in the Uco Valley. Like Altos Las Hormigas, this bodega also offers an “Appellation” series of Malbecs, with its Uco Valley bottlings arriving from La Consulta, Paraje Altamira, and Vista Flores. Average price: $20.

Familia Zuccardi

Familia Zuccardi offers a wide range of Malbecs designed to highlight the unique location in which the grapes were grown. The Poligonos line, comprising the Tupungato Alto Malbec (from Gualtallary), Paraje Altamira Malbec, and San Pablo Malbec, is vinified in concrete tanks to allow the purest expression of fruit and place. Average price: $25.

Michelini Brothers

The Michelini name is fast becoming synonymous with terroir in the Uco Valley, with brothers Gerardo, Juan Pablo, and Matias offering a range of geographically specific wines through multiple projects across Gualtallary. Seek out any of the Malbecs from their SuperUco and Zorzal wineries. Average Price: $15-$35.

The article The Argentine Winemakers Shaping the Future of Malbec in the Uco Valley appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/uco-valley-malbec-wine-guide/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/the-argentine-winemakers-shaping-the-future-of-malbec-in-the-uco-valley

[perfectirishgifts]

Giving Cinderella Her Due: A Look At Cabernet Franc

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/giving-cinderella-her-due-a-look-at-cabernet-franc/

Giving Cinderella Her Due: A Look At Cabernet Franc

Tenute Argentiera’s iconic Ventaglio Cabernet Franc vineyard in Bolgheri

“Cab Franc is the ultimate Cinderella grape,” exclaims Leah Jørgensen, owner and winemaker of Jørgensen Cellars in Willamette Valley. “Historically, in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot got all the attention, while Cab Franc was the one who did all the work. The truth is she’s the belle of the ball.”

While its hard to imagine the parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère being underappreciated, Cabernet Franc is often overlooked by wine lovers. Yet, it remains a secret weapon of wine makers. It’s time to start pay attention to Cabernet Franc.

As a blending grape, Cabernet Franc plays well with others. It delivers high acidity, smooth tannins, and notes of spice and herbs, making it more than capable of taking the lead in blends from Napa Valley and Bordeaux’s Right Bank, most notably in Château Cheval Blanc. Recently, it is making a name for itself as a single variety wine.

Cabernet Franc grape close up. Saumur, France

Uco Valley is home to Argentina’s top Malbec. However, Gualtallary, within the Tupungato GI, has an ace up its sleeve—Cabernet Franc. “The potential power of Cabernet Franc illustrated through our terroir is best expressed here,” shares Gonzalo Fernandez Gregorat, winemaker of Rutini Wines, who has been producing Cabernet Franc in the region for 20 years. Rodrigo Serrano, winemaker of Domaine Bousquet, attributes the wine’s soft expressions in the mouth to the region’s elevation and alluvial soil. In the hands of the region’s top producers, the grape transforms into the sexy elegance of the Argentine Tango.

Under the Tuscan Sun, Tenuta Argentiera’s Ventaglio Vineyard, on their Bolgheri estate, signals a new awakening for the property. Ventaglio, meaning fan, represents the winery’s cru, or best, vineyard. And, it’s all planted with one grape: Cabernet Franc. “Ventaglio is my heart and blood—the place I find a new beginning,” shares owner Stanislaus Turnauer. Produced in small amounts in the best vintages, Ventaglio represents the flagship of Argentiera’s portfolio, taking expectations and understanding of the grape to new heights—a Cru Super Tuscan comprised mainly of Cabernet Franc.  

Napa Valley wineries such as Gamble Family Vineyards, Ehler’s Estate, and Cliff Lede Vineyards produce rich, robust expressions of Cabernet Franc. Chris Tynan, winemaker of Cliff Lede Vineyards, believes Napa hosts the ideal conditions for the grape to ripen “to perfection.” 

Inspired by Right Bank Bordeaux, the Cliff Lede High Fidelity “spotlights the playful symbiosis of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, accentuating their individual layers of complexity.” Jason Lede, hospitality manager of Cliff Lede Vineyards “loves it for its plush, fruit-forward qualities.” Adding, “It’s approachable yet still has incredible concentration.”

Both Leah Jørgensen as well as Alison and Eric Smith Story, owners of Smith Story Wine Cellars in Anderson Valley, find their Cabernet Franc inspiration in France’s Loire Valley. And, both believe the trick to an exceptional glass starts in the vineyard.

To limit the grape’s natural “greenness,” Smith Story carefully monitors the grape, harvesting once a perfectly ripe mid-core is achieved. “Resulting in a vibrancy and a nice lift of acidity at the end is a truly magical sip found in our Smith Story Cabernet Franc,” shares Alison Smith Story.

Adding to this, Jørgensen maintains the timing of leaf removal and irrigation of the vine is key in limiting the wine’s greenness while it ripens. This allows the fruit to shine as the green notes become tertiary, creating a pleasant herbal expression. She also contends, in order to coax out the grape’s fruitiness, new oak should never be used in aging.

Jørgensen Cellars offers a variety of expressions of Southern Oregon Cabernet Franc.

Jørgensen sources her Cabernet Franc from Applegate and Rouge Valleys, areas of Southern Oregon containing limestone soil with ancient marine sediments similar to the Loire Valley. Crater View Ranch Vineyards, the source for some of her fruit and a vineyard she believes grows some of the best Cabernet Franc in the world, contains a high concentration of this soil. Because Loire Valley is revered for its expressions of the grape, these soil similarities offer Oregon growers guidance in cultivating the fruit.  

Cabernet Franc’s acidity and tannin structure allows Jørgensen to craft a unique expression—a blanc wine, inspired by former Anne Amie winemaker Thomas Houseman’s L’Iris white Pinot Noir as well as Crémant de Loire sparkling wines. However, she is not making an arbitrary white wine from red grapes. Rather, building on the grape’s structure for intentional symmetry between the white and red wines.  

Lori and Mike Budd, owners of Draceana Wines in Paso Robles, feel in love with Cabernet Franc at first taste many years ago. In 2013, the couple launched their own label with one wine. “After hunting California, we realized there was not a lot of Cab Franc out there. So, we decided to form our own niche with the foundation of the wine we really, really love,” explains Lori Budd.

Today they craft two styles.  A classic multi-site clonal cuvee, and single site and clone reserve expression. “The reserve is mother nature in a glass,” shares Budd. “There are so many different expressions of the grape—there’s a Cab Franc for everyone,” believes Lori Budd.

Surprised a grape with Cabernet Franc’s pedigree did not have its own celebration day, Budd says the “Jersey girl in her” took up the charge to correct this oversight. In 2015, she single-handedly established December 4 as #CabFrancDay.

The date honors Cardinal Richelieu, who is credited with bringing cuttings of the grape to the Loire Valley in the 17th century. Lore holds he planted the vines at St Nicolas de Bourgueil where it grows to this day. From its humble beginnings, #CabFrancDay is now an international celebration.

While its increasingly easier to find wineries focusing on this grape, it remains underappreciated. “Cabernet Franc is an underdog—it needs to be fought for,” explains Budd. “It delivers so many different expressions. There is a Cab Franc out there for everybody.”

a selection of high-quality Cabernet Franc wines

2017 Cliff Lede Vineyards ‘High Fidelity’ Napa Valley ($95) is crafted of 48% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon in a nod to both Right Bank Bordeaux and classic rock n’ roll, in a “Smoke On The Water” sort of way. Notes of black currant, fig jam, black pepper, smoked charcuterie, and fresh tobacco dazzle the senses. Concentrated yet approachable, with a crushed velvet mouth-feel and a long, mouth-watering finish.

2018 Domaine Bousquet GAIA Cabernet Franc Gualtallary Estate Vineyard Uco Valley ($30) represents the first time the wine is produced as 100% varietal. It offers soft aromas of bright fruit, mint, pepper, warm baking spice, and floral notes. Firm, gripping tannins contrast its fruit-forward juiciness and mid-palate minerality. Its broad on the palate with a lingering freshness.

2018 Jørgensen Cellars Mae’s Vineyard Blanc de Cabernet Franc Applegate Valley Oregon ($30) is a stunning wine. Layers of lemon, apricot, and apple are joined by fresh picked savory herbs, fresh white flowers and blossom, white tea, and trailing toasted hazelnuts leap from the glass. Complexity follows through on the palate with rich texture balanced by firm acidity, offering an elegance and mid-palate lift. This wine is a must.

2018 Jørgensen Cellars Cabernet Franc Southern Oregon ($25) follows in the footsteps of the Blanc in that it is layered and complex. Aromas of a dried bouquet leap from the glass of this flagship red wine, followed by delicate berries, warm spice, savory dried herbs, and trailing smoke. Vibrant best describes the palate, its fresh with lots of energy and lift. A steal for the price.

2016 Jørgensen Cellars ‘Clos Rouge Valley’ Reserve Cabernet Franc Southern Oregon ($50) falls to the opposite end of the spectrum, word descriptors do no justice in this distinction. Elegant layers of red floral notes (fresh and dried) mingle with tea, savory herbs, cocoa bitters, and black pepper, but more than the sum of its part, the flavors weave together like a tapestry. With a crushed velvet mouth-feel and linear focus, this medium-bodied wine begs for food.

2018 Ravine Cellars Cabernet Franc Finger Lakes New York ($21.95) is a bold single variety wine. Dark fruit, olive tapenade, dried herbs, fresh tobacco, and trailing pepper elicits the senses. Fine-grained tannins from large cask aging offer a smooth mouth-feel. A fruit-driven plate is juicy yet balanced with earthiness in a full-bodied wine with a long finish.

2016 Smith Story Cabernet Franc Sonoma Valley ($48) is a single variety wine intentionally crafted in an elegant, refined style. It offers bright notes of red and black fruit mingling with fresh herbs, violets, subtle spice, and black tea. The palate is fresh with nice lift and mouthwatering acidity. A food wine in a classic old-world style.

2015 Tenuta Argentiera Ventaglio Bolgheri IGT ($300) is the inaugural release. It is crafted of 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine stands out for its cru quality: Lush, sultry, layered, complex, and structured. It’s robe of dark fruit, crushed flowers, dried herbs, warm spice, and a cedar, tobacco, mineral earthiness goes on for days on the palate. Long age-ability but hard to resist now.

2018 Zuccardi ‘Poligonos’ San Pablo Cabernet Franc ($30) is located in the center of Uco Valley, in the heart of Tunuyán, a region defined by its close proximity to the Andes Mountains. Winemaker Sebastián Zuccardi vinifies this wine in concrete vats with indigenous yeast. The resulting 100% Cabernet Franc is fresh and lively, with layers of blue and red fruit, dried herbs, and graphite. The palate exhibits tension between its smooth tannins and bold mountain nature, walking a tight-rope between new and old-world styles.

From Food & Drink in Perfectirishgifts

[nataliemaclean]

Luca G Lot Pinot Noir 2014 Gualtallary, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

Natalie's Score: 93/100

http://www.nataliemaclean.com/wine-reviews/luca-g-lot-pinot-noir-2014/280499 #wine #lcbo #saq #bcldb #winelover #winewednesday #winery #winenight #wineoclock #winemaker #wineblog #winedinner #wineoftheday #winecellar #vineyard

[wine-picks]

🇦🇷 🍷  Enjoying the long weekend with this fine, vegan-friendly 2018 Kaiken Ultra Malbec (90 pts, $20) from Argentina tonight. 2019 vintage arrived in LCBO VINTAGES last month. Full review: https://bit.ly/3ywnOD7