Patagonia engulfs the tip of South America. The southern Patagonia region includes the fruit producing regions of Río Negro and Neuquén, which are considerably cooler than the major regions to the north. This provides a long growing season in the chalky soils of the area. Humberto Canale was responsible for importing vines into Patagonia in the first part of the 20th century. These cuttings came from Bordeaux establishing the first commercial winery in the Patagonia region. Today, the region continues to grow as producers continue to plant the cool climate vines like Pinot Noir, Malbec, Chardonnay, Torrontes, Riojano, and Semillon. Quite a few of the grapes that are sourced from the region are used for the sparkling wine industry in Argentina. Located more than 990 miles south of Mendoza, the vineyards of Bodega Weinert are noted as the southernmost-planted vineyards in South America. Phylloxera has never struck Argentina with some believing that the centuries old flood irrigation systems have deeply saturated the soil creating a high percentage of sand in the soil. Another reason may be Argentina’s isolation. The mountains, deserts, and oceans also protect the vineyards against the Phylloxera louse.
Named for the former Ranch owned by Butch Cassidy and the sundance Kid.
Cholila Ranch Malbec is made from 100% Malbec. The estate-grown grapes are manually harvested, carefully sorted, and destemmed. The wine undergoes traditional maceration for 21 days with selected yeasts. Cholila Ranch Malbec is aged both in American and French oak for 9 months, followed by a minimum of 6 months bottle aging prior to release.
Deep purple color. Aromas of ripe plum and mulberry with violet hints. Ripe black fruits and fig on the palate with touches of smoke and vanilla. A truly powerful yet balanced wine with a persistent finish.
Guillemot-Michel Vire-Clesse Charleston is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
This cuvée is produced from hundred-year old vines that the great-grandfather planted after he returned from World War I. The family wanted to honor his memory and vinify these vines the same way he did, in old demi-muids.
Charleston is a deep and complex wine that gently express itself in the glass, offering juicy white fruit flavors and a lengthy finish.
Charleston is vinified and aged for one year in demi-muids of over 10 years old. During the following harvest, the wine is racked and placed in vats for another 6 months of aging before bottling.
Fish in white sauce, poultry in creamy sauce, hard cheeses.
Review:
The 2020 Viré-Clessé Charleston is the most structured, concentrated wine in the range, mingling notions of crisp orchard and stone fruit with scents of clear honey, white flowers, beeswax and mint in an inviting bouquet. Medium to full-bodied ample and satiny, it's layered and multidimensional, with impressive depth at the core, racy acids and chalky grip. Derived from the Guillemot family's oldest parcel of vines (dating back to 1918), it's built to age.
-Wine Advocate 94 Points
Michel Thomas Sancerre Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc (40% Caillottes, 40% Grosses Terres, 20% Silex)
The wine displays an exotic nose with a touch of smoke and licorice. On the palate, peach and watermelon dominate with citrus zest and chalk notes.
Aged on the lees for a few months (no oak).
Soil type: Clay, limestone, sedimentary rock Pairs with seafood, fish, goats cheese.