Getting To Know You – February Wine Club Selections

OurWine Club had the opportunity to explore the lesser known Argentinian grapes with this month’s selections.  Here we go with a brief description of the red and white wines chosen.

The red this month is a 2010 El Perseguidor, Mendoza Bonarda.  The Bonarda grape may be somewhat foreign to us in the United States, however it is actually widely used in the wine world under many different names.  Here’s a little history of the grape and why most people have most likely had it without even knowing.  While plantings of Bonarda/Douce Noir dwindled in Italy and France, DNA research of grape varieties in other wine growing regions revealed that the grape was more widely planted than originally thought.  In 2000 DNA analysis revealed that the Turca grape growing in the region of northeast Italy since at least the early 20th century was actually Bonarda.  This came after the discovery that the Charbono wine grape of California, introduced to the Napa Valley as Barbera by Italian immigrants in the early 19th century was also Bonarda/Douce noir/Corbeau.  Further research confirmed in 2008 that the Bonarda/Charbono grape, which was the second most widely planted red grape variety in Argentina, after Malbec was in fact the Savoie wine grape Bonarda/Douce Noir.

For our white wine we have a 2015 Salentein Killka Torrontes.  While Torrontes is widely produced in Argentina, here in the United States it is overshadowed by the much more well-known Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.  Salentein’s high elevation vineyards are located between 3,445 and 3,773 feet above sea level.  The stony, alluvial soils enjoy excellent drainage.  The weather conditions are also ideal, with few extreme variations in temperature.  Vines (double -trellis) have adequate exposure to the sunlight, resulting in the perfect ripening of sugars and polyphenol and an efficient drip irrigation produces optimum foliage development.  Yields are kept low with canopy management.  The color of this wine is pale gold with a bouquet of very delicate aromas of orange peel and jasmine with hints of minerality.  The taste has floral notes accented by jasmine, lychee and orange peel.  This wine is refreshing and crisp with soft, fragrant tropical fruit undertones.  Torrentes offers a nice, lighter alternative to the sometimes overly citrusy Sauvignon Blanc.

Filled Under: Wine / Spirits Posted on: February 4, 2017