Diego’s pick - September 2020
I have not yet talked about pinot noir in this blog, which is one of my favorite grapes and also very popular one at the shop.
In short, pinot noir is one of the most elegant and complex vines which is difficult to grow and vinify, with grape-bunches that are tight and conical like a pine tree fruit, with very thin and delicate skin.
Although it grows all around the world, pinot noir likes the cold regions. France produces the most famous pinot noir in Côte d’Or in Burgundy and in Champagne, where it produces the high-class champagne out of pinot noir, pinot meunier & chardonnay. Pinot noir can convey intricate differences of terroirs, capturing the charms of growers in different regions, such as Willamette Valley in Oregon, several cooler corners of California, the Walker Bay in South Africa, Yarra Valley in Australia and Central Otago, Martinborough and Marlborough in New Zealand.
In Argentina, it is a varietal that has grown significantly in the past two decades. Today, Argentina is delivering amazing and diverse pinot noirs.
Tim Atkin, in his recent 2020 report of Argentine wines (read our review here) says:
“Two things stood out for me ... the first was the diversity and quality of the best whites; the second, was its Pinot Noirs.”
Traditionally, Northern Patagonia (Alto Valle del Rio Negro) has delivered the best pinot noir in the country. However, more recently, Uco Valley in Mendoza with its higher altitude and colder weather, has started to produce great varieties of pinot noir, from stunning light-to-medium bodied, elegant, powerful, or finesse-driven, that will taste great young, and will develop gorgeous complexities over a decade or more in bottle.
Pinot noir is a clear example on how Argentina continues expanding it owns boundaries and I love that!
My pick for this month is Wapisa Pinot Noir, from East Patagonia. A new and unexplored region, on riffs close to the Atlantic Ocean where, depending on the season, you will see more whales in the wáter than people all around. Wapisa in fact means whale in the dialect of natives from Tierra del Fuego (the southern province of Patagonia).
The sea breeze and the complexity of the soils are expressed in this wine, with the characteristic freshness of an unique area such as Atlantic Patagonia.
It is a pleasure for us to offer such wines, from small family owned wineries of such a remote region that still has so much to discover, expanding to new frontiers and further reinforcing the concept of a wine country which is still diversifying its regions.
Wapisa Pinot Noir, From San Javier, Patagonia Atlántica, Río Negro.
Bodega Tapiz, Patagonia Atlantica Vineyards - Finca Los Acantilados (the riffs)
Altitud: 100 meters above sea level
Aging: 8 months in oak
Bright ruby red wine. Aromas of fresh strawberries and raspberries stand out, with notes of rose petals and cherries. In the mouth it is fresh and delicate, with firm tannins with a silky texture. Intense spicy notes, good color and structure.
Alcohol content: 13.20%
Total Acidity 5.65 g / liter
PH 3.56
Residual sugar 2.80 g / liter
Check it out here!
Cheers!
