Hello, Feastlings.
This month’s Last Sunday tasting is here to show you the great strides that have been made in South American winemaking in recent years. Remember when all you could expect from that Chilean wine in the grocery store was that it wouldn’t break the bank and wouldn’t impress a soul? Those days are behind us. This Sunday, March 25, Andy Ramirez brings us wines from Chile and Argentina that still may not break the bank, but are sure to impress you and your dining companions. The tasting begins at 3:30 and costs $30 plus tax and tip, and includes a food pairing with each wine, plus a discount on your favorites. As ever, reservations can be made in person or by phone, and web and email reservations are fruitless. The number to call is 326-9363. We hope you can make it.
Trust Your Importer- Brazos Wine Imports
2017 Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc, Maule Valley $18.00
This hand harvested, single vineyard, 100% estate Sauvignon Blanc is from vines that Rafael Tirado planted himself in 1998. This SB has a bright nose with Guava, passion fruit, and lemon leading to a mineral mid palate and soft undertones of crushed rock. The volcanic ash from the vineyard adds to this minerality and sustained finish. The Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in 100% stainless steel which leads to a very juicy and refreshing wine.
2016 Vistalago Mezcla Blanca (Chardonnay/Riesling/Torontel,) Maule Valley $16.00
91+ (2016 Vintage) Wine Advocate 4/28/2017
” It’s a very original blend, not exuberant, more reticent, insinuating, with a strong personality and quite different. You don’t get the same aromas you find in the majority of whites. It has complexity and a serious palate with freshness and depth. It ends dry. A white of strong personality.”
2014 Laberinto Pinot Noir, Maule Valley $22.00
This hand harvested, single vineyard, 100% estate Pinot Noir is from vines that Rafael Tirado planted himself in 1998. The wine shows crushed red fruit of raspberry and strawberry with hints of eucalyptus. Undertones of wet forest floor and baking spices of clove and cinnamon come through on the finish. The oak is well integrated and lets the soft, sexy, terroir driven fruit shine.
2016 Refugio Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley $23.00
Montsecano is a collaboration of Julio Donoso and André Ostertag of Alsace. This Biodynamic Winery consists of two hillside, granitic, small vineyards in the Casablanca Valley. A minimal approach is used in the horse-plowed vineyard and winery. The wines are made exclusively in stainless steel micro tanks or concrete egg fermenters. No oak is used. The small production consists of two Pinot Noirs which are quickly being recognized as some of the best of South America.
This 100% bio-dynamic hand harvested, single vineyard Pinot Noir is aged and fermented completely in Stainless steel and concrete egg. The wine shows bright raspberry, strawberry jam, with rose petals, and violets.
2016 Vaglio “Chango” Red Blend, Tupungato $20.00
Vaglio is a new micro-winery located in Tupungato created by José LoVaglio Balbo. He produces four single vineyard wines that all focus on micro-climates and minimal winemaking. José is a young winemaker at Dominio del Plata and the son of Susanna Balbo. Each of his wines represent a unique terroir as well as different stages of his life. This is a blend of 65% Malbec, 20% Tannat, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon are from Altamira and the Tannat is from Cafayate. The nose is layered with aromas of bright bruised red fruit, orange peel or grapefruit peel, sandal wood, dill, and sage. The palate is soft and smooth with notes of chocolate covered cranberries and bing cherries and a brine quality that leads into a earth driven, mocha finish
2011 Finca Adalgisa Malbec, Lujan de Cuyo $39.00
This 100% Malbec shows notes of blackberries, warm blueberry pancakes, and maraschino cherries while being intensely layered with baking spices of clove, cinnamon, sage, licorice, and cedar. Light hints of orange peel, eucalyptus, white powdered sugar and red velvet cake dance around the core. The wine finishes with integrated earth components of soil, dry crushed leaves, and an animal quality that screams being alive.