ARGENTINA
Rincón del Sol Chardonnay-Chenin Blanc 2011 £4.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Rodolfo ‘Opi’ Sadler, Santa Ana
Grape varieties: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Chenin Blanc
Region: Mendoza, Cuyo
Viticulture/Vinification: Grapes are crushed as soon as they arrive at the winery and macerated for 4 to 6 hours followed by fermentation in stainless steel.
Availability: 491 stores
Light, clean, lightly fruity, aroma. Pretty tart, and without an awful lot of interest. Bitterness at the end. Not for me.
12.5% vol.
La Finca Pinot Grigio 2011 £6.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Christian Garcia, Finca La Celia
Grape variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Mendoza
Viticulture/Vinification: The harvest was by machine in early March. Grapes were fermented for 15 days at 15 ºC in stainless steel tanks, then left on their lees for 10 days at 12 ºC.
Availability: 367 stores
Appealing, slightly spicy aroma. Vibrant, sharp, lively. Pretty good, for pinot grigio.
12.5% vol.
Domino del Plata Torrontes 2011 £7.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Susana Balbo, Dominio del Plata
Grape varieties: 93% Torrontes, 7% Fiano
Region: Torrontes: Cafayate Valley (Salta) Fiano, Famatina Valley (La Rioja)
Viticulture/Vinification: Known to many as the ‘Queen of Torrontes’ Susana Balbo is largely responsible for having turned this unique, intriguing grape variety into an international phenomenon. In this wine Susana has used 7% of the Italian grape, Fiano, in the blend. There are only 2 recognised hectares of Fiano plantings in Argentina and these belong to Dominio Del Plata.
Availability: 200 stores
Beautifully grapey nose. Just a touch of sweetness, but with a very direct and bright acidity. Refreshing and with a floral, grapey aftertaste. Fair price. Good example.
13.5% vol.
Finca Sophia Sauvignon Blanc 2011 £9.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Jose Spisso, Bodegas y Vinedos O Fournier
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Uco Valley, Mendoza
Viticulture/Vinification: The Sauvignon grapes are grown in the semi-arid conditions of the Vista Flores and El Cepillo vineyards at an altitude of 1100 metres in sandy loam soil. Grapes are handpicked when the harvest commences mid-February. Fermentation took place over 10 days in stainless steel followed by a 2 month period on lees. Filtration and fining with bentonite took place prior to bottling.
Availability: 201 stores
Very, very strong, catty nose. Quite an astringent nose, but with some fruit as well. Catty on the palate as well. And quite bitter. This would only be ok if I were very thirsty and it was freezing cold. The dark side of sauvignon blanc.
12.0% vol.
Tupungato Chardonnay 2010 £7.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Felipe Stahlschmidt, Catena Zapata
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Tupungato, Mendoza
Viticulture/Vinification: The grapes undergo a brief maceration in the pneumatic press before some of the juice is barrel fermented and goes through partial malolactic fermentation. The wine then spends around 6 months in barrel to complete maturation. The remaining juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks and doesn‟t undergo malolactic fermentation.
Availability: 408 stores
Deep, golden yellow. Very oaky nose with heavy ripe, tropical fruit. The oak is a bit forward on the palate. You’d need food with this.
13.5% vol.
CHILE
Soleado Sauvignon Blanc 2011 £5.49
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Adolfo Hurtado, Cono Sur
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Valle Central
Viticulture/Vinification: Vertically trellised with drip irrigation. Hand-picked in March, yields between 13 to 20 tonnes per hectare. Grapes are 100% de-stemmed. They then undergo a 2 hour cold maceration on skins. Fermented and aged in stainless steel. This wine is unoaked.
Availability: 471 stores
The merest whiff of elderflower. A touch of fizz and bright sauvignon zing.
Over-bitter, grapefruity finish. Not for me.
12.5% vol.
Canelo Fairtrade Sauvignon Blanc 2011 £6.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Jorge Fuenzalida, Los Robles
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Curicó, Chile
Viticulture/Vinification: Made from grapes grown in the alluvial soils of the Curicó Valley, by the 19 growers of the Fairtrade association – Viña Caupolican. The wine spent 8 months in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling.
Availability: 460 stores
Very little varietal character on the nose. Fresh and bright on the palate. Some sauvignon flavour. Not bad.
12.5% vol.
Secano Paico Vineyard Block 3 Sauvignon Blanc 2011 £11.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Viviana Navarrete, Leyda Winery
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Leyda
Viticulture/Vinification: These grapes were handpicked in 17 kg bins, early in the morning on March 22nd. 100% fermented in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures for 18 days. The wine was left on its lees for 8 months.
Availability: 250 stores
Made by Vina Leyda. Wonderful, very expressive, peapoddy sauvignon on the nose. After a row of rather dull wines I was worried that my nose was malfunctioning. Tart, zingy, peapoddy, lemony, delicious taste. It lasts and lasts. Really classy.
13.5% vol.
Eclipse Riesling 2011 £7.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Adolfo Hurtado, Cono Sur
Grape variety: 100% Riesling
Region: 51% Bío Bío Valley, 34% Ukuquer, 15% Visión
Viticulture/Vinification: Year of planting 1993. Vertical trellis system with integrated management and no irrigation. Aged in stainless steel. The wine is unoaked.
Availability: 200 stores
Fruity nose, with a touch of pith and petrol. Tart, bright and exciting. This is lovely. Fab for a Thai starter, or an aperitif. Useful wine which I’ll stock up on next time they have an offer. PS You’d need to love riesling.
13.0% vol.