Malbec, Santa Florentina, 2018
La Rioja, Argentina
A classic full-bodied Malbec with an inviting deep garnet shade and excellent brightness and clarity. The attractive colouring is matched by an intense nose that suggests plummy red fruit and nuts. This is then followed by a rounded and silky palate and persistent finish.
Availability: Out of stock.
Out of stock
Product Code
AR0600A18
£10.50
Vinas Riojanas
The La Riojanas is a co-operative in the Famatina Valley. The chief wine maker is Rodolfo Griguol whose job it is to make sure that only the best wines from the Famatina Valley are used. The grapes for their wines are grown in Argentina across a wide strip located to the west of the country, at the foot of the Andes mountain range, which extends from 22 ° to 40 ° south latitude, covering the entire temperate zone.
| Product Code | AR0600A18 |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Bottle Size | 75cl |
| Country | Argentina |
| Region | La Rioja |
| Sub-region | Famatina Valley |
| Alcohol % by Vol. | 12.5% |
| Alcohol Units | 9.4 |
| Vegetarian & Vegan | Vegetarian suitable |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Red Wine |
| Closure Type | Cork |
| Style | Red - Full & round |
| Grape Type(s) | Malbec |
La Rioja
This relatively unknown Argentina wine province was bound to make wine if you think of its Spanish namesake. In fact La Rioja claims to have the longest continued history of wine production in Argentina, having been planted with grapes by Spanish missionaries in the mid-16th century.
With around 20,000 acres (8,000 ha) of vineyards, La Rioja is the third biggest Argentina wine region after Mendoza (390,000 acres) and San Juan (120,000). Yet while San Juan has a tradition of fortified wines and raisins, La Rioja is much better suited to producing wines of real quality especially in the Famatina valley between the Velasco mountains and the Famatina hills. Here the vines grow at 1000m – 1400m above sea level, which causes the day-time temperatures to drop by half during the night, allowing the grapes to recover from the heat, and retain their aroma and freshness.
La Rioja’s most planted variety is the indigenous, aromatic Torrontés, or Torrontés Riojano, to give it its full name. This is the same clone used to make all the best Argentine Torrontés which suggests the grape was first cultivated here.
Other varieties that do well in La Rioja include Bonarda, the country’s shamefully under-rated red grape, Syrah and of course Malbec.
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