El Che Wine Paired Dinner
I prepared an extensive background on each of these producers and wines and Blogspot erase it. We had a business partner team dinner at El Che Restaurant and had the chef's table family style dinner with the curated wine flight pairing with each course, including the dessert course.
The wine flight served with the courses.
- Viñedos Veramonte, Ritual Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley, Chile 2019
- Errazuriz Reserve Mendoza, Chile, Chardonnay 2019
- Viña Alicia Malbec 2018
- Mendel Unus Malbec Blend 2019
- Pablo Fallabrino 'Alcyon' Tannat NV Altantida, Uruguay
I researched and prepared an extensive background on each of these producers and wines and Blogspot erased it, something it tends to do occasionally. I lost at least six hours of effort. Shame on me for not creating multiple instances and back-up copies, but that isnt supposed to be required when working in the cloud. So be it, forgive the mea culpa and exasperation.
Viñedos Veramonte Ritual Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley, Chile 2019
The organic Ritual estate is part of Viñedos Veramonte, owned by Spanish sherry maker González Byass. The Veramonte estate is located in the far eastern end of the Casablanca Valley in Chile. The vineyards are located on the northwestern side of Chile’s coastal range, less than 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean where they are heavily influenced by the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean and Humbolt Current which provides ideal growing conditions for cool-climate wines. The vineyards are surrounded by 6000 acres of native forest, creating a balanced, biodiverse landscape for healthy vines to thrive alongside natural wildlife corridors and native vegetation.
Ritual is a project of the wll known and highly regarded winemakers Paul Hobbs and Agustin Huneeus (Napa Valley Quintessa and Prisoner Wine Company).
The grapes of this Sauvignon Blanc come three different plots: Gloria
and Mauco, which are pure expression of our native forest, and Terrazas,
which showcases the minerality of the Coastal Mountain Range. Three
parcels that show the best expression of this variety in Casablanca.
Ritual, lead by winemaker Sofia Araya
produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
Born and raised
in Chile, Sofía was inspired to become a winemaker by the surrounding
views of vineyards in her grandfather's farm. She studied at Universidad
de Chile, and during university worked with the winemaking team in Casa
Lapostolle in the Colchagua Valley. Later on she spent four years at
Luis Felipe Edwards, in the same valley, and finally at Aresti Vineyard
in Curicó Valley, before becoming an assistant winemaker at Viñedos
Veramonte in 2009.
Classic sauv blanc with minerality you would expect
from France rather than New World effort, Chilean wines are emerging to
out-perform and provide superb QPR (quality-price ratio.
Winemaker Notes: "Intense citrus and floral notes are
combined with flavors of white peaches and nectarines that are enhanced
by a well-integrated acidy. Long and vibrant with an impeccable clean
smooth finish."
This label was rated 92 points by James Suckling and 91 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.
Straw colored , medium bodied, textured, concentrated and complex notes of green apple, lime zest, pineapple, flint , mineral and stone with bright acidity.
RM 88 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3924748
Viña Alicia Malbec 2018
Terrada & Anchorena, Mayor Drummond, Mendoza
Impressive dark fruits, with underlying savory edginess and slight hint
of fresh violets on the nose. Palate is concentrated and expansive,
without being overbearing and oppressive. Ample weight, but not a
sledgehammer, retaining good drive and focus and even lift. Gorgeous,
silky smooth tannins on the finish.
12 months in french oak
Mendel Unus Malbec Blend 2019
Viñedos y Bodega Mendel arises from the union of Roberto de la Mota, one of the most respected and experienced Argentine winemakers, with an Argentine family committed to obtaining wines of the highest quality. Our search is to express the singular character of our vineyards and the incomparable attributes of the Mendoza terroir.
Roberto likes to joke that he was born in a winery, since his winemaking education and training began long before he studied at the National University of Cuyo. He took his first steps at the hands of his father, the most famous Argentine winemaker, Don Raúl de la Mota.
After completing his studies in Montpellier, France, and managing one of the most important wineries in the country, Roberto was able to fulfill the dream of owning his own winery since 2002 with Mendel Wines.
Our old 1928 Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are located in Perdriel and Mayor Drummond, Luján de Cuyo.
We
also have Cabernet Franc, Semillon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet
Sauvignon in our Finca Remota vineyards located in Paraje Altamira,
Valle de Uco. Our vineyards are located between 900 and 1,150 meters
above sea level, in the best and highest irrigated lands of Luján de
Cuyo and Valle de Uco, Mendoza.
Vineyard is located in Mayor Drummond, Luján de Cuyo, at 950 meters above sea level. It has a sandy loam and calcareous soil of alluvial origin, with good drainage. The climate is cold in winter and mild in summer, with a temperature range of 15 °C between day and night, which allows us to have optimum maturity. The average annual rainfall is 200 mm. We have 4 plots with drip irrigation and the rest with surface irrigation. Here are 11 hectares of massal selection Malbec planted in 1928; 2 hectares of Petit Verdot (both trellised varieties) and a small Tempranillo vineyard.
This is a blend of 65% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Verdot.
VINEYARD
-Estates: Finca Drummond and Finca de Los Andes in Luján de Cuyo and Altamira in Uco Valley.
-Terroir and Altitude: Drummond, at 980 meters above sea level; ungrafted grapevines
grow on shallow, very permeable sandy silt soils. Perdriel, at 980 meters above sea
level; shallow, stony soils of great drainage. Altamira, at 1,100 meters above sea level;
ungrafted grapevines grow on sandy loam soils set on massive calcareous blocks.
-Planting Year: The Malbec vines date from 1928-1930. The Cabernet Sauvignon in
Perdriel was planted in 1994.
-Varietal selections: Malbec Luján and Altamira, Cabernet Sauvignon clone 337, Petit
Verdot Margaux selection.
-Yield: between 4,500 kilos and 5,500 kilos per hectare.
-Color: Dark intense red, purple at the rim.
-Nose: Complex and multi-layered. Before being swirled, the wine exhibits fresh fruit
aromas like black cherries, plums, blackberries and cassis. Once swirled, it displays spices
such as pink peppercorn, cedarwood, chocolate scents, vanilla and blond tobacco.
-Palate: It is a harmonious and mouth- lling wine which feels meaty and unctuous, with
re ned and round tannins. The Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend contributes tannic
structure and a spicy core while the Malbec o ers unctuousness, roundness and fruit
and the Petit Verdot, body and licorice. The aromatic complexity on the nose echoes
on the palate and makes it incredibly long. The acidity in this elegant wine ensures
freshness and great cellaring capacity.
Production limited to 17,000 bottles.
CT'er - By the glass. I honestly don’t understand so much expectation according
to what this bottle has offering, with concentration and an absurd
intensity. Overwhelming structure with abundant fruit in the form of
memories of cassis. I am never interested in such power without margin
for some terroir. It is overwhelming.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4050743
https://mendel.com.ar/en/
https://twitter.com/mendelwines
Pablo Fallabrino 'Alcyon' 'Anarkia', Tannat 2018 Altantida Uruguay
Viñedo de los Vientos is located 4 km’s from the Atlantic Ocean in Atlantida Uruguay, a sub region of Canelones, one of the coolest growing regions in Uruguay. Pablo Fallabrino is the owner, grower and winemaker of Viñedo de los Vientos and he lives on the estate with his wife and two children. His grandfather, Angelo Fallabrino immigrated to Uruguay in 1920 from Piedmont and planted 5 vineyards and started 2 wineries in the 1930’s. Pablo studied with both his father and grandfather and eventually started the current, single vineyard estate in 1997 where they currently have 12 hectares under vine on their 30 hectare estate. Viñedo de los Vientos produces mostly Piedmontese varietals in addition to Tannat and their wines typically show an old world, nuanced style. Pablo is also an avid surfer.
VINEYARD
It comes from a 17ha vineyard, located next to the coast, where the River Plate estuary meets the Atlantic Ocean. Soils are made of calcareous white and brown clays.
VITICULTURE
Using no insecticide and dry no-till farming, the family practices sustainable farming.
Minimal intervention viticulture. Hand harvested.
WINEMAKING
This unique wine combines two different techniques for dessert wines, Barolo chinato and Marsala; it is fortified and aromatized.
16%ABV
TASTING NOTES
Honey like texture. Aromas of winter flowers, Madagascan vanilla bean, white cacao souffle, dark cherries. Savory and longsome finish.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4397210
Errazizus Mendoza Reserve Chardonnay 2019
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3790827
Viña Alicia Malbec 2018
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4397210
https://ritualwines.cl/en/
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