Argentina Tasting with Oz Clarke & Three Wine Men
What a treat to explore Argentina virtually with wine legend, Oz Clarke, one of the Three Wine Men, plus three fascinating winemakers LIVE from their vineyards!
Since March, I’ve taken part in some fantastic virtual gatherings but this one really was a highlight, full of great anecdotes from Oz and insight from the three winemakers, Susana Balbo, El Esteco and Kaiken and their delicious wines.
If you’re looking for a more interactive taste along, this is not the one; you’re a silent participant on the Zoom call. It was possible to ask questions on the chat, which was well managed & demonstrated the calibre of participants - Simon Woods (renowned wine writer) & Angela Mount (wine expert, who once had her tastebuds insured for £10m!) both asked questions.
You also receive an in-depth follow up email with full details on the wines, where to buy them, as well as Oz’s tasting notes, which I have shamelessly included below - why read mine when you have notes from a far superior palate!
What we learnt
El Esteco is home to one of the highest vineyards in the world at 2,400m above sea level!
Kaiken is a wild goose that regularly migrates across the Andes from Argentina to Chile, much like the label’s owner, the Montes family, who already make wine successfully in Chile
Oz began his career as an actor. During the outbreak of the Falklands war, he was playing Juan Perón in Evita. It wasn’t until at least 12 years later that he visited Mendoza to explore the region’s wines.
The wines
SUSANA BALBO SIGNATURE WHITE BLEND 2019
*STAR WINE OF THE GATHERING*
Semillon/ Torrontés / Sauvignon Blanc
“Great example of how Argentine white varieties lend themselves to blending, particularly when led by Semillon. This benefits from opening. It starts out with appetising lemon blossom freshness and fluffy apple and green pear pips fruit, but slowly develops a more tropical character of pomegranate and passion fruit fattened up with a splash of white chocolate, before grapefruit pith and a slight sting of nettles close the wine out.”
£18.00 from Hedonism, Hennings & The Whisky Exchange
EL ESTECO FINCA NOTABLES CABERNET FRANC 2016
“Great example of how high altitude fruit makes reds which mature beautifully, and of how Cabernet Franc is beginning to really shine right across Argentina. This is a broad, flowing red, smelling of leather and raspberries, and tasting almost lush, mushy raspberries mixing with cocoa dust, grilled beef fat and a smattering of dried herbs.”
£22.00 from The Great Wine Company
KAIKEN ULTRA MALBEC 2018
“Really good. Vista Flores fruit making its mark straight away with an intriguing mix of spice and menthol and a kind of savoury cocoa dust. Then the fruit piles in, dark and ripe, but not too dense, appetisingly chewy, and wrapped round with chocolate, brownies and flapjack.
£14 from Taste Argentina, The Fine Wine Company & RannochScott Wines
