Humberto Canale Patagonia Intimo Malbec 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this delicious, organic Malbec from the southern region of Patagonia in Argentina that arrives at the LCBO this weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES Release on February 19.

The family's story begins with the arrival of Humberto Canale in the Rio Negro Valley, a story that is closely linked to the growth of Argentina and the development of Patagonia. The project was made possible because of the arrival of the railway and construction of the irrigation system in the upper valley of Rio Negro at the beginning of 1900. Humberto Canale acquired 400 hectares of land in an inhospitable territory and imported tools to develop viticulture. Bodega Humberto Canale was founded in 1909 and is amongst the most southerly situated wineries in the world. By the middle of the century, they were well-established as a family winery. Five generations of the family have been involved in the business since its founding, now spanning more than 110 years, and today they have 5,000 hectares of vines across 150 vineyards. Pioneering and still family-owned, Humberto Canale combines century-old traditions and modern winemaking techniques to craft their wines. In Patagania, the air is unpolluted, while pure waters from the melting snow of the Andes irrigate the valley. The region is naturally protected by the surrounding dry desert and persistent South-West winds.

Argentina is synonymous with Malbec as the grape varietal is by far the most widely planted across the country with 84% of all Malbec in the country planted in Mendoza, and by comparison only 0.8% is planted in Rio Negro. Malbec is cultivated at various altitudes and on diverse soil types, and with these variations come different styles of wine. This Malbec is from Rio Negro, Patagonia, where the style of Malbec is actually more similar to those found in the Uco Valley with a purplish colour and notes red and black fruit, and herbal tones, a medium palate, freshness, and firmer tannins.

This particular Malbec is from Humberto Canale Intimo range of wines that are classic and traditional in concept, but also stand out for its modern style with a good combination of intense colour, lots of fruit, and just a little bit of wood to add complexity and elegance. The grapes for this 100% Malbec are from their 60+ year old vineyards located in the city of General Roca, which is situated in the northeastern part of Rio Negro. The berries were carefully handpicked and delivered to the winery a mere 1 kilometre away from the vineyard. It was fermented in large concrete vats and 10% of the wine was aged in French and Central European oak casks for 10 months. The wine was aged a further 6 months in bottle prior to its release. The 2019 vintage in Rio Negro was very balanced and produced wines of high quality. Let's see how this Malbec is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

HUMBERTO CANALE PATAGONIA INTIMO MALBEC 2019 - Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina (#144725) (XD) - $14.95
This delicious organic Malbec has a medium-high intensity nose with stony mineral aromas layered over dark red cherry, spice, and touches of ripe plum which also reveal floral and candied cherry hints with time in the glass. It's medium+ bodied and slightly warming on the palate with dark red cherry, spices, and smoky mineral with hints of licorice on the flavour profile. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the tannins are supple and fine-grained. Minerally and slightly spicy on the juicy finish, with very good length. Recommended buy! Score: 88+ pts

Other lovely wines from Humberto Canale are available through their Agent - Select Wines Merchants.

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Alpataco Pinot Noir 2019 (Argentina) - Wine Review

For tonight's red wine review, I travel to Patagonia in southern Argentina to continue the recent string of fine wines from this South American wine producing country. This Pinot Noir is a new arrival to the LCBO, landing on shelves across Ontario earlier this month as part of the September 4th LCBO VINTAGES Release and is featured as a "Smart Buy".

It is produced by Familia Schroeder, whose story begins in 1927 when German immigrant Hermann Heinz Theodor Schroeder settles down in Patagonia and begins working in the wine industry. In 2001, his son, Hermann Schroeder, along with his own sons started the project of Familia Schroeder and with hard work and significant investments, the Schroeder family transformed the monotony of the Patagonian dry steppe into an eye-catching oasis.

The Estate is located at 39° South Latitude in Patagonia - a land of extremes with dry weather, frequent winds, rivers carrying pure snowmelt water, cool nights and long summer days. Located in Neuquén, the winery building is perched on a gentle slope that dominates the vineyards and blends in naturally with its surroundings, while also using gravity-flow winemaking. Leonardo Puppato is the Chief Enologist and has been part of the project since the beginning in 2002.

Patagonia is marked by large desolate expanses in the South, flanked by low, wooded mountains, a circuit of lakes in the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Winegrowing activities are fairly limited, with Patagonia representing just 2% of Argentina's total cultivated area. However, the region is noted for its great thermal amplitude (high diurnal temperature variation) which comes from its combination of latitude, low altitude, and abundant hours of sun, in addition to scarce rainfall and strong winds. All of these factors contribute to healthy grapes with greater colour concentration (in red varieties) and thicker skins.

Not widely grown in Argentina, Pinot Noir is the 7th most widely planted red varietal in the country, representing less than 2% of all red wine varietals. However, Argentinean Pinot Noir is noted for its concentration as a result of the high number of light hours, thermal amplitude, and soil. The product of a sunnier climate, the style of Pinot Noir from Neuquén, Patagonia, where this wine is from, is a style resembling Pinot from California - concentrated and fleshy.

Tasting Note:

ALPATACO PINOT NOIR 2019 - Patagonia, Argentina (#19386) (XD) - $14.95
100% Pinot Noir that was matured entirely on the lees in stainless steel tanks. Screw cap. Sunny and fruity aromas of ripe black and red cherry, raspberry, and strawberry flecked with stony-smoky mineral notes of medium+ intensity rise out of the glass. It's light-to-mid-weighted on the palate with dark red cherry, strawberry, and spice with a subtle savoury mineral edge on the flavour profile. Fresh acids lift the palate, while the lights tannins are finely textured. Leesy mineral with dark cherry notes linger on the finish, with good length. A very satisfying Pinot! Recommended buy. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines from Familia Schroeder can be ordered through their Agent - Sylvestre Wines & Spirits.

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Aniello 006 Riverside Estate Pinot Noir 2016 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is new to the LCBO and was recently released into LCBO VINTAGES on March 3rd. It was featured as part of the main theme on wines from South of the Equator.

Bodegas Aniello is a small winery with Italian roots that was originally built in 1927 and looks to explore the value of the ancient winemaking tradition of Patagonia. The winery is currently on the path of moving from conventional to sustainable agriculture and integrated vineyard management by using natural alternatives for fertilization, pests, disease and weed prevention.

The name '006' derives from the cadastral nomenclature of the estate and is one of the few vineyards in Argentina, located next to an actual flowing river. Indeed, the image on the label depicts all of the elements of the varied alluvial-type soils that characterize the vineyard.

As this is a recent release, this wine is still widely available in the VINTAGES section at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

Tasting Note:

ANIELLO 006 RIVERSIDE ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2016 - Río Negro Valley, Patagonia, Argentina (#542092) (XD) - $17.95
Fermented in small concrete tanks, with a portion oak-aged for 12 months. Red cherry and raspberry aromas from the cork. This has a cinnamon spice driven nose with dark red cherry, strawberry and raspberry laying underneath, with good intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with cran-cherry-raspberry and forest floor flavours joined by some baking spice and beetroot notes which are lifted by fresh acids. Tannins have a touch of grip and are finely structured. Some mineral notes arrive mid-palate and continue through to the long finish. Drink over the next 3-4 years. Score: 89 pts

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Aniello 006 Merlot 2014 (Argentina) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a new arrival to the LCBO and will be on shelves as part of the March 18 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Even though this wine is new to VINTAGES, Bodega Aniello is a winery that was originally built in 1927. This small estate winery began with 1 hectare of old vineyards planted in 1932, and growing to 4 hectares in 1947. Today, the winery continues to explore the value of the ancient winemaking tradition of Patagonia, while keeping a connection with one of the owner's Italian roots.

Terroir consists of alluvial soils that are very heterogeneous, moderately deep, with stone-dominated areas, and others with sandy/loamy soil types. The winery is moving towards sustainable agriculture along with integrated vineyard management to reduce their carbon footprint and use natural alternatives for fertilization, pests, disease and weed control and prevention.

Tasting Note:

ANIELLO 006 MERLOT 2014 - Patagonia, Argentina (#480731) (XD) - $17.95
Only 30% oak-aged for 12 months. Plum, red fruit and cherry aromas from the cork. Medium-high aromatics are quite complex, offering red & black fruits, raspberry, blackberry, dark currant, black plum, some green herbal, mint, and cocoa nuances. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. Chocolate, oak-spiced, dark currant, and herbally flavours on the palate. Some savoury and black tea aromas and flavours emerge with air. Acids are bright and fresh. Dry overall with a nice cocoa-dusted finish. Enjoy over the next 3-4 years. Score: 89 pts

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