Wines that are very close

By Andrea La Forgia - Special Contributor in Buenos Aires
Sommelier de Cava

Last week, at another interesting meeting organized by Asociacion Argentina de Sommeliers and thanks to Maru Barbero from Clusters, we gathered together again at Lo de Joaquin Alberdi, which was celebrating its eleven years as a wine store in Palermo.
In this occasion, Trivento winery, having in mind the writer Julio Cortazar, introduced the top of the line wines called "Lejanamente Juntos", which means  "Far away Together".
Victoria Prandina, one of the winemakers of the team, who is in charge of the limited edition wines and exquisite products, guided us in the tasting.
These wines were an original blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc 2016 and a wonderful classic blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon 2013.
In this white blend made of 85% Semillon coming from an old vine and 15% of Sauvignon Blanc, we found a very expressive nose that reminded us of honey, lemon and ginger. Once in the mouth, we sensed a noticeable and crisp acidity due to the fact that the grapes are harvested early, making a wine full of freshness. It has a lot of style, 12% alcohol, and it represents the place of origin, Valle de Uco, Mendoza.
From the same area, we tasted a 60% Malbec harvested from 95 years old vineyards, with low yield and with a good concentrated color plus 40% Cabernet Sauvignon  which gives something spicy and wild. 
This blend is the one that belongs to the harvest 2013 since the blends of the following years, not for sale yet, have other varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot. We could appreciate red fruit jam and floral hints in the nose together with black pepper and because of the ripeness of the tannins, a velvety palate. This wine is obtained after a double selection of beans by hand, fermentation with selected yeast , 15% alcohol and French oak barrels, for 18 months, 50% new and 50% used ones, and kept in the cellar for at least a year before being in the market.
Also we had the chance of tasting Malbec Golden Reserve 2015, belonging to another commercial segment, a very well balanced fruity varietal that stays in barrels for 12 months. 
An elegant extra brut sparkling, 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay was the ideal toast for an excellent end.





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