I have been beguiled by the Co-op’s Fairtrade selection again.
This time I was in the Bohemia Road store, but I am pretty sure the Ore Village, Central St Leonard’s and Silverhill ones will have it too…
Over the last year or so I have been trying to broaden my experience of white wine grapes. And one of my favourite new finds has been the Torrentés grape from Argentina.
The Co-op’s own Fairtrade Torrentés Chardonnay blend (2011 vintage) has been made from grapes grown in the La Rioja valley, which as I am sure you know nestles between the Velazco mountain range in the East and the Andes in the West.
This is a solidly lemon colour in the glass with white grapefruit and minerals on the first nose – like a wintry sea breeze. After a swirl , the aromas are more of white spring flowers.
Dry and with high acidity – it really got my saliva glands working – the alcohol is not too fierce in the throat and it has a lovely silky body which at £4.99 is pretty darn impressive.
Flavours of green apple and a herby, lightly fennel-y twist make this possibly the best value white wine I have tasted for a good while.
Not that I have them much, and with Valentine’s Day a fading memory, this would have gone beautifully with fresh oysters. A trip to Rock-a-Nore beckons…
Posts Tagged ‘Andes’
Resident Wine Guru – The Co-op’s Argentinian Fairtrade Torrentés Chardonnay 2011
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Andes, Argentina, Bohemia Road, Central St Leonards, Chardonnay, Co-op, La Rioja, Ore, oysters, Rock-a-Nore, Silverhill, Torrentés, Valentine's Day, Velazco on March 4, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
