El Montanista 'Criollas Blancas', San Juan, Argentina 2021
El Montanista 'Criollas Blancas', San Juan, Argentina 2021
“It's all heart… Just the sort of wine that exemplifies how breakout the wine world now is.” - Jancis Robinson MW
A little bottle of joy, showing the fun side of Argentina, where it can sometimes feel like there’s a Malbec monopoly. ‘Criolla’ varieties, on the other hand, are an interesting sidebar, descended from the first grapes brought to South America by the conquistadors in the 16th Century. There are a mind-boggling number of different varieties - in Argentina alone, there are thought to be at least 54. This is a field blend of Torrontés Sanjuanino, Torrontés Mendocino, Malvasías Criollas and Maticha from 80 year-old vines in mountainous terrain and it offers sun-kissed flavours of yellow-fleshed plums and pear skin with a really joyful, juicy palate, which has a slightly groovy, hipster feel to it with its saline/savoury edge and stone-licking finish. 12.5% alc. 10 months in concrete eggs. Drink now-2026.
Vegan friendly.