Score: 89/100
This bubbly is made by Bodegas Fin del Mundo in the Southernmost wine region of Argentina: Patagonia using the Traditional Method (Método Tradicional) just like for French Champagne wine.
Winemaking Facts
The base wine for the Extra Brut sparkling wine was made from 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay.
Bubbles are created directly in the bottle through the Traditional Methode after which bottles were cellared with lees and wine inside during 12 months under controlled temperature at 14ºC. Finally, the wine was aged a further 3 months after disgorgement at the winery itself.
Technical Composition Facts
Alcohol: 12.3% Vol
Total Acidity: 6,67 g/l
Sugar: 7,55 g/l
pH: 3.45
Tasting Notes
This Argentinian bubbly comes in a surprising pale salmon color, slightly pink a yellow color, with a heap of orange hues. It looks like a white bubbly tainted with a touch of Pinot Noir red pigments, the typical taché style as we say in French, literally ‘stained’. Positively unusual, or unique should I say, but beautiful and intriguing as it’s so rare to witness such color in a sparkling wine.
The nose is fresh and zesty, filled with plenty of citrus aromas, fresh grapefruit, touches of orange and lime. Definitely hints of lime greenness to the smell, make it smell fresh and lively.
Subtle berry notes too, although very discrete, redcurrant and blueberry providing much elegance to the smell.
The palate is dry with crisp acidity, giving a good mineral feel. It’s quite richly-bodied for a sparkling though, oily and powerfully flavored. Bursting orange flavors, white pepper, honey and pomegranate.
Both mineral and mouth-coating, granulous phenolics develop from the mid-palate on weighting down the experience. Nice salty feel to the finish promising this will be an excellent food-friendly dry bubbly.
I perceived what seemed to me as a little excess of sulfites bothering the tasting at first although it dissipates after a little while.
Overall
A complete, round and generous dry sparkling wine, with a stunning color, and plenty of unique character and personality rarely found in other bubblies. Pungent, mineral and oily, it provides an interesting and very enjoyable tasting experience.
It cries for being paired with food and I can see how it would work wonders on a great variety of dishes, from grilled white meats to creamy seafood dishes, canapes, or not-to-sweet fruit desserts.
Enjoy 🙂
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