Gen de Alma Chenin Blanc JiJiJi 2021

grapefruit rind, Bosc pear, yellow miso and day old cut grass

Malbec gets all the attention in Argentina but the country has a lot of other grape varieties that are starting to edge into the spotlight. In this case it is Chenin Blanc, from a fifty-year old vineyard that sits near the village of Tunuyan, an hours drive from the city of Mendoza. At 3300 feet above sea level the vines have to be trained using the old parral system, where the canopy acts as cover for the fruit. This prevents the grapes from getting a sun burn, yes that is a thing, thanks to intense UV light.

The label of this wine, called JiJiJi (pronounced he-he-he) speaks to the inspiration of winemaker Matias Prieto. He wants the wine to be fun and infinitely quaffable, but at the same time display the complexity that old vine Chenin Blanc is capable of producing. Serve this wine a little warmer than refrigerator temperature, 45-50 degrees and do not be afraid to splash it into a decanter as well. Then it reveals the savory side of this variety with initial notes of grapefruit rind, Bosc pear, yellow miso and day old cut grass. On the palate this wine is completely dry with a bracing sense of acidity and persistent minerality into the finish. Serve this wine with fried goat cheese, bacon and frisée salad, lemon/feta orzo with shrimp or a manicotti with pesto.