Wapisa Pinot Noir 2021

$29.00
Availability: In stock

leather, fresh raspberries, tart cherries, blood orange and lantana

We have become really big fans of this winery from the Rio Negro, a sub-zone of Patagonia near the coast of Argentina. Founded with the release of their 2017s the project is owned by Patricia Ortiz, a nephrologist with a passion for wine. She is well known for her other wineries in Mendoza, Tapiz and Zolo, where she has racked up big scores for her powerful reds. She came to Patagonia to craft wines in this cooler climate and to show the effects of this utterly unique terroir. Unlike many others who have begun wine projects in Patagonia in the regions interior, Patricia is the only one to have planted her vineyards close to the coast. In fact, Wapisa means “whale” in the indigenous Yamanas language of the people of Tierre del Fuego, and she chose the name because they often swim offshore of her vines.

Like her other projects the winery’s technical consultant is none other than the legendary Jean-Claude Berrouet, who spent 4 decades as the head winemaker for Chateau Petrus in Bordeaux, and guided Napa’s Dominus Estate onto the market, producing the first 20 vintages of their Bordeaux-style blend starting in 1983. Though officially retired from winemaking, Jean-Claude still consults for a number of wineries in the New World which produce Bordeaux varieties, and his lower-intervention style meshes well with that of head winemaker Fabian Valenzuela.

The easiest way to define new world Pinot Noir is by the “California style” or the “Oregon style” and in this case it is reminiscent of those from the Evergreen State (Oregon.) You will want to decant this wine for a half hour as the nose is quite complex, delivering a savory combination of leather, fresh raspberries, tart cherries, blood orange and lantana. Texturally the wine shows really good intensity for a medium bodied wine, with the plump fruit framed by tannins and acidity into a moderate finish. Serve with ham, grilled pork tenderloin or slow roasted leg of lamb.

0 stars based on 0 reviews