Spectator Wine Club - South American Adventure

...with three from Chile and three from Argentina, showcasing five grape varieties and one blend, I reckon we’ve much to tempt you. 

The mixed case has two bottles of each wine and delivery, as ever, is free.

The 2022 TerraNoble Reserva Sauvignon Blanc from Chile’s Casablanca Valley is fresh and zesty with plenty of ripe tropical/citrusy fruit in the mouth and a crisp, clean, dry finish. Made by a onetime International Wine & Spirit Competition Chilean Wine Producer of the Year, it’s closer to Kiwi Sauvignon than Loire Sauvignon in style and a heck of a lot cheaper than either (of similar quality).

The 2021 DiamAndes ‘Perlita’ Chardonnay from the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina, is produced by the Bonnie family (owners of Ch. Malartic Lagravière Grand Cru Classé de Graves) who here show their class with a vibrantly pure Chardonnay. Aged for 6 months on the lees in stainless steel, it’s soft, supple and fruity with just a hint of creaminess in the mouth.

The 2021 DiamAndes ‘de Uco’ Viognier is made with similar care and attention. 100 per cent Viognier, it spends 10 months in French oak (30 per cent new) and although I found it rather mute on the nose, it has subtle peach and apricot notes in the mouth and a whisper of cream and citrus on the finish. A class act, it can more than hold its head up against the northern Rhône.

The 2021 TerraNoble Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon from the Colchagua Valley is as great value as the above Sauvignon Blanc. With heady whiffs of cassis on the nose and a rich, dark ruby colour, it’s surprisingly light on the palate and dangerously easy to drink. There’s plenty of enticing blackcurrant and hedgerow fruit and a long, joyfully juicy finish.

The 2017 Mi Terruño ‘Mayacaba’ Malbec from vineyards high in the foothills of Argentina’s Andes, is as decent a Malbec as I’ve had in ages for the price, enhanced by a nice bit of bottle age. Two years in lightly toasted new French oak adds to the delicious complexity of the wine which is soft and succulent and laden with rich, ripe plums, violets and even chocolate on the everlasting finish. A Malbec for grown-ups.

It’s back to Chile for the glorious 2018 TerraNoble ‘Lahuen’. Produced only in the finest years with the finest fruit, Lahuan (which means ‘medicinal water’ in local dialect) is a blend of Cab Sauv, Syrah, Carménère, Cab Franc and Malbec. Silky smooth, with gentle tannins and bags of rich, ripe dark fruit, it has a teasing touch of sweetness and spice before finishing perfectly, satisfyingly dry. I love this wine. A Bordeaux of similar style, quality and age would be twice the price at least. Only 230 cases made.

Jonathan Ray, for The Spectator Wine Club