VINALBA IN THE PRESS
Here is a selection of what some of the UK’s wine journalists and wine critics have had to say about our wines.
VIÑALBA MALBEC
“This wine is a regular in this column because it’s such a beautifully silky, juicy, smooth, easy malbec that when it’s on promotion the price is irresistible. Think slippy stewed damsons, made by a Frenchman in the foothills of the Andes.” (2012 vintage)
Victoria Moore, The Daily Telegraph (weekend) 20.04.13
“Ripe and round with defining spice and dark berry fruits without excess weight, there’s a hint of dark chocolate lingering on the finish and firm tannins to make it a good all-rounder alongside tomato-based pasta dishes and tender red meat.” (2011 vintage)
Samantha Wylie-Harris, Drinks Editor, The Press Association, 13.04.13
“To add to the satisfying quality of this delightfully succulent cherry and blackberry-juicy malbec from Frenchman Hervé Joyaux, the Co-op in its wisdom has lopped more than £1 off.” (2011 vintage)
Anthony Rose, The Independent (Magazine), 02.02.13
VIÑALBA PATAGONIAN CABERNET MERLOT
“The smoky aromas of this Argentinian Bordeaux style blend leads into a glassful of ripe blackcurrant-sweet flavour framed by chocolatey oak.” (2010)
Anthony Rose, The Independent (Independent magazine 13.04.13)
”This Argentinean take on the Bordeaux blend is an absolute steal at the price. Rich, wholesome and with sturdy tannins, it has heaps of raspberry and plum fruit flavours, with cassis and dark chocolate.”
Mike Tipping, The York Press, 23.03.13
Wine of the Week. “Sometimes the name on the label is enough to give a wine a head start in terms of interest, and the legend ‘Patagonia’ on the label here conjurs up images of the ice-flows and wind-strewn hillsides of the south. The wine does not let the side down. It has a creamy and full-fruited aroma, ripe with black cherry and cassis, tinged with chocolate but invitingly deep and fruity. On the palate it delivers a sweet-edged, rich mouthful of those black berry flavours, coating the palate and with a little deepening hint of coffee and chocolate. It is well balanced, moreish and a very good buy at the offer price. Watch the video for more details and specific food matching suggestions.” (2010)
Tom Cannavan, www.wine-pages.com, 17.03.13
VIÑALBA RESERVA CHARDONNAY
“This bold-flavoured chardonnay shows vivid, bold peach and pear fruit, with a broad, soft texture. Try it with chicken.” (2012 vintage)
Jamie Goode, The Sunday Express (S Magazine) 31.03.13
“Tropical fruit notes mingle with lemon meringue and honeysuckle to create a delicate but lively white with good acidity and a clean aftertaste.” (2012 vintage)
Samantha Wylie-Harris, Plymouth Evening Herald, 04.01.13
“What a charming and gently aromatic nose – like a freshly buttered jacket potato with a sprinkle of green herbs and chives. The palate has texture aplenty; a peachy lusciousness and a plush weight and suppleness that makes this very good value for money. Rating: 90/100 “
The Wine Gang, November 2012
VIÑALBA PATAGONIA MALBEC SYRAH
“a wonderfully rich but elegant wine. It has a complex nose of blackberries and chocolate and a sensuous ripe palate with bags of fruit – blackcurrants, plums and cherries – rounded off with hints of chocolate and vanilla.”
Sharon Walters, The Shropshire Star, 30.03.13
“Wonderful pure sweet, fresh cherry and berry fruits aromatics. Real elegance with some sweet preserved fruit characters. The palate is sweetly fruited and pure with well defined, liqueur-like cherry fruit with a smooth texture and some spicy warmth. Pure and elegant in a ripe style. 90/100.” (2010 vintage)
Jamie Goode, www.wineanorak.com/wineblog 02.09.12
“Rich Argentinian red with a complex nose of blackberries and chocolate and a sensuous ripe palate with bags of fruit, rounded off with hints of chocolate and vanilla.” (2010 vintage)
Roy Woodcock, This is Hull and East Riding (Web) 21.07.12
VIÑALBA RESERVADO MALBEC
“Remarkably smooth, silky and lush but also showing nice poise, this malbec is oozing elegant black-cherry and blackberry fruit.” (2010)
Jamie Goode, The Sunday Express (Magazine), 17.03.13
“If you have marinated venison as a festive centrepiece, you’ll need a bold, black, spicy, tannic red to match and a magnum of Vinalba’s 15 per cent alcohol, prune-stashed 2009 Reserva Malbec, Luyan de Cuyo (Majestic, £17.99) is perfect.” (2009)
Jane MacQuitty, The Times (Weekend), 24.12.11
“I know it’s a cliché, but this rich and powerful wine manages to have something about it that’s not far off elegance. There’s dense ripe-berry fruit and a savoury, meaty quality but there’s also convincing freshness. And it doesn’t have the hot finish you might expect from 15% abv.” (2009)
Joanna Simon, www.joannasimon-wineandfood.blogspot.com, 08.07.11
VIÑALBA RESERVA CABERNET MALBEC PETIT VERDOT
“Dark purple. Some real interest on the nose here. Bordeaux squared. Make that cubed for its density. Very Good Value.” (2011 vintage)
Jancis Robinson, www.jancisrobinson.com, 20.02.13
“Rich, powerful and almost chocolately red wine from Argentina, with concentrated black fruit flavours and strong chewy tannins. It cries out for a thick-cut, rare steak, chunky homemade chips and an evening in with a good film.” (2010 vintage)
Helen Savage, The Journal 28.10.11
“Very classically styled and composed, with black fruit that is svelte, plush but constrained with an espresso edge. Beautifully sweet and plush in the mouth, with grippy tannins and lots of savoury, structural support from the edgy, liquorice and plum skin character and good acidity. Food friendly and serious stuff for 5 years ageing at least.” (2010 vintage)
www.Wine-pages.com, 26.10.11
VIÑALBA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
“An award-winning wine with intense, rugged juicy dark flavours – a real belter! If it’s sheer bang-for-buck fruit power you’re after. Grab this stallion and ride it home.” (2011 vintage)
Olly Smith, The Mail on Sunday (Live magazine), 27.01.13
“What an exceptionally juicy cabernet sauvignon this is, like an anti-claret, that begins with an almost airy, floral-fragrant feel then brings the deeper flavours, the tannic oomph, in later. Very east to drink and very bright. Try it with herb-smothered butterflied leg of lamb, barbequed so it’s pink in the middle and charred on the outside.” (2011 vintage)
Victoria Moore, The Daily Telegraph (Weekend) 02.09.12
The Viñalba is thoroughly rewarding and a steal at the reduced price. I’m not crazy about the pseudo cork but I love the wine (I so often admire Cabernets in Mendoza)….Drink this with powerfully flavoured savoury goods – I could imagine some synergy with strong tomato-based sauces, and certainly with a superior ragu – and with the pleasure that a bargain always brings.” (2010 vintage)
Jancis Robinson, Jancisrobinson.com, 06.04.12
VIÑALBA RESERVA CABERNET MALBEC MERLOT 2010
“I have been a fan of wines form this producer for some time, and this particular blend brings ripe, black fruit flavours with chocolate and smoky complexity. Team it with red meat or hard cheeses.”
Christine Austin, The Yorkshire Post (magazine), 15.12.12
“Fresh and lively Argentinian”
Bob Tyrer, The Sunday Times (Style) 09.12.12
“ has surprising elegance and structure but above all lots of spicy dark fruit.”
Neil Sowerby, Manchesterconfidential.com, 03.12.12
VIÑALBA SELECCIÓN TORRONTÉS 2011
“With its distinctive floral and slightly peachy style, this variety has won many friends. A good illustration of the genre is the soft, apricot-influenced 2011 Vinalba Seleccion Torrontés from Mendoza.”
Rose Murray Brown, The Scotsman (web) 10.04.12
“A classic version with a snap of lemon zest and kiwi, and green apples on the finish. Crisp and tangy – a lovely spring aperitif.”
Susy Atkins, The Sunday Telegraph (Stella magazine) 04.03.12
“You may not be familiar with torrontés but this white grape is a dream partner for lemongrass, lime leaves, coriander, chillies and even ginger. Serve ice-cold and savour its fresh pineapple and grapefruit flavours.”
Matthew Jukes, The Daily Mail (Weekend), 31.12.11
VIÑALBA GRAN RESERVA MALBEC 2008
“Lujan de Cuyo is one of Mendoza’s key winemaking destinations (The Uco Valley being the other – more on which later) and is home to Viñalba Gran Reserva, a malbec that Crozier describes as “bloody exemplar”. He is not wrong. “It’s a hugely aromatic red, with hints of violet, lavender and black pepper. This one is fleshy, velvety and soft – It just tastes perfectly ripe”, says Crozier approvingly.”
Esquire, May 2012
“Black cherries on the nose and flavours of prunes, figs, violets and licorice.”
Richard Marsden, Profile magazine, June 2011
“This is a rare outing for an Argentinean wine in this column, and what a cracker it is! Just when your guard is down a spectacular wine like this whacks you in the chops and reminds you that the wine game is never a predictable one….On this occasion I wanted another bottle the second that I had tasted the very first sip. You will adore this wine if you like meaty, heady, lusty reds.”
Matthew Jukes, Money Week, 11.03.11
VIÑALBA ROSÉ 2010
“this is a wine that certainly impresses.”
Richard Marsden, Profile magazine, September 2011
“The nose is quite vinous and serious, not giving terribly much, but with a savoury, earthy character. On the palate a sweet fruit profile emerges, with a touch of strawberry and hint of peach, with the acidity cutting in a touch abruptly perhaps, though that does add to its savoury, food-friendly grip. 85-86/100.”
www.Wine-pages.com, 27.07.11
“Bright pink in colour, this is delicious and fresh with lovely, rounded red-cherry fruit. It manages to be both full-flavoured and fresh at the same time. Your mum would love it.”
Jamie Goode, The Sunday Express (Magazine), 27.03.11
VIÑALBA PATAGONIAN RESERVA MALBEC 2009
“has a rich, fruity aroma and is spicy and warming. Flavours include blackcurrant, cherry and vanilla and there is also a smoky complexity. Enjoy with a roast or barbecued meat.”
Richard Marsden, Profile magazine, May 2011
“from Rio Negro, the cooler climate producing concentrated, rich, firm, fruity grapes giving a dark, almost mocha like complexity to the bramley red form of this wine. “
Jacqui Morley, The Blackpool Gazette, 30.04.11
VIÑALBA RESERVA MALBEC TOURIGA NACIONAL 2009
“terrific concentration, perfectly balanced with violets on the nose and deep mulberry flavours on the palate.”
Christine Austin, Yorkshire Post, 28.05.11
“is a dark, saddle-scented blackberry monster from Argentina that has sinew and softness in a very workable harmony. A thoroughly likeable and distinctive red wine for the grander barbecue occasion.”
Ned Halley, Western Morning News, Western Daily Press, Bristol Evening Post 14.05.11
