Fabulous Wines At The End Of The World




 

 

Bodega del Fin del Mundo is heaven for wine lovers. In English, the “Winery at the End of the World” makes some of the world’s best reds 800 kilometers (500 miles) south of Argentina’s famed Mendoza wine region.

The bodega uses the latest technology to make the best use of its spectacular Patagonian terroir, and its cool climate, chalky sub-soils and significant diurnal variation.

Low humidity and scarce rainfall, only 180 millimeters a year, keep the vineyard extraordinarily healthy, while the sun’s intensity assists ripening.

The project was conceptualized in 1999 by founder and owner Julio Viola as a thoroughly modern wine facility and the first winery in the region as a whole. Beginning in 2005 Julio brought in Michel Rolland, aka: “The Flying Winemaker,” as consulting enologist to help define the bodega’s flagship wines. Rolland provides his expertise to many of the top estates in Bordeaux and other parts of France, but also consults throughout Europe, here in the U.S., in South Africa and South America.

Michel Rolland, The Flying Winemaker, and Julio Viola, founder and owner of Bodega del Fin del Mundo.

Michel Rolland, The Flying Winemaker, and Julio Viola, founder and owner of Bodega del Fin del Mundo.

At Bodega Fin del Mundo, he helps resident winemaker Marcelo Miras and his team produce mostly red varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Tempranillo and Pinot Noir.

Special Blend Reserva ($33): Comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon 40 percent, Malbec 40 percent and Merlot 20 percent with 18 months in new French oak barrels. Big, full and round on the palate with opaque rim and jammy black fruits, cocoa, tobacco and Asian spice. Stephen Tanzer rated 91 points.

FIN Malbec ($33): Sourced from the El Potrero vineyard. The exclusive line of FIN Single Vineyards varietals has been produced with grapes from unique parcels, in pursuit of the maximum typicity of the varietal that the Argentine Patagonian terroir can provide. Its singularity is what makes it different from others. This line of top-of-the-range wines has been aged for 18 months in French and American oak barrels is deeply colored with plum, mission fig and eucalyptus, long and elegant on the finish.

Reserva Malbec ($16): A solid Malbec value with intense notes of blackberry, violet and hints of vanilla; aged up to 12 months in new French and American oak.

Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($16): A nicely balanced wine with black currant fruit, dark chocolate with a touch of mint and tobacco.

All of the Bodega del Fin del Mundo line of wines are elegant and structured, aged 12 to 18 months in new French and American oak barrels, to offer an excellent concentration of color, intense aromas and a robust body. Their soft tannins, molded by time and oak, give these wines a complexity that fills your mouth with flavors and textures. These intense, robust wines are best paired with steaks, lamb, and other red meats.

Wine Question?

If you have a wine question, email it to wine@swspotlight.com and Stephen Simms will answer it in this column.


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