2004 El Portillo, Bodega El portillo

Mendoza, Arg

Color: White
Name: El Portillo
Vineyard: Bodega El portillo
Type: Sauvignon blanc
Origin: Mendoza, Arg
Year: 2004
Price: $8.00
Rating: 5.0
Review:
Comments: The wine that particularly impresses me at the moment is the recently released Finca El Portillo Merlot 2002 which has extreme depth of fruit for a wine at this price, is really well balanced and ready to drink and, like the entire range, finishes dry rather than sweet when so many South American wines are, in my experience, unappetisingly sweet. It tastes as though this fruit very nearly made the cut for a superior bottling. (The Malbec 2001 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 released concurrently, on the other hand, seem to me to be over the top, losing fruit and drying out - but then 2002 is heralded as a very exciting vintage for Argentina.)

I was also impressed, however, by Finca El Portillo Sauvignon Blanc 2003 which is even less expensive than the Merlot 2002 and has really true Sauvignon aromas - again without an excess of sweetness. It is available in Britain chez Waitrose as La Pampa Sauvignon Blanc 2003 at just £4.99. British wine buyers can also taste real red bordeaux blend value from Salentein in San Pablo Estate 2002 which is currently on sale at Marks & Spencer for just £6.99 but this wine will benefit from a year or two's further cellaring.) To check on availability near you, see the long list of worldwide importers on Bodegas Salentein's copious website at http://www.bodegasalentein.com/eng/bodegas/ventas.asp

The Nillni's Great Wine Tasting Adventure