The waxed bat, 2 nights in a bus, a loose goose called marco and a crash in the vineyards at 2000ft.

I am on hols in my bordeaux vines, so rather than writing about 'effeuillage', 'vendange verte' and the joys of six o'clock starts to beat the heat, it might be more fun for you to read what Thomas has been up to in Argentina and Chile this month.


Argentina
Boom and bust is back - if it ever went away. With inflation rising at c.30% prices have risen steeply and a crash is expected in the economy within two years. So Argentina no longer offers rock bottom pricing.

However for sheer excitement in the glass in wines below six quid there is little to beat it. An outstanding example of how argentina can delight, surprise and astound is the new Waxed Bat from Andean Vineyards.

The pet project of winemaker 'Opi' Sadler who won the only Malbec Trophy in this years wines of Argentina awards. Opi has visited Australia and tasted our Black Stump. He wanted to make a really great DARK red just for us. Full of flavour but with the natural ripeness that Argentina achieves so effortlessly, balanced by the altitude of the vineyards which keeps the wine fresh in a way the Aussies can only dream about.

Like Black Stump its a unique blend of grapes - Shiraz based but a chunk of Petit Verdot. Why did he call it The Waxed Bat? It goes back to childhood visits to his grandfathers cobweb strewn wine cellar and memories of bats and waxed bottles and candles. The image has stuck in his mind and this is the result. Our most exciting dark red find this year. My highlight from Mendoza and it's just perfect with beef.

Good tasting at Trivento in Mendoza where we doubled our Bastiana Pinot allocation (still not enough but an improvement). The best rosé I tasted in Argentina too - Parra Alta Malbec 08 - vivid colour and fruit.

Then by overnight bus to distant Famatina Valley - 8 hours on the bus followed by 2.5 more in a car. Here the shy but talented Rodolfo Griguol was very very pleased with the quality this year.

The exceptionally cold winter was just perfect for the vines. He showed me around the Finca Federada fairtrade vineyards where there are a special breed of goats trained to eat grass but not grapes. Not sure how !

All organic vineyards but they don't certify as too expensive. This is a very poor area yet the potential is huge. Rodolfo is King of the Torrontes grape and is making whites which are fresher and more elegant than ever. He also has new premium parcels of Malbec, Pinot and Tannat.

Back in the bus for the overnight return.


To Trapiche who are still holding the last few cases of the Olivé single vineyard Gold medal winning Malbec for us. New 06s looked great and all from the Uco Valley this time.

More Malbec at Cru Classé-like Fabre Montmayou including a tasty new Malbec Reserva 07. At well below ten quid, it's extraordinary value. The barrel cellar wouldn’t look out of place in the Médoc ...

Chile
From blue sky, sunny, dry Argentina and over the Andes to cold, drizzly misty Chile. More like Bordeaux.

We will take our first ever Tarapaca rosé this year – it’s a beautiful Cabernet Syrah. Also at Tarapaca was Vicki’s top new red find from this trip – a Reserva Syrah 07, tasting more like a great Crozes Hermitage.

Down to Luis Felipe Edwards in the Colchagua Valley for our crash in the vineyards at 2000 feet. It had been raining but Luis was determined to take us to see his pride and joy vineyards in the sky. They are extremely impressive and we tasted the very first crop which were full of bright, vivid fruit and incredibly concentrated with huge colour.

On the way down however Luis was struggling for control of his 4x4 down a steep slope and we crashed into some vine posts denting the rear wing. His 6 year old son sat in the back, wide eyed throughout this adventure.

Final highlight was at Cono Sur where Vicki has sourced her new Loose Goose Chardonnay. Inspired by a goose called Marco who is one of a small flock which the winery lets roam the vineyards to keep it bug free.

Its an exciting Chardonnay – no oak but bags of flavour in the fresh modern style and very pure. Vicki’s top new white find was also at Cono Sur – a parcel of Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc 08 which includes fruit from winemaker Adolfo Hurtado’s family vineyards.




Conclusion
We have already achieved a great deal with these two countries and are way ahead of the market for range and sales. Argentina is now 5% of our mix and Chile 10%. This compares with 1.5% and 8% for the rest of the market. A fantastic result. Its not going to be so easy with the price increases (especially Argentina) but there are some strong new wines coming over very soon to keep customers excited.


Thomas Woolrych