Viña Maipú Sangiovese Bonarda 2004

Bodega

Range

Wine

Vintage

Origin

Price

Viña Maipú

n/a

Sangiovese Bonarda

2004

Maipú, Mendoza

AR$5-6 (US$2)

Appearance

Ruby red with bright scarlet tones.

Nose

Juicy plums, cherries, cinnamon and light pepper spices, and hints of vanilla.

Palate

Light to medium body. Round, soft front palate with plenty of bright, ripe red cherry character. Sweet, liquoricey herbaceousness with traces of vanilla. Balanced by reasonably robust tannins and a crisp red-apple acidity that combine to leave a nice, crisp fresh finish.

Overall

Okay, so it lacks the fruit intensity, mouthfilling ripeness and length of finish of a really good wine. But - it's five pesos. Think about that for a moment. Say it again. For the price of a pretty ordinary coffee, you just do not get a better wine bargain. The bad news is Viña Maipú is something of a boutique producer here in Mendoza, with their wines available mostly in 'regionales' (handcraft and souvenir) stores - although some genuine wine merchants and the supermarket chain Carrefour also stock it. Absolutely outstanding value to wash down a tomato-sauced pasta, antipasto plate or lighter barbeque fare.

***+

(September 06)