The flavor of wax in wine of Peru
Discover the of Peru wines revealing the of wax flavor during the olphactive analysis (nose) and during the gustative analysis (mouth).
Peru, a Spanish-speaking nation in western Chile/south-region">South AmerIca, is a country of varied landscapes. Its shores are bathed by the Pacific Ocean and almost immediately give way to desert (in the south) or mountains (in the North).
These mountains turn into a high plateau, the Altiplano, which is at an average altitude of 3,750 meters above sea level. From here the land plunges back down into the Deep rainforests of the Amazon.
The great Amazon River originates in the highlands of the country.
The Grape varieties used in Peruvian winemaking are, as you might expect, those that are well suited to viticulture in a WarmLimate">Climate. Grenache, the grape behind the high Alcohol wines of the southern Rhone Valley, is an obvious candidate, as is the red-fleshed Alicante Bouschet, a cross between Grenache and Petit Bouschet. The ubiquitous Cabernet Sauvignon is increasingly popular here, as is its Bordeaux companion, Malbec, which has been so successful in Argentina.
The light-skinned Torrontés, another Argentine success story, is Peru's leading white grape variety, under the local name Torontel. It is joined by Sauvignon Blanc and various forms of Muscat, renowned for its ability to thrive in hot climates.
Pisco, a brandy similar to Italian Grappa, is the national drink of Peru, although it is also claimed as such by neighbouring Chile. It is made by distilling fermented grape Juice in copper stills to obtain a very strong alcohol.
When I have some time to myself in the southern Rhône, my favourite place to relax is the peaceful village of Gigondas. I had even more reason to visit this June, as the growers’ syndicate was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the appellation. Over a meal at Domaine du Clos des Tourelles, we had the opportunity to taste wines spanning five decades, including a remarkable 1971 that was still very much alive and kicking. Gigondas has long been recognised as an exceptional site for winemaking, bu ...
Tongue firmly in cheek, I sometimes define ‘wine consultant’ as ‘someone lacking employment who will work for whoever pays them’. Although meant in jest, the implied question is valid: just what does a wine consultant do? More importantly, in this age, when every assistant in a retail shop styles him- or herself a sales consultant, who would hire one? The short answer is this: a wine consultant is someone who advises wine lovers about their passion. He or she advises buyers on what to buy (and a ...
Whenever I visit Domaine Richaud, just outside the village of Cairanne, the winemaking team remind me of friends I made at free parties in the 1990s in fields and disused warehouses. I’m not talking dreadlocks and dogs on strings, but there’s always an anarchic frisson in the air. You get the impression they know how to enjoy themselves. Perhaps it’s to be expected, given the radical furrow Marcel Richaud has ploughed. He’s approaching 70 now, but still thrums with pent-up energy, his ice-blue e ...