Winemaker Notes
Certainly a lesser known mutation of the Muscat grape, this Moscatel Tinto from San Juan is an elegant example. The grapes come from the tiny Finca Maggio Vineyard planted in 1950 on alluvial soils, which are hand-harvested and fermented with 30% whole clusters. The juice ages for eight months in concrete with the lees and then gets bottles unfined and unfiltered. Despite clocking in at 14% ABV, this wine is beautiful pale and feels rather light on the palate. The nose explodes with notes of rosewater, red currant, under-ripe raspberry and forest floor. The palate has the gentlest tannins that lightly coat your mouth, with notes of juicy cranberry and raspberry, with just a touch of heat on the finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Moscatel Tinto fermented in concrete eggs with 70% full clusters that were foot trodden and with indigenous yeasts. The élevage was in egg and lasted some eight months. The wine is very bright, with a beautiful translucent purple color and an exotic nose, very aromatic, expressive and open. Burgallo likes the Moscatel, both the white and this red, and he reckons they got the right picking point, avoiding any excess ripeness. The palate is serious and dry and there is an extra degree of finesse and completeness here. Torrontés Tinto is a crossing of Listán Prieto and Moscatel de Alejandría, the same as Torrontés. 2,400 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2020.
Beyond the usual suspects, there are hundreds of red grape varieties grown throughout the world. Some are indigenous specialties capable of producing excellent single varietal wines, while others are better suited for use as blending grapes. Each has its own distinct viticultural characteristics, as well as aroma and flavor profiles, offering much to be discovered by the curious wine lover. In particular, Portugal and Italy are known for having a multitude of unique varieties but they can really be found in any region.
This very hot and arid region produces fine red wines from Bonarda, Syrah and Malbec and solid, fruity white wines from Pinot grigio, Viognier and Chardonnay.
MIWMMCARMOT20C_2020 Item# 877783