#43 Bonarda – 457 grapes left

A wine with lots of black fruit and tamed tannins. Don’t know why I expected wild tannins.

WINE DETAILS:

  • Grape: Bonarda
  • Alcohol: 13.5%
  • Wine: Finca Las Moras
  • Vintage: 2019
  • Winery: Finca Las Moras
  • Location: San Juan, Argentina
  • Date: 12/1/20
  • Distributor: Serralles

Curious Synonyms: Douce Noir, Charbono, Turca, Corbeau

Nerd Alert: Earliest mention of the grape dates from when Etruscans (ancient Italian civilization) first planted Bonarda some 3.000 years ago in the Padana Region (Name given to Northern Italy, near the Po River). It’s a very late ripening grape variety that is often harvested after Cabernet Sauvignon. In Argentina, the 18,759 hectares (46,354 acres) of Bonarda/Douce noir makes it is the second most widely planted red grape variety in the country after Malbec and representing 8% of the country’s total vineyard plantings.

Personal Note: I think this grape has been given one of the most creative descriptor in american pop culture references. When I read Alan Goldfarb from Wine Spectator called it “The Rodney Dangerfield of wine” I did crack a smile. I am old enough to remember watching Rodney on TV and on movies and his catch phrase was about “getting no respect” which I think is the point Goldfarb was trying to make. Yes, I’m sure in Argentina dna the regional parts of Europe where it’s made they do appreciate, but in a competitive wine market, where every January we are told the IT grape of the moment to be followed by the 20 Cabs and Pinots you need to buy…it’s easy to get side tracked. This was the first time for me trying this grape. No overture in my case but there was definitely a crescendo. It even passed the two day fridge test. It maintained its presence, aroma and flavors.

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*Sources for the wine facts are from: Wine Searcher, Wikipedia, Vivino, wine.com, and the wineries websites.

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