Everyone loves Malbec, the enticing wine of Argentina. But do you know the second most popular red wine in Argentina?
Not so well known in the states, Argentinean Bonarda is a fabulous wine that we grab every time we see it. Like Malbec the Bonarda grape grown in South America is from France where it is called Douce Noir (Sweet Black). Duriguitti along with a number of other Argentine wineries make fabulous wine from this grape.
The Wine: Familia Duriguitti Bonarda Clasico $$
The Food: Classic American, Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, and Creamed Spinach, as close to homemade as you can get
The Place: Raymond’s Montclair, NJ
I met winemaker Hector Durigutti and had the opportunity to taste four of the wonderful wines that he and his brother produce in Mendoza, Argentina. It was at a screening of the documentary, Boom Varietal: The Rise of Malbec, at the New Jersey Film Festival at Rutgers University last year. I was impressed and snapped this bottle up at Shoppers Vineyard last week when I saw the Durigutti name. I plan to buy more.
Took it along for a very comfortable dinner at the busy Raymond’s in Montclair, NJ.
It was a cold damp night so I chose a hearty mushroom bisque and Raymond's wonderful meatloaf. A great paring, but next time I think I will go for a steak with this wine. It is rich and flavorful, a powerful wine that wants big food.
There are many grapes called Bonarda and much discussion of it's orgin and path to Argentina.
According to Wikipedia Bonarda may refer to one of several grape varietials:
Douce noir or Bonarda or Charbono, a little is found in France and California but is widely grown in Argentina. Bonarda Piemontese is grown in Piedmont, around Turin. Croatina or Bonarda dell'Oltrepò Pavese, is grown in Lombardy, around Pavia and also Uva Rara or Bonarda Novarese, in Novara and Vercelli, Italy.
But wherever she comes from trust me, this is a wine you want to meet.
It has "lush and spicy ripe-fruit driven nose, with a broad, fairly explosive palate of red cherry, plum, chocolate, and mint. Bright, refreshing acidity holds everything together and makes this an excellent choice with spicy foods." Winemaker
A consistent winner:
2009 - 92 Points, Beverage Testing Institute
2008 - 88 Points, Wine Advocate.
2007 - 87 Points, Wine Spectator.
2006 - 87 Points, "Best Buy," Wine Enthusiast.
2005 - 89 Points, Wine Advocate.
2004 - 89 Points, Wine Enthusiast
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