Llai Llai Pinot Noir is an intriguing lady, I was immediately captivated by her sexy black label. But, it's what's in the bottle that led to my "love at first sip."
This wine is from the beautiful Bio Bio Valley south of Santiago, Chile. In the land of the Mapuche her name means wind, strong wind.
Crafted by Louis Vallet of the well known Pierre Bouree Fils French wine family and the worldly Marcela Chandia of Chile this wine is adorable. From the first sip it put a big smile on my face and joy in my heart.
We drank this wine with a homemade Indian dinner and found it paired very nicely with the piquant dishes. It will pair well with many cuisines and is a good choice for Thanksgiving.
The color is a sparkling garnet red. As you sip if not gulp this wine it gives a sensation of rich jewels. On your nose there are plush scents of red berry, cherry and spice. As you drink it abounds in plump layered red fruit flavors with a touch of natural chocolate, dry wood and enticing root flavors running through.
Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar gave the 2009 vintage 87 Points, but it rates more in my book.
Quite frankly I had grown bored of Chilean wine but this one has dramaticaly renewed my interest.
The wine makers say "We do not think of who we are and what we do in terms of Old World or New World. We think of ourselves as passionate people who want to make a difference in wine, with wine and around wine.
Exploring South America is our passion. Not content to continue growing grapes in the same regions we always have, we set out more than two decades ago to explore new lands, curious to see how different soils and climates would affect our favorite wine varietals." Winemakers As a vineyard of the Dos Andres group they have the resources to do so.
Bio Bio Valley (pronounced Bee O) is a region gaining world attention as a place of fabulous terroir. Most Chilean wines are made in the easier climate of the north, but the more challenging south, just 48 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean, has alluvial volcanic stone, red clay and sand with a breezy, windy, cool climate, which bear more exciting wines. Remember we are in the Southern Hemisphere and the further south we go the cooler it gets.
Caring about preserving this special environment Llai Llai is one of the few wineries in Chile that holds a carbo neutral certificate.
Tasting this wine you are going to think $20-30+ but the economics of Chile allows it to be brought to the US for much less.
Imported by the fine W.J. Deutsch & Sons Llai Llai should be easy to find or order from your favorite wine shop.
Things to do, places to see, with food and booze
Sounds a good one - will look out for it - we love Indian food.
Posted by: Lisa (This Little Piggy) | 11/13/2011 at 11:27