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Wine Details

Familia Schroeder Saurus Select Malbec Patagonia Argentina 2022 Dried fruits, blackcurrants and plum and with a hint of spice, it is supple and has a full, fruity mouth feel. Soft tannins give a long sweet finish. £18.49

Producer

Familia Schroeder is located in the exciting new winemaking area of San Patricio del Chanar in Patagonia, which has been carved out of the desert in this dry and windy region in Argentina. A family producer with European roots, Schroeder has 110 hectares of vineyards to the northwest of Neuquen province, growing varieties such as Malbec, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

The winery, which opened in October 2002, is located on the hillside of a plateau and has a vertical design with five levels that rise to 22 metres, allowing for gravity winemaking. French and American oak are used for ageing some of the wide range of Schroeder wines, which include the brands Alpataco and Saurus. The name of the latter was inspired by the discovery during the vineyard construction of the remains of a Titanosaur, a dinosaur that roamed the area millions of years ago and one of the largest species ever known. The discovery alone was important enough to deserve a special cellar at the estate to exhibit the fossils, which visitors can view.

Familia Schroeder’s premium wines are marketed just under their name, while a selection of fizzes is also made, including a sparkling Torrontes called Deseado.

Grape varieties

Malbec

Region

Patagonia and its two sub regions Neuqúen and Rio Negro form the most southerly Argentinian wine region. The region is the coolest in Argentina with some influence from the Atlantic. The cool climate, chalky soil and a long warm ripening season make it ideal for producing good quality white wines made from Torrontés and Sémillon, as well as base wines for sparkling wine.

Style

Full-bodied with good chunky tannins that go down well with a rich hearty meal. You can tell these wines have seen oak by the toasty, vanilla aromas as opposed to full-on fruit. You’ll find Rioja and similar styles within this section.

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