Vallisto Extremo Criolla Chica 2021

Vallisto Criolla Chica is a medium bodied wine that is bursting with red fruit aromas, raspberry and wild cherry. The wine has wonderful acidity and tension which gives it great energy, texture and structure. There are so many elements of young Pinot Noir in this wine, but it feels more mature and complete. The Criolla Chica grape is known as Pais in Chile and its origins can be traced back to the Canary Islands where it is known as Listan Prieto. At some point in time, it crossed in the wild with Muscat d’Alexandria to create Torrontes.

Vallisto is small project that produces unique wines from the remote Cafayate Valley in Salta in the very north of Argentina. The project is headed up by Francisco (Pancho) Lavaque, who is part of the Lavaque family, a well-known wine producer from this part of Argentina. This area of Argentina has some fantastic old vines, forgotten vineyards and generations of history which Pancho has embraced in his wines, but he has added a youthful, experimental and modern approach that sets them apart. This area of Salta was historically known for its inky, powerful wines but the Vallisto wines are characterised by freshness and elegance along with wonderful complex fruit. They are great example of modern Argentinean wines and show the diversity that this wonderful country has to offer.