Bordeaux's Michel Rolland Releases Argentinean Wines

James Molesworth
Posted: June 23, 2001

Well-known Bordeaux enologist Michel Rolland, who consults for wineries all over the globe, has released the first wines from his Argentinean project, Bodega San Pedro de Yacochuya.

Rolland, known for opulent, modern-style wines such as those from his Pomerol property Château Le Bon-Pasteur, currently consults for Chile's Casa Lapostolle and Argentina's Etchart winery. His work with Etchart (which is owned by the Pernod-Ricard company) brought him into contact with the Cafayate area of Argentina, north of the country's better-known Mendoza wine region. The Etchart family owns a 24-acre vineyard there planted exclusively to Malbec vines, which are an average 60 years old.

Rolland is using those grapes to produce two wines, starting with the 1999 vintage. The main San Pedro de Yacochuya wine, of which there are about 1,665 cases, is being sold through Bordeaux merchants. No American importer has yet been announced for the wine, but Wine Spectator will review it if it becomes available in the Unites States. A second wine, of which there were 1,250 cases made, will be available only in Argentina.

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Read James Molesworth's recent tasting reports on South American wines:

March 31, 2001
Coming of Age in South America

March 31, 2000
South America's Peaks and Valleys

Read recent news about other new wines from Argentina:

April 16, 2001
Catena Enters Joint Venture in Argentina With Domaines Barons de Rothschild

March 14, 2001
Catena Completes Winery in Argentina; Releases New High-End Cabernet

Feb. 1, 2001
Two New Wine Projects Coming From South America

Oct. 13, 2000
Laura Catena Launches New Label