New launches from the LIWSF

Published: 23 July, 2008

The LIWSF affords producers one of the best opportunities to launch products, and this year's event was no exception, with many new wines on show.

LVMH unveiled its Green Point Vintage Brut Ros, which is bottled under crown cap and will retail for 13.99 at Oddbins.

A Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier blend, the fruit is sourced from Victoria vineyards in the Strathbogie ranges, and the Yarra Valley.

The company describes the wine as elegant and savoury, with lifted red berry fruit characters'.

Spanish producer Gonzalez Byass unveiled new packaging and two new varietals for its Altozano range, with a Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz added to the Verdejo and Tempranillo already available.

Jane Masters MW, who consulted on the 4.99 range, said: We have been trying to create wines that have more fruit than is traditional in Spain, but more of that natural palate weight.

A lot of Spanish wines start well, but are rather hollow in the middle.'

At present, the Verdejo and Tempranillo are available at Somerfield, and the Verdejo is also listed at Booths.

New from Argentina are two ranges from Finca Flichman, aimed at different areas of the market.

Expresiones is a 6.99 range comprising two blended wines - the first is a Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon, and the second a Shiraz/Cabernet.

They are being targeted at the on-trade, independents and multiple specialists.

The second range is Misterio, which features four varietal wines: Malbec, Shiraz, Cabernet and Chardonnay.

Finca Flichman vice-president Ricardo Rebelo said: The idea was to create a brand that had a real sense of South American heritage and place, as that didn't really exist in any wines from Argentina.

We used the concept of masks based on those of the native Indians from the area of Mendoza, and these give the consumer an immediate icon that could only be South American.'

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