Corney & Barrow 

"Oak comes through well: creamy spicy, vanilla - quite thick on the tongue. Long, smoky finish. Not for the oakophobic." 16.5/20

Richard Hemming, JancisRobinson.com (August 2011)

Gran Lurton, Corte Friulano 2009 Valle de Uco

"Clever new name for Argentina's widely planted Sauvignon Vert, reminding us it's the same as the characteristic grape of Friuli in north east Italy (which used to be called Tocai Friulano until the Hungarians objected). Full bodied, lightly honeyed with a green streak and an imposing bottle."

Jancis Robinson, The Financial Times (December 2010)

"I've chosen this particular Argentine white from the Francois Lurton international stable of wines detailed here because of its ingenuity. Friulano is the new name for the tangy, dominant grape variety in Friuli, north-east Italy, that used to be known as Tocai Friulano until the Hungarians objected. The vine is also known as Sauvignon Vert or Sauvignonasse and has long been relatively common in Chile and Argentina, where for years its produce was labelled 'Sauvignon".

It is hardly surprising that it is widely planted in Argentina, where such a high proportion of the population is of Italian origin. Inspried by the confident, characterful dry white blends of Friuli, French wine producer Francois Lurton decided to underline rather than obscure the relationship between this variety and Italy by specially bottling and labelling its produce as Gran Lurton, Corte Friulano 2009 Valle de Uco, a blend of 70% Friulano with 20% Pinot Gris, 8% Chardonnay and 2% of the Argentina scented signature white grape Torrontes. (Francois Lurton told me there was also a little Viognier in here.)

The brothers Lurton have form in promoting white wine grapes from obscurity in Argentina. The Lurtons were the first to see the potential for Pinot Gris in Argentina and introduced the variety (Alsace clones 52 and 53) to Argentina with the first vintage being 2002. The resulting wine has far more fruit intensity and character than the oceans of Pinot Grigio on sale around the world and Lurton Pinot Gris has become one of Argentina's most successfully exported white wines.

Initially they blended a bit of Friulano into the Pinot Gris but now they are doing the reverse and allowing the Friulano vine some time in the sun. But instead of making it simply in stainless steel, this interesting blend has been given full barrel fermentation and lees-ageing treatment a la white burgundy, and very successful and interesting the result is too. It has good acidity and fruit, even if the oak is still slightly perceptible, and it manages to be very persistent yet very refreshing with notes of green fruits. I would drink it with substantial fish, chicken or pasta dishes at some point over the next two years.

Francois Lurton claims that he is trying to get his neighbours in the high-altitude vineyards around Tupungato in Mendoza province to take their Friulano rather more seriously. This is a good start.

Jancis Robinson (October 2010)