A few years ago I was chatting with an associate involved with the international wine trade and I explained that I was interested in the potential of Argentina. He suggested that I contact Achaval Ferrer as they were the top boutique winery in that country.

We did so, and today we sell their Bordeaux-type blend called Quimera (in search of the impossible) for $41.55. Parker rates the 2009 93/100 and writes “Pain grille, pencil lead, Asian spices, incense, violets and assorted black fruits”. He gives their Finca Bella Vista 2008 Malbec an almost perfect 98/100 and it is really a benchmark for Argentine wine at $90.20. Even their regular 2012 Malbec at $24.60 garners 91/100.

But this is not a story about Argentina, rather the Paso Robles district about two hundred miles south of San Francisco. This is an area that is getting a lot of good press lately as it is quite perfect for the growing of wine grapes of many varieties.

Santiago and Mercedes Achaval met Jim and Azmina Madsen in the 1980’s at Stanford University (the Farm) and they have become life-long friends, even though Santiago went back to his native Argentina and Jim to his corporate world in San Diego. Just five years ago and seven children later, they made the decision to start a joint venture in the Westside of Paso Robles nearby the area where they first met.

Their goal was to make small lots of very special wines on a property that they would call The Farm Winery and today their production is limited to just one thousand cases. They do all the work themselves and with the help of a few friends. These are all literally handmade wines that are mostly sold through a mailing list programme. I was therefore quite surprised when they contacted me this Summer past to say that they would love for us to introduce a few of their wines to Bermuda. It is because of our association with Achaval Ferrer that we have been so honoured.

The Farm “Touchy-Feely” 2010 in their words is “a different Rhone, our take on dancing in summer. Its Grenache side gives it femininity and elegance, its Rhone brothers a tad of weight. Its colours are almost claret. It’s a wine that works at an angle, in a different realm, a different dimension.

It’s a wine that requires choices. It does not allow indifference. It is non-commercial and follows no beaten path. It is what some vineyards achieve when they dare to be themselves”. $74.10.

The “Big Game” 2010 is “where Bordeaux meets Rhone and everyone wins. The stars are Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot on one side and Syrah on the other”. The International Wine Reviews rates it 93+/100 and talks of ripe blackberry, blackcurrant and graphite. I found the balance to be perfection which to me is the benchmark of a classic wine. There is something in it for everyone with red fruits, black fruits, freshness and earthiness. $96.80.

“Cardinal” 2010 is the highest rated Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles by Parker and Stephen Tanzer. To quote the owners “we walked into this vineyard and it gave off an impression, a vibration, an energy level that only great vineyards do”. Santiago turned around and said to Jim “This place is the reason to make wine in Paso”.

“Cardinal is very old vine Cabernet Sauvignon of classic proportions, a wine beyond outstanding. This is a wine that goes beyond excellence, into character, interest and emotion”. $111.90.

So here are wines that are normally only available in tiny quantities if you are on their mailing list.

They are unique and rare and you can see from my quotes of their words how this venture is all about passion and the striving for perfection.

A wonderful gift would be a beautifully packaged (a wooden box) of all three wines for $316.20. We only have three available.

Due to overall small allocations these wines will not be available on www.wineonline.bm

This column is a paid for advertorial for Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. Michael Robinson is Director of Wine at Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. He can be contacted at mrobinson@bll.bm or 295-0176. Burrows Lightbourn have stores in Hamilton (Front Street East. 295-1554), Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355) and St George’s (York Street, 297-0409). A selection of their wines, beers and spirits is available online at www.wineonline.bm.