Quattrocchi Grande Reserve , Syrah 2007, a Lavalle city red balanced and fair

Quattrocchi, Grand Reserve, Syrah 2007, By Bodega y Viñedos Jose Quattrocchi, USD 17



La Holanda Vineyard in Lavalle close by the city of Mendoza.
Nice dark red translucent and acceptable bright. Good equilibrated mix of red and black cherries jammy and surrounded by herbal and black peppercorn.very soft chocolaty edge. Nice typicity and attractiveness. Not concentrated even nicely complex. An 88 points red, typical and delicate. Probably best before 6 years cellar. A little bir overpriced, but this might be a local distortion (pesos inflation over dollar).

Primogenito, Pinot Noir 2008, a quite nice northpatagonian

Primogénito, Pinot Noir 2008, By Bodega Patriti, USD 15



A pinot Noir from San Patricio Valley, Neuquén, North Patagonia.
A delicate red fruit (mostly compoted) shifted Pinot with nice toasty notes and good balance. Quite fine toasty cocoa. Balanced and wide middle palate with nice acidity and alcohol. An 87 points pinot noir on the traditional steps and expressing northpatagonia´s terroir. Surely better aged by 4-6 years.

Septimo Dia, Pinot Noir 2008, good Agrelo´s son ,bad place for Pinots

Septimo Dia, Pinot Noir 2008, By Bodega Septima (Codorniu), USD 22



A Pinot Noir from Agrelo District of Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza.
Nice red mixed brownish color. Expressive aromas and a regular wine on the palate. Red cherries compoted and jammy with a dull push of chocolate and wet vanilla. Delicate but thin and oversweet. I woudn´t go more than 85 points ,and this includes its best moment 4 to 6 years from vintage. Although it shows good and beautiful typicity for Agrelo, it´s not a set of virtues interesting for a Pinot Noir. The Agrelo´s Pinot isn´t attractive at all. Not even close to some high Mendoza´s Pinot or even more to Patagonia´s Pinot.

Animal Organic Vineyard, Malbec 2010, a punchy fruity Mendozino

Animal Organic Vineyard, malbec 2010, By Alma Negra Wines, USD 14



A Malbec selected by Ernesto Catena from wherever high Mendoza (Altamira, Agrelo,Tupungato and La Consulta).
You´ll drink a too young malbec with plenty of sugary red and black cherries and berries. Only a hint of chocolate and no more. Of course well balanced in alcohol, acidity and concentration. To compete hand to hand with any fruity and punchy miimally oaked red from around the world. An 87 point malbec and a good value. I don´t think its worth cellar more than 4 years.

Quinta Generación, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, an acceptable but basic Cab from San Rafael

Quinta Generación, Gran Reserva Cabernet sauvignon 2007, By Familia Goyenechea, USD 15



A Cabernet Sauvignon from San Rafael, South Mendoza.
Brilliant red with quite a brown shade. Expressive aromas of mixed emotions. Some well rounded tannins with wide middle palate red cherries sour and sweet. Good smoky toach and soft chcocolate. A litte bit weak however. A nice a balanced Cab that get much better with food. I´d say an 87 points CS a little bit overpriced here. More proper for less than 12 bucks (US values).

Salentein Reserve Cabernet Franc 2006, a great wine from Tunuyan

Salentein Winemaker´s inspiration, Cabernet Franc 2006, By Salentien Wines, USD 17



A Cabernet Franc sourced in Tunuyan, Uco Valley, Mendoza.
Wonderful balance of black fruits mostly black cherries and boysenberries with a beautiful herbal toach and a spicy oregano and thyme. Nice aftertaste of dark chocolate and smooth tannins lingering.A 91 points Cab Franc probably best after 6-8 years cellar. A great value.

Coquena Malbec 2010, a ' grapefruity ' driven red tyical from Salta

Coquena, Malbec 2010, By Bodega Yacochuya, USD 15



A malbec from somewhere in Cafayate Valley, Salta Province Northwest Argentina.
Typical traditional Cafayate´s Malbec with sweet `pure grapefruity´  juice component. Some red fruity note too. Small if any oak component. This is the traditional Salta´s wine with simple notes, fruit driven, naturally concentrated and that original grapefruit core. An original and personal red. I´d say 87 points malbec different from the rest. Good value. Not to cellar more than 4 years.

Finca Humanao, Malbec 2007, from Cafayate an exaggerated malbec that may go along with dark chocolate

Finca Humanao, Malbec 2007, By Bodega Finca Humanao, USD 12



A malbec from Molina, Cafayate Valley. A superexpressed malbec with dark red dense and unbrilliant. Black cherry and plum with over the top sweet toast coffee will saturate the palate. It is so fruit driven that you don´t feel the high alcohol sealed in the label. It´s not complex neither elegant. Most people will acknowledge some basic attractiveness but the overexpression keeps it from being a good traditional value.
An 85 points from a `standard red point of view´ with fair price but exaggerated malbec. If you like Port and Late Harvest you may see this malbec from a different perspective than me. Actually if you pair it with dark chocolate it might go quite fantastic.

Desierto 25/5, Cabernet Franc 2006, nice red from high Rio Colorado Valley

Desierto 25/5 Cabernet Franc 2006, By Bodega del Desierto, USD 12



Nice Cab Franc from 25 de Mayo region in southwest La Pampa (High Rio Colorado Valley), NorthPatagonia.
Aromas of red ripe fruit and spicies like fresh bay leaf and mint. Good palate although weak and less concentrated than 2005 vintage tasted. Quite soft oaky notes. A good value for the price with an 87 points quality.

Compare the 2005 vintage

Desierto 25/5 Cab Franc 2005 HERE

Casa Boher, Extra Brut , Champenoise N/V, nice blend of Tupun and Maipu

Casa Boher, Extra Brut Champenoise N/V, USD 15



A Pinot Noir (70%) and Chard (30%) blending Maipu and Tupungato Departments of Mendoza.
Nice salmon shade with straight aromas of caramelized cherries and a soft peach with a toasty edge.The palate feels a little weak although attractive. Nice acidity and balance. Not the best bottle of this label I tasted. An 87 points sparkling with fair price. I guess this bottle may be on the downhill and this is the problem with non vintage labels (N/V), you never know what old the wine you buy.

Compare the post on April 2010 ,same label:

Casa Boher Sparkling on April 2010 HERE

Ikella Malbec 2007, a standard value from Agrelo´s terroir

Ikella , Malbec 2007, By Bodega Melipal, USD 10



A Malbec from Agrelo District in Lujan de Cuyo Dpt ,Central Mendoza.
Nice malbec with red fruits and plum with herbal elements and a little toach of spiciness like oregano and mint. Wide middle palate typical from Agrelo. Very soft oak elements mostly at the arome level (vanilla, coconut) in good balance. Not very attractive though as it looks somehow weak (may be walking the downhill lane). An 86 points malbec and a good value for ten bucks. It doesn´t matter much if before of after 4 years. I wound´t cellar more than 4 though.

Note: A little bit of History: Ikella means, as the label reads, a type of clothe `worn by local natives mapuches´. Actually the local natives are the Huarpes. So even though its real history, I don´t feel its fair and right for the real local natives. The same Mapuches (Araucanos) also spreaded all over north Patagonia displacing local Patagonian natives Tehuelches somehow during the 18th century. So neither here they are natives but as the late Spanish invaders to the real native people. Sorry, a paralel history note to the wine. 

Tomero Malbec 2010, a striking Malbec expressing a balanced Mendoza

Tomero Malbec 2010, By Tomero Wines (Carlos Pulenta wines), USD 12



The winery locate the grapes source to Uco´s Valley but the winery itself is located in Vistalba Ditrict of Lujan de Cuyo Departament in central mendoza about 70 miles north.
The wine is striking in several ways; Ripe and pure fruits, mostly black cherries typical from Uco´s and a boysenberry and red cherry toach that reminds a more central mendoza expression (lets say Vistalba). Good chocolaty note. It shows more balance than an Uco´s only malbec, and more attractiveness than a central mendoza. It cptures almost all the beauty a mendoza´s Malbec with nice acidity and alcohol. The palate is pretty smooth all along.


A 90 points Malbec, great value and beautiful to enjoy plenty young and fresh straigh during the first 4 years of age. No doubt one of the best 10 under 12 bucks. 

Compare the 2008 & 2009 vintages and this steps an edge ahead from them.

Tomero Malbec 2008 & 2009 here

Barrandica (Antucura) Malbec 2009, a second look to a great Vistaflores´s malbec that looks much better

Barrandica, Malbec Seleccion, Vistaflores, By Bodega Antucura, USD 12



first posted on July 2011 as follows:


`Very nice malbec from Vistaflores, Tunuyan (Uco Valley), Mendoza. Dark and concentrated with sour and ripe dark fruits mostly black cherries and boysenberries. Nice dark chocolate too. A little bit over the edge in acidity and alcohol probably due to a hint of brett (like damp mold) wich seems to lessen that beauty fruit. An 89 points malbec that would go 91 if no bretty component picked up. A good value, great if 91 points.´


Now I must put out an Addendum to it


Addendum: I re-tried a couple of 2009 bottles and they were just amazing, 91 or 92 points. The fruits and balance were dominant. No bretty, no strange thing on it. My favorite from Vistaflores at this price range.
This proves what we all know: try more than once a label to reach consistent judgment.

Punta de Flechas Malbec 2009, a great value faithfull to its place

Punta de Flechas, malbec 2009, By Flechas de los Andes (Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild), USD 12



A malbec from Vistaflores (Uco Valley), Tunuyan Departament, Mendoza.
It reaches out all the black fruits typical of vistaflores with some sourness and boysenberries and red cherries too. Only soft almost sweet chocolate close by. Good balance and nicely attractive. Probably a malbec to enjoy two times: young and vivid before 4 years ,and later on older and complex without lossing structure near 6 years old. A 90 points malbec and a great value.

Alfredo Roca (Dedicacion Personal) , Bonarda 2008, very nice Bonarda from San Rafael Valley

Alfredo Roca Dedicacion Personal, Bonarda 2008, By Roca wines, USD 12


A Bonarda from San Rafael Valley in South Mendoza.
Quite nice fruity red mostly red ripe and plummy dominanted with beautiful and soft chocolaty note. Balanced and wide in the middle palate even not a very complex or concentrated red. Quite good at the price span. An 89 points red, probably 90 in a couple of years with more complexity. I don´t like most Bonarda´s reds from Argentina, even some expensive, but this one goes straight on keeping a good balance and stand up on its own (keep in mind Bonarda is mostly used as base red in blending).
A thumb up for this Roca´s Dedicacion Personal.

Santa Julia Reserve, Tempranillo 2008, a basic Maipu red and acceptable value

Santa Julia Reserva, Tempranillo 2008, By Bodega Santa Julia (Familia Zuccardi), USD 10



A tempranillo from maipu departament of central Mendoza. It´s got the shape a tempranillo should although it lacks strong structured tannins found in the Spain´s counterparts. Gentle but well defined black cherries with velvety tannins. Not concentrated neither complex. A wine to taste the best probably before 4 years old.
An 84 points red affordable and it pays the bucks it costs.

Tapiz Reserve, Seleccion de Barricas 2006, a single vineyard from Uco to excel a wonderful evening

Tapiz Reserva, Seleccion de Barricas 2006, By Bodega Tapiz, USD 22



A malbec based (with Cab Sau, Merlot and Syrah) single vineyard San Pablo, from Uco Valley, Mendoza.
Beautiful ruby deep colored red. Black fruits dominate the core typical from Uco´s ; Quite attractive and balanced with vanilla,coconut and toast like american oak. The acidity and alcohol are quite correct. Smooth and long palate with nice aftertaste. A 92 points red worthwhile the price. Probably best grown up somewhere between 4 and 8 years old.

Alma 4, Chardonnay Roble 2006, a sparkling overexpressed and down the hill

Alma 4, Chardonnay Roble 2006, sparkling By Familia Zucardi, USD 13


A Chardonnay based sparkling with strong buttery and toasty notes that surround completely the sweet overripe peach and apricot. It goes easily over the top with these three legs. Bottom line: a simple and overexpressed sparkling lacking acidity and complexity. An 80 points sparkling not worthing the price.

Compare tasting of same wine in April 2010. A huge rolling down the hill.

Santa Julia Magna, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, not in line with the standard

Santa Julia Magna Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, By Santa Julia (Familia Zuccardi), USD 15



A Cab that blends to terroirs : Maipu and Tupungato districs.Light and ripe with soft expression. Good balance of red cherries ,a plummy edge and roasted red bell pepper. A soft chocolaty note too. Middle body Cab that doesn´t stick to the memory. An 85 points Cabernet Sauvignon may be overpriced to my point of view. It doesn´t look like to improve beyond 4 years old.

The Santa Julia Magna blend (usualy malbec, Cab, and syrah) reach far beyond into 89-90 points

Alta Vista Rose, Malbec 2008, a good `little´ malbec

Alta Vista Rose, Malbec 2008, By Bodega Alta Vista, USD 10



A Malbec from Lujan de Cuyo Departament vinified into Rose. Nice rose lucent and bright promising violets and ripe red cherries and plum. The palate feels it mostly in the early and middle passage. Smooth tannins and deep grounded. A 84 points (*) rose (which could be a 88 red equivalent). Good value.

(*) There is no way any Rose could ever reach the complexity and maturation of a red wine. I would expect the maximal score close to 85-87 at the best, which could be traslated intuitively to 89-91 points for a red (lets say a 4-point span). So the score is expressed in `rose metrics´. 

Familia Cecchin Carignan 2007, a Tuscan Sangivese from Mendoza.

Familia Cecchin Carignan 2007, USD 12.


A red wine from Russell disctrict of Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza.
A seductive red most closer to a real Tuscan Sangiovese but stuck in Mendoza. Ripe and sour red cherries with  beautiful quince long cooked to dark red (dark red block `dulce de membrillo´). Nice all through palate mostly middle and end part. A typical Italian Sangiovese at gentle price. An 85 points red and a good value. Probably best around 4 years old (plus & minus 1 year).

Kaiken, malbec 2010, unbeatable for 10 bucks

Kaiken, Malbec 2010, By Kaiken Wines , USD 10



Lujan de Cuyo Malbec with magnific backbone of sweet and acid black fruits with a beautiful toach of coffee and chocolate edge. Well balanced and round, much better than over the top for fruit and oak elements. Close to complete palate even you may say just a little bit short. A 90 points Malbec to enjoy plenty during first 6 years born.
Great value for 10 bucks. Much better than most at this price shelf.

Viejo Isaias, Malbec Reserva 2010, an attractive signature malbec from somewhere mendoza

Viejo Isaias, Malbec Reserva 2010, By Rodrigo M Romero, USD 14

A malbec from somewhere in Mendoza showing attractive oak with fruit and balance. A mix of red and black cherries with strong vanilla and chocolate. A little bit short aftertaste but even so likeable. Not a wine to scream but quite attractive and vivid. An 89 points malbec with good value for the price. Probably best before 6 years old.

Las Perdicies, Viogner 2010,a delicate Agrelo white

Las Perdices, Viogner 2010, Viña Las Perdices, USD 10


Beautiful white from Agrelo District in Lujan de Cuyo, Central Mendoza. Soft and delicate but not weak. White peach and pear aromas with pineapple in the palate. Round and well balanced. A 87 points white to enjoy the best the first two years born. Very good value.

Cafayate Malbec Rose 2010, a good Cafayate Rose to pair the summer

Cafayate Malbec Rose 2010, By Bodegas Etchart, USD 10

Nice and straight Rose of Malbec from Cafayate Valley in Salta Province, Northwest Argentina. Ripe and soft red plum juice and aroma with balance in the palate. Light memories of red cherries and mince jam. Great company lightly cooled to any light colored cool or warm summer dish. A tuna based sushi shoud go perfect.
A 82 points (*) Rose and a good value. To drink before 4 years old.

(*) There is no way any Rose could ever reach the complexity and maturation of a red wine. I would expect the maximal score close to 85-87 at the best, which could be traslated intuitively to 89-91 points for a red (lets say a 4-point span).

Cavas Andinas, Black, malbec roble 2007, a thin and slippery malbec

Cavas Andinas Black, Malbec Roble 2007. By Cavas Andinas (Grupo Montes), USD 9



A malbec from Maipu Departament of Central Mendoza displaying rudimentary malbec´s fruitiness at a very basic level with adecuate acidity and alcohol but quite short and soft. It goes round but soon falls empty. A basic and fair malbec of 84 points that I imagine a better argentina´s value at the 6-8 bucks price shelf. Definitedly a less than 4 years cellar malbec.

Lamadrid Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 single vineyard, a basic agrelo overpriced

Lamadrid Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Single Vineyard, By Bodega Lamadrid, USD 12



A Cabernet Sauvignon from Agrelo district in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza. Simple and modestly attractive Cab with nice toasty notes surrounding. Good and firm tannins accompanied by the expected red fruits and blueberries. Short lasting and not complex. An 85 points CS that I feel it a little bit overpriced. I wound´t cellar this type of CS more than 4 years.

Saurus Patagonia Select, Malbec 2006. A regular value from Northpatagonia

Saurus Patagonia Select, Malbec 2006, By Bodega Familia Schroeder, USD 14


Nice and round but short malbec from San Patricio Valley,  Neuquen Province, Northpatagonia. Sweet fruity backbone of red cherries and quince jam with a very modest chocolaty note. Good alcohol and acidity. Not complex neither long lasting. An 86 points malbec with fair price to buy every now and then. Barely a regular Patagonian Malbec. It shows tannins to improve or maintain itself good enough for 4-6 years.

Paso de Piedra, Reserve Malbec 2007; A Viña Alicia value from Central Mendoza

Paso de Piedra Reserve , Malbec 2007, By Viña Alicia, USD 12



A malbec from somewhere in Lujan de Cuyo, Central Mendoza by a winery devoted mostly to expensive reds. Close to its best now. Red with soft brownish shades. Expressive nose and straight palate. Good mixed red and black cherries very sweet of marmalade or jam type. Not complex neither deep although nice and enjoable. Tiny chocolate mostly like milky. An 88 points malbec nice and round. Typical Central Mendoza´s Value. Better before 6 years old.

Vero Malbec 2007, Tempus Alba masterpiece to remember for ever

Vero, Malbec 2007, By Tempus Alba, USD 90



An outrageous malbec from Maipu Departament of central mendoza. One of the most complex malbecs I ever tasted. Complete and balanced. All the attractions of a full body, ripe malbec with exquisite oak envelope. You won´t forget the sweet black currant and berries with plum and chocolate. Vanilla and coffee bean dark roasted are astonishing. Allspice flavors mixed with cocoa and vanilla round up beautifully. Long lasting all through the palate. A 96 points malbec worthwhile the price and more. Close to the best.

Dos 2007, a Bodega Noemia without malbec to explore in Rio Negro, Northpatagonia

Dos, Noemia 2007, By Bodega Noemia, USD 110



A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Rio Negro, Northpatagonia.
Interesting red with balanced notes of red flowers and cherries with sour raspberries and a delicate toach of chocolate and vanilla. Velvety and smooth all through the palate with small amounts of red bell peppers. A 92 points blend to enjoy better after 4 years born. Expensive if you would but even so an elegant red.

La Flor, blend 2009, a delicate Pulenta Wines from Agrelo

La Flor, Blend 2009, By Pulenta Wines, USD 10



Good blend from Agrelo district in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Apparentely made of 45% malbec 45% CS and 15% merlot. Delicate red, translucent and bright. Fine sweet red fruits with sweet chocolate and marraschino cherries popping up immediately.Nice passage through the middle palate and long enough to sabor it aftertaste leaving some mint leaves memory. A small herbal toach too. A 87 points blend and a good value.
Too soft and sweet to my taste like a fruity young new world Pinot Noir or a Beuajolais even though it may be pleasant in many occations.

Collovati Malbec 2008, from Famatina Valley a world class malbec for every taste

Collovati Malbec 2008, By Javier Collovati, USD 15

A malbec from Sañogasta, Famatina Valley in La Rioja Province. A single 10 acres vineyard owned by the winemaker. Striking deep red with an undertone of blue. Misterious aromas of blueberries and toast of some kind of dark pudding. Beautiful and round palate, balanced and attractive. A mix of red and black cherries ripe and sour. Not quite long lasting though and that´s the only minus. A 88 points  malbec full body and balanced. Strong and firm tannins to endure a better fate in 4-6 years of age.

A great value small prodution malbec.

Argento , Cabenernet Sauvignon 2009, a basic value from Vistaflores

Argento, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, By Argento Wines (Catena Group), USD 8

A red from Vistaflores district in Tunuyan, Uco Valley, Mendoza

Nice basic red with some good stuff from Uco Valley at a low cost level. Good fruity beginning, mostly red ripe black cherries and currant giving a brief middle palate and an unexisting aftertaste. Not more than a hint of green leaves. It lacks solid tannins even though you may enjoy at a basic level. A 84 points red and a acceptable value even though I´m not sure I´d buy it easily twice before trying many others at 8 bucks level.