Argentina´s Wines Revisited by Miguel

Famiglia Mosso, Malbec 2010, a punching malbec from maipu ,but drink it young !

2012-01-27T22:21:00.001-03:00

Famiglia Mosso, Malbec 2010, By Piamonte Mendoza SA, (Mosso Wines), USD 13
A malbec from Lunlunta District in Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza.
Quite attractive and straight malbec that will get approve by most. Sweet ripe red cherries and black california plum with strong sweet coffee and clove. Also a clear note of vanilla. Over the edge of oak´s overexpression but keeping a good line that will enchant most drinkers. A 90 point malbec I feel nicer during 2-4 years of age were fruit´s sitll strong to balance the oak. Great value no doubt but given the oaky punch it should be drunk young.

Tres14, Garage Malbec 2009, nice malbec from Lunlunta with a name behind it

2012-01-27T21:51:00.001-03:00

Tres14, Malbec 2009, by Daniel Pi, USD 20
A garage wine (and a signature wine) from a vineyard of Lunlunta district, Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza. A nice malbec with a mix of red and black cherries well entangled with smooth chocolate and smoke and a minimal trace of vanilla. Moderately wide in the palate with enough aftertaste. An 88 point red well priced simple and attractive enough to get even but I don´t know if I´d look after and buy it twice. It may be better at 4 or 5 years old.

The wine had a bit of TCA that washed completely away after a short polyethylene toach.

Paz 2009, both Cabernets dancing in a smooth red from San Juan

2012-01-27T21:38:00.001-03:00

Paz (de Finca Las Moras) 2009, By Finca Las Moras, USD 24
A 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from different Valleys of San Juan Province.
Nice red with strong shade of blue introducing to an expressive red to enjoy easy. Soft blueberries and boysenberries with a nice smoke and chocolate. Not very acid but neither alcoholic. Modest but delicate tannins ending smoothly. An 89 point red that I wound´t cellar more than 4 years. A little bit overpriced but may be a local distortion. A 15 to 20 bucks range would be much competitive.

Patron Santiago, Reserva 2005, a wine to enjoy the complexity of Villa Seca´s reds

2012-01-27T21:30:00.000-03:00

Patron Santiago Reserva 2005, By Bodega Manuel Lopez Lopez, USD 23
A Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend from Villa Seca district, in Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza.
Very good wine with astonishing balance and well expressed fruits. Round red cherries with a toach of nice bitter tannins giving a delicate but expressive backbone. Sweet and polished palate by the time. A 91 point red walking its last years of plateau. A great value too. A wine to enjoy the complexity of a mature Maipu´s.

Carmelo Patti, malbec 2007, I coudn´t believe my eyes !

2012-01-26T00:10:00.004-03:00

Carmelo Patti, Malbec 2007, By El Lagar, USD 20

Another vintage of this malbec from Mayor Drummond district in Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza.
This time an unattractive malbec (tasted twice) that I cound´t believe my senses. Strange acidity even not undrinkable but rendering the wine unbalanced. One bottle with a residual TCA/TBA which almost disappeared after a wash with a plastic bag. Some low typical red fruits with far memories of plum. I even catch a hint of nail polish that reminds me some unwanted Bret. The wine although drinkable doesn´t reach 78-80 points. I decided to put them up because both bottles had the similar readings and after contacting the winery no answers got. I know this winery from several years now (at least 8 years) and I found a wide variablity in wine quality that I´m not willing to take at 20 bucks price level.

If you read my note this month on the 2006 vintage (again tasted twice) you may think a felt insane.
carmelo-patti-malbec-2006

Carinae Reserve Syrah 2008, a great ´Cruz de Piedra´ proudly made in Maipu

2012-01-26T00:00:00.002-03:00

Carinae, Reserve Syrah 2008, By Carine SA, USD 16
A syrah from Cruz de Piedra District of Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza
A beautiful syrah with solid and well articulated tannins. Neat expressions of fruits, mostly black berries and black currrants
over a nice chocolaty complement. There is a herbal note quite interesting and a green peppercorn scent to make it more complex.
A 90 points syrah nice and beauty now but enough room for improving a couple of points next upcoming 2 to 4 years.
Great value.

Alto Uxmal, Pinot Grigio 2010,a nice Tupungato white

2012-01-25T01:27:00.001-03:00

Alto Uxmal, Pinot Grigio 2010, By Bodega Uxmal, USD 10

A pinot grigio from Tupungato Valley (part of Uco Valley), Mendoza.
Nice mix even of green and pale yellow. The wine is quite citric but sweet peach is in there too. You may get a chicory bitter soft and delicate with a bigger herbal note. That little sweet melony edge sets this wine a little bit apart from a Torrontes from the same terroir. A nice white with crispy acidity and good alcohol. An 86 point white good value, but it would be a great value if below 10 bucks.

Carmelo Patti Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, all expressive red to keep a case

2012-01-24T00:49:00.000-03:00

Carmelo Patti, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Bodegas y Viñedos El Lagar , USD 20
A Cabernet Sauvignon signature wine from Mayor Drumond district of Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza.
Very good Cab with nice maturity. All expressive red juice with deep red cherries and sweet quince and plum toasted. Barely any peppery note. Soft spice like bayleaf remindings. Well structured and lasting into the aftertaste. The alcohol and acidity are counterbalenced properly. A 90 point Cabernet Sauvignon to acknowledge easy and buy a case. Good Argentina´s value.

Noble Aconcagua Malbec 2010, a perfect Argentina´s value at less than 10 bucks price

2012-01-21T22:48:00.000-03:00

Noble Aconcagua, Malbec 2010, By Dos Arboles, USD 8
A malbec from Tunuyan Departament in Uco Valley. A mostly blue wine with all the virtues a malbec from Uco may offer. Ripe sweet blue berries and cherries with a nice toach of chocolate. Balanced and quite attractive. A wine you find hard stop drinking another cup. One of the best values I´ve ever seen. It may be this good 2-4 years. An 89 point malbec for 8 bucks. A great great value.

Zaha, Altamira Mendoza, Malbec 2010, pure terroir without overconcentration

2012-01-21T10:37:00.001-03:00

Zaha, malbec 2010,Altamira Mendoza, By 55 Malbec, USD 20

A 90 % malbec co-fermented with 8% of Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot from Altamira district (San Carlos Departament) in Uco Valley, Mendoza.
Impressive flowers and fuits in an elegant bunch. Not overconcentrated but sharp and definite in ripe fruits.You can tell apart at least 5 different fruits nicely. Minimal herbal and peppery edge giving an intriguing note. Even fruit driven there are some chocolaty and vanilla in there.Quite round and smooth. A 91 point malbec now that should be set apart in proper cellar for some years to see it at the age of 4-6 y/o (when it shoud reach 93-94 point for sure!). Great value. Not a superb malbec to enjoy 8-12 years but an excellent offer at the super or ultrapremium level.

Algodon Malbec 2009, a new vintage of a great Malbec from San Rafael Valley

2012-01-21T10:19:00.001-03:00

Algodon Malbec 2009, By Algodon Wine Estate, USD 18

Another vintage of this outstanding malbec from San Rafael Valley, south Mendoza.
Wide and brilliant fron the first ´touch´ of the nose with the mist outflowing the cup. Elegant violets and red cherries with sweet sensation of the oak give way to a wide palate with balanced fruits and oak (mostly chocolate and toast). Some nice notes of figs ripe and sweet and a very light quince membrillo not overcooked. A 91 point malbec now that has 1 to 3 years to get much better. Great value.

Don Diego , Syrah & Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, not even...

2012-01-18T00:25:00.000-03:00

Don Diego Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, By Finca Don Diego, USD 14

A single vineyard bi-varietal blend co-harvested and co-fermented with oak chips.
The wine comes from Fiambala Valley in Catamarca Province.
A nicely scented red with memories of red fruits. A little bit dissapointing afterwards with a non pleasant sourness on the palate like barely cooked plums to a sour premature jam. Mild herbal and peppery notes on a barely detectable chocolate. I don´t feel it attractive although it portrais a basic drinkablity. An 81-82 point red that doesn´t worth half the price. Far from an Argentina´s value.

Jorge Rubio, Malbec Privado 2008, nice components well blended in this General Alvear´s Malbec

2012-01-16T18:58:00.001-03:00

Privado ,Malbec 2008, By Finca Gabriel Benavides (Jorge Rubio), USD 10

A signature malbec from General Alvear Departament, South Mendoza.
Quite interesting malbec at a premium level. Nice plum and dry fig dominate the palate and aromas with only a soft brush of chocolate and coffee from oak. Well balanced with a nice bitter tannin. Probably not likeable for everyone. Mature now at 4 years old, and probably trespassing palteau after 6 years old. An 87 point malbec with adecuate price. I´d say a good value.

Carmelo Patti Malbec 2006, a must to appreciate a great malbec from Mayor Drummond district

2012-01-16T01:24:00.001-03:00

Carmelo Patti, Malbec 2006, By Bodegas & Viñedos El Lagar, USD 20
A Malbec signature wine from Mayor Drummond District in Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza.
What a beautiful Malbec! Impressive red cherries and boysenberries with almost a perfect balance of fruit, acidity and alcohol. Well put oak chocolate, smoke and minimal vanilla. Red flowers first pop up from the cup. All through the palate you may entertain your senses picking up small forrest fruits and plum.
A 92 point malbec quite mature that will keep its plateau for at least 2 to 4 years more (8 to 10 from vintage). A must to appreciate what a great malbec may bring around. Great great value.

Chateau Vieux 2003, a mature blend easy to go with any food or alone

2012-01-15T00:02:00.000-03:00

Chateau Vieux 2003, By Bodegas Lopez, USD 13
A blend of Cabernet Savignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir from Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza.
The wine is kept on the winery several years before release. Brilliant but brownish like coke soda. Quite aromatic. Thin structure of nice redish fruit mostly remembering merlot and pinot with delicate smoke and very soft dark chocolate. Balanced and likeable all through the palate even though it falls short. A delicate and pinot/merlot driven red. An 85 point red easy to go with whatever food you decide. The wine is already mature.

Atos Pampa, Merlot Roble 2010, the great work on this new vineyard continues

2012-01-14T14:41:00.002-03:00

Atos Pampa, Merlot Roble (oak) 2010, By Bodega Atos Pampa, USD 10
A merlot from high altitude (1,200 mts, 3940 ft) single small vineyard at Calamuchita Valley in Cordoba Province. The wine is simple and straight even attractive. Likeable smoky more than chocolaty from the start off. Nice red cherries and raspberries sweet and sour nicely alcoholic. Better appreciated 18-19 celsius (64-66 F) than colder. An 87 point merlot well pulled together at the premium level. Well priced too. The tannins look young and probably not fated to linger beauty more than 4 years old.

see a previous taste: http://argentinawinesrevisited.blogspot.com/2010/07/atos-pampa-roble-malbec-2009

Cicchitti Blend 2006, a great and classical blend from Mendoza

2012-01-13T22:11:00.000-03:00

Cicchitti Colección, Blend 2006, By Bodega J.A. Cicchitti S.A., USD 17
A classical Argentina´s blend with all the beauty . Malbec 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30% and Merlot 10% from Uco Valley and Lujan de Cuyo Departament. A deep and vivid blue with dark red included. Very expressive nose of flowers and fruits mostly black ones. Not overconcetrated even the palate gets the best with great balance and focus. Only nice dark chocolate and some mild smoke. Precise toaches of bayleaf, crushed green peppercorns. A great malbec based red that seems walking its plateau. The tannins are so sharp and elegant that I imagine a great terciary move next 2-4 years. I´d say a 92 point red. A great value, very competitive and solid.

Domados Reserve 2008, a delicate malbec & cabernet blend

2012-01-13T16:55:00.000-03:00

Domados Reserve 2008 (Tobiano), By Domados Wines , USD 15
A Malbec 65% and Cabernet 35% blend from La Consulta district of San Carlos Dpt in Uco Valley.
A red cherries dominant malbec with delicate structure and backbone. Mostly fruity with a mild sweet bell peppery note. Nice wideness in the middle palate with an toasty edge. I wound´t say this is a typical La Consulta red. It reminds me some Central Mendoza virtues. An 88 point red with fair price. Probably 2-3 years the older the better.

Felix Malbec 2010, from Cafayate with minor flaws

2012-01-13T16:44:00.000-03:00

Felix, Malbec 2010, By Bodega Felix Lavaque, USD 18
A malbec from Cafayate Valley, Salta Province, Northwest Argentina.
Concentrated malbec with typical notes of malbec in a somehow herbal base and slightly acid like lactic (overheated ?). Ripe and wide plummy core with black berries and some dark quince membrillo. Not invasive notes of chocolate. In any case a very good malbec with minor flaws. I´d say an 85 point malbec. I feel uncertain about where to and how much that minor flaw might lead in the upcoming years.

Lindaflor Malbec 2005, a growing age of a great Vistaflores´s wine

2012-01-12T12:57:00.001-03:00

Lindaflor, Malbec 2005, By Bodega Monteviejo, USD 38

A malbec from Vistaflores, Tunuyan Dpt, Uco Valley, South Mendoza
Great malbec with impressive nose of chocolate and sweet coffee. Toachy palate of dark berries jammy and delicate at the same. Caramelized boysenberries with dashes of cloves and cinnamon. Wide middle palate with less impressive ending and aftertaste.Quite complex mix with a few intriguing notes to discover even though still fruit driven. A 93 point malbec turned very complex and delicate at this point in life.
I´m not sure I´d like this wine 2-4 years down the road with more terciary notes and less typical fruit expression. Lets see it! A great value out of any doubt.

Antis, Reserve Cuvee Mendoza 2006, a basic blend with no much to offer

2012-01-11T15:58:00.000-03:00

ANTIS, Reserve Cuvee Mendoza 2006, By Antis Wines (Andean Wineries), USD 20
A blend of 50% malbec with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot from Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza.
A basic red with no much to remember. Mostly red cherries with a nice concentration and deepness. An akward acidity puts it on the edge of loosing balance. All in all, the wine s likeable at a basic level, lets say a premium level. Not even close to 20 bucks for sure. I´d say acceptable value below 10 bucks. An 84 point blend with no much more to offer.
(the cork was ok and the color brilliant and deep red)

Diamandes (de Uco) , Malbec 2010, a little diamond from Vistaflores

2012-01-11T08:35:00.000-03:00

Diamandes (de Uco), Malbec 2010, By Winery Diamandes,
USD 17

A malbec from Vistaflores district, Tunuyan Dpt of Uco Valley.
Deep blue with violet shade announcing a young guy. Very expressive nose and a palate you fall in love. Ripe plum with sour and sweet black cherries and berries. A dominant and concentrated malbec but not over the top. Some chocolaty and smokey toach well integrated. A 90 point malbec now that will evolve next 2-4 years somehow but I don´t now if much enough to step up a point. Great value.

La Chamiza, Leyend of Polo Malbec 2008, a delicate Agrelo´s Malbec

2012-01-10T19:17:00.002-03:00

Leyend of Polo, Malbec 2008, By Finca La Chamiza, USD 16

A malbec from Agrelo District of Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza.
Nice frutal and floral aromas with delicate balance after drunk it. You may get ripe raspeberries, red cherries and currants. Appropiate acidity and alcohol buck up the tannins which are elegant and supper. Only an edge of chocolate and vanilla. An 88 point malbec, sound and nice that may fall behind if you like those impressive and punchy Uco´s malbecs. It looks like walking its plateau right now, and may endure so next couple of years.

Gimenez Riili Malbec 2010, unbeatable below 14 bucks

2012-01-10T19:13:00.000-03:00

Gimenez Riili, Malbec 2010, By Gimenez Riili SA, USD 10

An impressive malbec with punchy fruits you learn to love immediately. Ripe blueberries and boysenberries,
black cherries and currants altogether. Sweet and accertive with fleshy tannins and mild oak influence. One of those malbec 9 out of ten guys will adore from the first toach. An 89 point malbec to enjoy young, like before 4 years old. A great Argentina´s Value no doubt. It has the Uco Valley´s signature (Tupungato Dpt, San Carlos Dpt, Tunuyan Dpt) at the premium level, unbeatable in price and quality. This malbec beats many around 15 bucks wines in a blind tasting.

Amalaya white 2010, an overexpressed Torrontes from Cafayate´s Valley

2012-01-10T19:05:00.001-03:00

Amalaya 2010, Torrontes & Riesling, By Bodega Amalaya (Hess Family), USD 10

A blend from Cafayate Valley, Salta Province, Northwest Argentina.
A shoking white overexpressing a punch of grapefruit and rude plant with minimal if any other thing to tell. The palate barely gets balance although the sweetness,alcohol and acidity are out there well enough. Unfortunately this citric and herbal overexpression renders the wine easily saturable (probably a similar overexpression in a Chard from NZ is more balanced and likeable). An 84 point white somehow nice but unbalanced.

Santa Julia Extra Brut, a simple and straight sparkling turned into a great value

2012-01-10T18:59:00.000-03:00

Santa Julia, Extra Brut n/v, By Bodega Santa Julia (Familia Zuccardi) , USD 10

A sparkling made of Chardonnay, Chenin, and Pinot Noir.
Easy to drink and displaying all the palette of a classic champagne with acceptable balance and quality. Peach and pineapple with soft melony note and a solid cherry buckup of Pinot Noir. Very soft toasty note too. An 86 point sparkling with great value component. I like the classic structre of this wine.

Hollen Malbec 2008, an overexpressed malbec some people may like

2012-01-10T18:45:00.000-03:00

Hollen, Malbec 2008 By Hollen M. James & Hollen M. Charles, USD 18

A malbec from somewhere Mendoza. Very alcoholic and almost overexpressed malbec that keep itself close to the unbalance. A mix of red berries and dominant black cherries quite typical of the high vineyards of Uco Valley. Nice chocolaty note and floral violets are prominent at the first sniff. A malbec that may gain some complexity in 2-4 years at the most. (At some point it reminds me some alcoholic Cafayate´s red not very well taken care of at the vineyard level.) I´d say an 88 point malbec that I don´t like but some people may actually get impressed. The wine is good aside my personal take on it. Overpriced no doubt.

Bournett Malbec numerado 2008, a basic San Rafael´s Valley malbec

2012-01-10T18:35:00.002-03:00

Bournett, Malbec numerado 2008, By Bodega Burnett SA,
USD 9

A malbec from San Rafael Vallley, South Mendoza showing nice red cherries and berries with less plum than a usual malbec. Too young now with some immature tannins from the vineyard or the vintage, or both. Very soft chocolate. An 83 point malbec that I wound´t pay more than 6-7 bucks to keep the good value seal. To drink before 2-4 years old, but even reaching the best it should keep a better quality price ratio by selling below 7 bucks.

Accuro, Reserve Blend 2007, a well balaced ultra-premium

2012-01-10T18:24:00.004-03:00

Accuro, Reserve Blend 2009, By Bodega Andana SA, USD 15

A well balanced blend with assorted red cherries and boysenberries sweet and deeply enough. Good edge of chocolate and a smokey note to round it up nicely. Not a great and deeply concentrated red even though some basic complexity above premium level is easily noticeable. An 89 point blend well priced that looks close to its plateau and may endure this quality 2 or 3 years more.

Luigi Bosca, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, ripe and delicious superpremium Maipu

2012-01-07T15:33:00.001-03:00

Luigi Bosca, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, By Bodega Luigi Bosca (Familia Arizu),USD

A single vineyard Cab from Maipu Departament in Central Mendoza.
Really mature and balanced CS with nice mix of ripe and sour red and black cherries, black plum and quince cooked in dark membrillo. Very aromatic from the first sniffy toach with attractive toasty note. Good sweet bell pepper mostly red and roasted. A 92 point red that looks like close to reach its plateau. It´s got tannins to endure well mature up to 6-8 years of vintage. Great value and I like better than the Malbec from the same series, although it may be a vintage or cellar bias.

Las Perdices, Malbec Reserve 2009, a typical Agrelo at above premium level

2012-01-07T15:25:00.012-03:00

Las Perdices, Reserve Malbec 2009, By Bodega Las Perdices, USD 16

A malbec from Agrelo District in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza.
Well balanced and fine malbec. No bombastic neither explossive. Ripe red cherries and boysenberries. Nice chocolate envelope. Good and precise in every edge. To enjoy the terroir based malbec of Agrelo. An 89 point malbec with a plateau lasting 4-6 years easily. Good value too.

Nieto Senetiner, Millesime Brut Nature, impressive and original sparkling

2012-01-04T19:44:00.000-03:00

Nieto Senetiner, Millesime Brut Nature , By Bodega Nieto Senetiner, USD 25

A sparkling made of Pinot Noir and Malbec (blanc de noir) from somewhere in Mendoza.
Nice pale rose with very fine bubbles. Beautiful notes of little cherries very delicate and barely sweet. Nice peach and apricot quite sutil. Toasty envelope and soft buttery note well described n the back label as ´praline´. A 90 point sparkling and a competitive value, original and attractive.

Gran Dante, Malbec 2006, A nice Lujan de Cuyo Malbec but overpriced

2012-01-04T19:32:00.000-03:00

Gran Dante, Malbec 2006, By Bodegas Dante Robino, USD 30

A malbec from Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza.
A well balanced and nicely complex malbec. Pure violets aromas with nice vanilla and toast. Complex palate with wide middle portion of ripe black cherries and sweet plum. Some red berries too. It lacks some stronger and firmer tannins though. An 89 points malbec ready and walking its plateau. I wound´t pay this price twice: probably I get even by less than 20 bucks.
Not competitive though.

VAS Malbec 2008, From Cafayate Valley with love

2012-01-04T19:30:00.001-03:00

VAS, Malbec 2008, By Bodega Vasija Secreta, USD 20

A malbec from Cafayate Valley (part of Calchaquies Valley) Salta Province, (Northwest Argentina).
An Impressive malbec with extra bold accent in every component this wine is made of. Naturally concentrated ripe califonia plum with black cherries and a nice toach of eucaliptus and dry bay leaf. Also an appropiate chocolaty and very soft vanilla note.This type of strong malbec natural of these very high (around 1,700 mts = 5,600 ft) Valleys is impressive, but may not entertain everybody given its fast growing over the top quality. Even so a 90 points malbec very competitive and faithfull to its terroir.

Calatayud Malbec 2009 a premium value from Tunuyan and under 10 bucks

2012-01-04T18:43:00.001-03:00

Calatayud, Malbec 2009, By Jose Calatayud (Altos Viñedos), USD 8

A malbec from Tunuyan Departament of Uco Valley, Mendoza
Not far from the typical premium Uco´s backbone: sweet little blackberries, attractive and easy to drink.
A little pinch of chocolate. Nice to enjoy before 4 years old. Well structured but short palate and even shorter aftertaste. All in all an 87 points malbec that should be competitive even in the 10-15 bucks´s shelve.

Avarizza Blend 2009, a great blend of Central Mendoza, complete and attractive

2012-01-03T16:14:00.001-03:00

Avarizza Blend 2009, By Bodega Avarizza, USD 18

A Blend 2/3 Malbec from Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo Dpt and 1/3 Cabernet Sauvignon from Villa Seca, Maipu Dpt.
Quite impressive red, round and mature, soft and complete. Vanilla and chocolate first pop up to the first sniff. Boysenberries and black cherries with harder and spicy tannins from Cabernet Sauvignon complete the middle and end of palate. Nice aftetaste. Quite elegant and attractive at the same time. A 91 points red that should evolve into a better complexity the upcoming 2-4 years. Great Value from Central Mendoza. Competitive for less than 20 buck given its completeness and complexity with a window for cellar improvement.

Misterio (de Otoño) Malbec 2008, a signature malbec from Tupungato Valley quite competitive

2012-01-03T15:52:00.002-03:00

Milagro (de otoño), Malbec Roble 2008, USD 12

A malbec from Tupungato Valley (part of Uco Valley) and a signature wine by Francisco Gimenez & Mario Cosarinsky.
Beautiful malbec with all the fruit and typicity of the high Tupun Valley. Ripe black cherries and a plummy edge too. Nice Chocolate and vanilla note complementing. A mature but still young malbec probably better in 2-3 years. Easy and attractive close to those Barossa most people (including my self) enjoy at once. An 89 points malbec quite attactive and very appropiate for less than 15 bucks. One of those wines you buy at least twice to enjoy with friends on any casual reunion.

Freixenet Cordon Negro, a cava I thought it was a local sparkling!

2012-01-03T15:31:00.001-03:00

Freixenet Cordon Negro, Extra Brut n/v, By Freixenet S.A., USD 12

A sparkling from Spain (they call it 'Cava', I thought it was from Mendoza given the widespread availabilty around here) made of macabeo, xarel-lo and parellada. Poor peach and apple mostly green even ripe. Closer to a sidar than a sparkling wine. An 78 points sparkling white I wound´t pay twice this price. I would be nice with you if this sparkling were given for free to me or if I paid up to 5 bucks. Get it?

Familia Bonfanti, Chardonnay 2011, not having even the blood of Perdriel

2012-01-03T15:24:00.002-03:00

Familia Bonfanti ,Chardonnay 2011, Bodega Roberto Bonfanti, USD 9

A Chardonnay from Perdriel District in ujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza
A basic and simple white without any beauty to remember. The terroir drove me to this wine. Unfortunately the bottle doesn´t display any historic beauty. Pale yellowish with poor aromas blowing out. Some basic peach and elemental pineapple. Good acidity and alcohol even no bright or attractive structure. A 79 points chardonnay that I won´t buy again.

Rutini Cabernet & Malbec 2006, not as good as 2007 vintage

2012-01-03T15:21:00.000-03:00

Rutini Cabernet Sauvignon & Malbec 2006, By Rutini Wines (Bodega La Rural), USD 20

A nice but somehow sad blend 50/50 from Maipu Departament of Central Mendoza
Well expressed fruits, mostly a mix remembering both grapes and a soft oak envelope. If you remember any good malbec or cabernet or both from this mendoza, you forget this Rutini entereraly right away. If you are begenning to know those wines & grapes from mendoza, you may recognise some fine basics on it.
An 86 points red not even close to its money price. Probably ending its plateau in terms of life span and maturity.The 2007 vintage did quite better.

see the 2007 vintage tasted: argentinawinesrevisited

Benvenuto de la Serna 2006, great son of Vistaflores, full and mature malbec blend

2012-01-02T16:13:00.000-03:00

Benvenuto de La Serna 2006, By Colle di Boasi S.A., USD 16

A blend 60% Malbec and 40% Merlot from Vistaflores district in Tunuyan Valley (Uco Valley), Mendoza
Great blend with vivid black little berries and boysenberries typical of Uco Valley with noteworthy vanilla and chocolate. Very good balance and nice tannins, sweet and well structuredo enjy every sip without any overexpression. Probably reaching its best although 2-4 years ahead might bring son terciary finesse. A 90 points malbec based blend with great value.

Soigne Brut, a Tupungato Sparkling with classic Champ beauty and appropiate value ratio

2011-12-30T01:47:00.004-03:00

Soigne Brut, By Bodega J.A. Cicchitti, USD 20
A Chardonnay and Semillon based with some Pinot Noir from Tupungato Valley in Uco Valley, Mendoza .
Good sour and sweet peach and lemon with a white floral entrance aroma. Also a beautiful small bubbly sensation of finesse that encharms the palate from the beginning. Soft buttery and toasty quite elegant. Lacks some backbone of Pinot quality. An 87 points sparkling nice and fine. Close to a Champagne style classic. Even so, It shows an appropiate price/quality bottom line.

Alfredo Roca, Cuvee Especial, nice and attractive but far from Champagne tradition of excelence

2011-12-30T01:35:00.003-03:00

Alfredo Roca, Cuvee Especial Brut Nature, By Bodega Alfredo Roca, USD 13
A white blend (blanc de blancs) 60% chardonnay and 40% chenin from San Rafael Valley South Mendoza.
A nice sparkling without the magic Pinot Noir brings to any sparkling. Ripe peach and apple with a delicate roundness. But lacks the bone and balance bitter/cherries of a prime time Champagne style sparkling. An 85 points sparkling I won´t buy twice, as any that doesn´t follow the equilibrium settled down by the northern France tradition . We may live peacefully if you dont´t agree.

Riglos, Gran Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, an astonishing Cab from Tupungato you shound´t miss

2011-12-30T01:24:00.002-03:00

Riglos, Gran Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, By Fincas Las Divas, USD 23
A single vineyard Cabernet from Tupungato Valley part of Uco Valley, Mendoza.
Wonderful Cab with an astonshing balance. This proves that a well ripe and equilibrated Cabernet Sauvignon reaches where malbec can´t, not even close. Quite elegant black little fruits like cherries and berries with nice global balance including chocolate and smoke at the right place.Smooth and elegant all through the palate which continues to complete in the aftertaste time. Acidity and alcohol go delicate. A 93 points red, not bombastic neither shoking as some other well priced fashion reds. I feel it to improve next 6 years given the bone of the tannins. Great Argentina´s value. A must red to know this terroir´s potential to imprint some grapevines.

Deumayen (Trez), Malbec Reserve 2007, a superpremium Malbec from Alto Agrelo

2011-12-29T00:49:00.000-03:00

Trez, Malbec reserve 2007, By Deumayen Wines, USD 23
A malbec from Alto Agrelo district in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza.
Juicy and dark balanced malbec with nice undertones of chocolate and smoke. Vivid and bright plum ripe and black. Blackberries and quince jam tyical. No better alcohol and acidity for this. Very fine malbec even not like those above all and on top. A 90 points malbec probably showing the best for a couple of years more. I feel it appropiate for a price range of 15-20 bucks .

Antucura , Blend Selection 2005, a very nice blend from Vistaflores in Uco Valley

2011-12-27T00:57:00.002-03:00

Antucura Blend Selection 2005, By Bodega Antucura (Caviar Blue SA), USD 19
A 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Malbec from Vistaflores district in Tunuyan Dpt (part of Uco Valley). Quite nice blend. Ripe sweet and sour black fruits typical of Vistaflores and Uco Valley at large well entangled with this blend. Not over expressed chocolaty and toasty note. Thin and sharp with strong dark ripen fruits. Probably on its best now. An 89 points blend ending its plateau. A very attractive red.

Aguma Reserve Tannat 2010, a simple and fruity red to enjoy just now

2011-12-26T17:39:00.001-03:00

Aguma Reserve Tannat 2010, By Guma Casa Vinícola, USD 12
A Tannat from San Juan Province close by Mendoza. A very hot weather with wines close to south Australia in imprints.
Likable blueberries and boysenberries very ripe and almost minimal acidity percieved. Strong alcohol to pair well with almost any food around, even chocolate. Not an impressive neither a memorable premium. I feel even with it. It may settle down nex couple of years but won´t get much better than this. An 84 points red fruit driven and fresh to enjoy simple with any food like just now.

Salentien Reserve Malbec 2010, keeping the correct place of quality but more short lived than before

2011-12-26T17:30:00.029-03:00

Salentein Reserve Malbec 2010, By Salentein Wines, USD 14
A malbec from los arboles in Tunuyan Departament part of Uco Valley, Mendoza
A young malbec and ready to drink now. Ripe blackberries and boysenberries more friendly than previous vintages (and chief winemaker too). Fruit driven with soft oaky notes.This time probaby won´t get better after 4 years (as oppose to previous when 4-6 years was desirable). An 88 points malbec well priced and valued. Attractive and easy but less complex and concetrated than before.

Cicchitti blend 2008, an impressive and delicate blend by a quality mind

2011-12-25T15:39:00.002-03:00

Cicchitti Blend 2008, Edicion Limitada, By Bodega J.A. Cicchitti SA, USD 15

A blend of even parts of Pinot Noir and Sangiovese with 20% of Merlot from Uco Valley and Lujan de Cuyo vineyards in Mendoza. Just an impressive wine. Ripe fruits mostly black little cherries and berries round and clear with adicting palate. Delicate and elegant tannins with balancing acidity and alcohol. Very smooth all through the palate, mostly the middle although perfuming all over. Nicely invasive. A 90 points red hard to get by 15 bucks which place the label close to any top list where money counts. Probably on its plateau even it sholud be bright at 4-6 y/o.

Elementos Syrah 2010, a great value from Cafayate Valley ready to beat whatever close by

2011-12-25T13:04:00.003-03:00

Elementos Syrah 2010, By Bodega El Esteco, USD 6-7
A syrah from Cafayate Valley, Salta Province, Northwest Argentina.
This Syrah made me smile and enjoy. This is what Cafayate Valley makes on a Syrah: black balanced fruits with eucaliptus and very soft pepper ground on a good alcohol and acidity backup. A smooth yet rich and complex enough red. Nice and appropiate aftertaste. An 87 points red hard to reach at this price level. Great Value and two thumbs up for a fairly complex, balanced, and attractive red. Probably best first 4 years.

Calafate Colección Malbec 2010, a dense and concentrated northpatagonian malbec

2011-12-25T12:44:00.001-03:00

Calafate Colección Malbec 2010, By Bodega Dos Andes, USD 12
A malbec from Añelo district in Neuquen Province, North Patagonia.
A rich malbec with a typicity of Northpatagonia. Ripe and sweet red cherries and plum slightly compoted and kind of hot with chocolaty notes in it. A little bit overconcentrated and dense. It may need cellaring kind of 3-4 years to show the best balance. An 87 points malbec and a good value. It wound´t suprise me if reaches an astonishing balance anfter 6 years of proper age.

Villa Atuel Malbec 2008 & Villa Atuel Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, you won´t believe the quality for less than 5 bucks

2011-12-24T00:19:00.003-03:00

Villa Atuel, Malbec 2008, By Bodegas Pueyo Echevarria, USD 4
A Malbec from Villa Atuel town in San Rafael Valley, Mendoza
Good and straight malbec. Pure california plum and quince marmalade. Not concentrated but balanced and attractive. An 8 bucks value bought by 4. Great deal, isn´t it ? An 82 points malbec, low cost and good pleasure. It fullfils my expectation from San Rafael Valley, Atuel river and town in the deep south Mendoza.

Villa Atuel, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, By Bodegas Pueyo Echevarria, USD 4
A Cabernet Sauvignon from vineyards of San Rafael Valley (Villa Atuel town) , Mendoza.
As many times happens, the CS reaches a better balance and attractiveness than Malbec in San Rafael (see the case Bianchi´s wines as paradigmatic). More complex and wide than the same vintage and vineyard Malbec. More balanced palate with red and black cherries with toaches of quince, ripe plum and chocolate. An 83 points red very good value for 4 bucks. This is a true Argentina´s Value for less than 5 bucks. Both have structure and tannins to endure 4 years old nicely.

Piuquenes Malbec 2010, a nice value from San Carlos in Uco Valley

2011-12-24T00:09:00.003-03:00

Piuquenes, malbec 2010, By Bodegas y Viñedos San Polo, USD 8
A malbec from San Carlos Dpt part of Uco Valley.
Strong blue with nice aromas that enlarge in the palate. Mostly blackcherries and berries with sweet ripeness. Soft chocolaty. Good typicity for San Carlos imprint. Probably best before 2 years old.
A 83 points malbec with good value on it.

Paisaje de Tupungato 2008, a complete red from Tupungato Valley

2011-12-23T10:05:00.004-03:00

Paisaje de Tupungato 2008 , By Finca Flichman, USD 25

A blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Tupungato Valley in Uco Valley.
Rich and quite complete red. Nice aromas of ripe fruits and soft vanilla. The palate displays a richer wine with a wide palette of red and black berries, boysenberries and plum. Good alcohol and acidity to the end. Better middle palate and aftertaste. One of those wines to enjoy better from the middle palate on. A 92 points red quite mature now and no doubt better in 2-4 years from now. A very good value, competitive and appropiate (*).

This `Paisaje de Tupungato´ 2008 and `Enamore´ 2009 were tasted blindly with `Fetish´ 2008 a shiraz from Barossa and within a close range of price. I scored `Fetish´ 91 points (as well as my partners).

(*) There is another wine in this series called ´Paisaje de Barrancas´ named after the district of Maipu Departament. To better appreciate the contrasting beauty of those terroires you should definitedly try both. Enjoy!

Enamore 2009, a magical blend from Lujan de Cuyo with `appasamento´ technique

2011-12-23T09:52:00.000-03:00

Enamore 2009,By Bodega Renacer, USD 25

A blend Malbec based with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from Lujan de Cuyo Departament in Central Mendoza.
A wine made by the Italian technique of ´appasamento´or sundrying before fermenting the grapes.
Very good red with straight fruits, mostly black little cherries and beautifull tannins round and ripe. Chocolate quite appropiate. A delicate note of mint and bayleaf too. Some ground pepper mostly on the palate. Quite impressive balance and attractiveness. A 92 points malbec based blend with potential to enjoy 4-6 years. An appropiate and competitive value too.

Zuccardi Q, Chardonnay 2010, quite balanced and attractive white from Tupungato Valley, high Mendoza

2011-12-20T14:52:00.001-03:00

Zuccardi Q ,Chardonnay 2010, By Familia Zuccardi, USD 22
A char from Tupungato Valley (parto of Uco Valley), Mendoza.
Beautiful and balanced chard with floral ,fruity and a pinch of citric aromas nothworthy from the very beginning. Nice peach and pineapple sweet and ripe. Balancing acidity that seems to make brighter the tannins. Appropiate toasty and buttery envelope. The tannins also show a nice bitterness quite balancing too. I picked up a hint of soft herbal greens like mint or closer to wild thyme sprouts at the same low level of citrics. A 90 points Chardonnay and a great value too. Better before 4 years old.

Konantu, Malbec 2008, fair and straight malbec from Northpatagonia

2011-12-19T00:27:00.001-03:00

Konantu, Malbec 2008, By Bodega Chacras del Sol, USD 10
A malbec from Rio Negro Valley, Rio Negro Province, Northpatagonia.
A strong malbec like only northpatagonia may bring around. Some cooked notes from oxidation and temperature not quite alluring (*). Black cherries and boysenberries sweet and deeply scented.
No oaky stuff other than a weak chocolaty note. A naturally concentrated malbec by terroir. An 84 points malbec fair and straight. Probably best up to 4 years old.

(*) this quality is frecuently found in some wines from Rio Negro. I don´t know if these unproper oxidation and temperature come from the Bodegas itself or the distribution or both. What I know for sure is that,unfortunately, the wine´s quality step down a couple of points

Agrestis Chardonnay 2011, a basic Chard from Northpatagonia

2011-12-19T00:11:00.002-03:00

Agrestis, Chardonnay 2011, By Bodega Agrestis, USD 9-10
A chardonnay from Rio Negro Valley, Rio Negro Province, Northpatagonia.
A pale green with yellowish shade. A basic chard with nice floral and white fruits aromas. Not a complex palate but enough to like it. Mostly white peach and a weak pineapple. No buttery or toasty adds on. A basic white without much attraction. An 83 points chardonnay probably better before 2-3 years at the most.

Alma Negra Blanc de Blancs 2008, a nice chardonnay based saprkling

2011-12-18T16:36:00.000-03:00

Alma Negra, Blanc de Blancs, By Puerto Ancona (almanegrawines.com.ar), USD 17
A chardonnay based sparkling fron Agrelo and Tupungato vineyards 2008 vintage.
Good balance of white peach ripe and sweet with a balance toach of pinapple. Nice bitter base. Some buttery note too. An 88 points sparkling not as attractive as a traditional Champagne blend and balance.

Riglos Gram Malbec 2006, re-tasting a great malbec from Uco Valley

2011-12-18T16:13:00.001-03:00

Riglos, Gran Malbec 2006, By Finca La Divas SA, USD 40
A malbec allready tasted several times. The 2006 vintage was 91 points on 2010 and 94 points on Sep 2011. Now the fruit quality is persistent even though the aok vanilla is lessen. The black fruit itself is not as complex as before giving more black cherries without currant complexity. This time a 91 points score means this sample seems not better than the 6 y/o tasted recently.

the antecedent: here

El Enemigo, Malbec 2008, a bombastic malbec made to impress

2011-12-18T15:49:00.001-03:00

El Enemigo, Malbec 2008, By Puerto Ancona, USD 40
A malbec small production made for Alejandro Vigil (chief winemaker of Catena) and Adriana Catena.
Rich and bombastic on the nose. Middle body with overt chocolate and bretty leather sweet and attractive. Somehow short and not quite complex for the price. Very seductive mostly by the syncronous chocolate and black berries compose. A 92 points malbec that looks like from Uco Valley and probably not better after 6 years old. Competitive and appropiate sample of Argentina´s malbecs made to impress most palates with chocolate and black fruits.

Aguma, Malbec 2011, next in line to its Carmenere brother

2011-12-17T15:16:00.004-03:00

Aguma, Malbec 2011, By Aguma Casa Vinicola Rivadavia,
USD 6
A red wine from San Juan Province, close by Mendoza by the Andes Cordillera.
You should read this after the Carmenere note close by in line. Both wines are pretty much similar,this time more shifted towards black cherries and less delicate even keeping the samle and straight style.
Easy and fast to enjoy. Same time of cellar and price/quality ratio as Carmenere brother. You may give 82 or 83 points to anyone depending the fruit enphasis you appreciate the most. I prefer these wines while enjoying pizza or any sweet bell peppers and eggplant dish with or without beef.

Aguma ,Carmenere 2011, a nice under 10 from San Juan

2011-12-17T15:10:00.003-03:00

Aguma, Carmenere 2011, By Aguma Casa Vinícola Rivadavia, USD 6
A Carmenere from San Juan Province.
Nice yet kept simple red with thinny red little fruits like ripe cherries with a toach of red cooked and sweet quince (like red membrillo). A red ruby color artfully anticipates a stronger wine than it really is. Delicate and balanced. Easy yet pleasant.A good value for less than 8 bucks. An 82 points carmenere worthwhile. And to drink before 2 years old.

Herencias del Sur, Sparkling Wine, Extra Brut, sound but unattractive to my desires

2011-12-16T13:18:00.001-03:00

Bodega Herencias del Sur, Extra Brut Sparkling , N/V, USD 14A 50/50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir sparkling wine (Champenoise) from General Alvear,south Mendoza.
A weak sparkling with sweety palate and nose mostly ripe white plum and cherries.No backbone structure that I like of sparklings Champenoise style. No toasty or buttery notes either.Not bad but not attractive whatsoever.An 80 points sparkling soft and sound even weak to my desires.

Escorihuela Gascon Pinot Noir 2010, don´t waste your time

2011-12-14T23:36:00.001-03:00

Escorihuela Gascon Pinot Noir 2010, By , USD 13
(probably sold international as Gascon wines or Don Miguel Gascon)
A Pinot fron Agrelo district in Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza. Unprovoking red with flat fruits like washed strawberries and red cherries barely picked up by palate. A bitter end and a sound acidity and alcohol. A 70 points barely drinkable Pinot to forget.

Zuccardi Serie A, Chardonnay & Viognier 2010, hard to keep on long lasting memory

2011-12-14T23:08:00.002-03:00

Zuccardi, serie A, Chardonnay & Viognier 2010, By Familia Zuccardi, USD 14
A white blend of Tupungato vineyards (Uco valley).
Nice floral white type not impressive. Soft palate with peaches and melony edge. Again not memorable.
Kind of easy to forget (like the Malbec 2010 from this series). Correct and likable even simple. Again I wound´t buy it twice.
An 81 points white and not a great value neither a competitive wine at this price level.

Zuccardi Serie A, Malbec 2010, A basic and uneventfull red

2011-12-14T23:00:00.001-03:00

Zuccardi, serie A, Malbec 2010, By Familia Zucardi, USD 14
A malbec blending La Consulta (Uco Valley), Agrelo (Lujan de Cuyo), and Vista Flores (Tunuyan).
A basic malbec with nice plummy core enriched with red cherries. A little chocolaty note too. Soft palate smooth and kind of short like thin of somehow flat. Basic even not memorable and I find hard to buy twice. An 83 points Malbec that I feel not a good value even likable. I wound´t cellar it more than 2-4 years.

Telteca, Malbec Oak 2009, a good Malbec under 10 bucks

2011-12-14T09:28:00.001-03:00

Telteca, Malbec Oak 2009, By Telteca Wines, USD 8
A good malbec from Barrancas District in maipu Dpt, Central Mendoza.
Nice balanced red with most of the virtues of a good central mendoza (for the most ,Maipu & Lujan de Cuyo Dpt)
Nice chocolaty note. Easy to drink and enjoy. Not very complex neither concentrated which is realistic at this price level.
Looks like young vineyards with correct yields and field management by the producers. A young yet adecuate and attractive malbec under the premium level but with very good performance. A typical Argentina's value.
An 86 points malbec and very good value. I guess better drunk before 4 years old.

Alfredo Roca, Dedicacion Personal, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, a pure San Rafael Valley value

2011-12-12T20:22:00.000-03:00

Alfredo Roca, Dedicacion Personal, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008,USD 13
A very nice Cab Sau from San Rafeol Valley, South Mendoza.
Ripe and round with black cherries and boysenberries. Good chocolate envelope,soft and finely webbed.
A delicate CS with almost no herbal and peppery notes although wide and solid from middle palate to aftertaste. A 90 points red tha should improve next 2 to 4 years, A great value comprehensive and balanced
from its land of birth.

Argento, Pinot Grigio 2010, a simple and attractive white from Rivadavia Dpt

2011-12-08T02:16:00.000-03:00

Argento, Pinot Grigio 2010, By Bodegas Esmeralda (Catena Group), USD 12
A Pinot Grigio (Gris) from Rivadavia Departament, East of Mendoza.
Nice and striking PG fresh and crispy envolving aromas of peach and apricot. Kept simple yet straight. Quite balanced in acidity and alcohol. Good and smooth palate passage. No oak stuff whatsoever. An 87 points pinot grigio delicate and balanced. Good value.

Luca ,Pinot Noir 2006 vintage, an atypical Pinot with no attraction

2011-12-04T12:28:00.000-03:00

Luca, Pinot Noir 2006, By Luca Winery Altos de Mendoza, USD 40
A Pinot Noir from Gualtallary district of Tupungato Departament in Uco Valley.
A black cherries and berries based Pinot with tons of chocolate. This high altitude Tupungato vineyard may give this kind of typicity that departs from the usual. Just a good red with a fine oak complement, altough not a very good pinot. I didn´t catch any flaw or fault and the cork was fine.
An 89 points red expensive and not worth half the price paid.

Cruz Alta, Blend Reserve 2009, a Tupun driven basic premium red quite nice

2011-12-03T16:21:00.000-03:00

Cruz Alta, Blend Reserve 2009, By Bodega La Rural (Rutini Wines), USD 10
A Cabernet Sauvignon blend (50%) with some Malbec and Merlot complimenting.Vineyards from Altamira and Tupungato in Uco valley. The winery itself is one of Catena´s group.Nice red easy and sweet like most Tupungato´s reds. Ripe blueberries and blackcherries on a delicate acidity and alcohol. Some basic complexity in terms of fruit palette. Soft chocolaty note and almost no herbality or peppery notes. An 86 points blend nice and basic at a premium level with most of Tupungato imprints.
Good value and a young to drink before 4 years old.

Km 1120, Malbec 2011, a standard premium level great value from Rio Negro Valley

2011-12-03T16:06:00.002-03:00

Km 1120, Malbec 2011, By Angel Moschini e hijos. USD 10
A malbec from Ingeniero Huergo (Rio Negro Valley), Rio Negro Province, Northpatagonia.
Nice and complete malbec at a premuim level that testifies what a ´Estepa Patagonica´ malbec may bring on.
Red opaque color with no shade of violetes but a sad bright that won´t astonish the eye. Much better nose that displays completely itself after a couple of sips. Round and sour red cherries and boysenberries slightly cooked and keeping fresh anyway. No more than a touch of chocolate and toast. Strong alcohol and big backbone altogether.
An 87 points malbec and a standard for this Rio Negro Valley at a premium level. It might lose fruit after 4 years. Great value at 10 bucks ( and at 15 too!).

Finca Perdriel, Colección Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, describing its terroir quite complete at a premium level

2011-12-02T09:04:00.001-03:00

Finca Perdriel, Colección 2007, Cabernet Sauvignon, By Bodega Norton, USD 14
A Cabernet Sauvignon from Perdriel District in Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza.
One of those balanced and fully ripe Cabernet Sauvignon that I admire from Perdriel District,even more complete and attractive than Malbec, No peppery neither herbal notes. Only dark cherries and berries with only a hint of red fruits to make the palate wider. Sweet and delicate far from overexpression. Strong alcohol that doesn´t bother at all.
Beautiful chocolaty component. This type of red reaches close to and is hard to differentiate from Tupungato and La Consulta imprints (Uco Valley). An 88 points red to get the best between 4 and 6 years old and a good value at a premium level.

Ricardo Santos, Sémillon 2010, a richer vintage of this outstanding single vineyard

2011-11-29T09:34:00.001-03:00

Seleccion Ricardo Santos, Single Vineyard Semillon 2010, USD 15
This Lunlunta district (Maipu Dpt, Central Mendoza) single vineyard shows more fruit shifted palette. The melon and white peach are striking. The complexity is wider than 09 vintage with an edge of herbal citrus, and soft minerality.A buttery toach present too. A 94 points white. Probably the top only-Semillon white. Finca La Anita Sémillon (Agreglo district,Lujan de Cuyo Dpt) goes quite close on the spotlight.

Tasted same time with Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2010, marlborough, NZ : 90 pts

- see the 2009 vintage notes here: Ricardo Santos Sémillon 2009

Malma Reserve Malbec 2006, a follow up on this super North Patagonian

2011-11-29T00:30:00.001-03:00

Malma Reserve Malbec 2006, By Bodega NQN. USD 15
Also sold international as Lonco. A beautiful Malbec from San Patricio Valley with such a character and balance I´ve not seen before in North Patagonia. Fresh dark berries and cherries with quince and plum jam, you name it. Nice alcohol and acidity too. Chocolate and soft smoke too. A 92 points Malbec getting better. Great value. To my palate the one I picked up.

see the Jan 2011 note: Malma/Lonco 2006 Malbec note Jan 2011

Quara Barrique Aged Torrontes 2006, vivid expression of Torrontes and Cafayate Valley

2011-11-28T12:09:00.003-03:00

Quara, Barrique Aged, Torrontes 2006, By Bodega Lavaque, USD 22
A wonderful Torrontes from Cafayate Valley, Salta Province, NorthWest Argentina
Golden and bright yellow impressive from the beginning. Explosive aromas of grapefruit and melon with nice linden (basswood) herbal tea that will add honey bee and some dry leaves on the palate. The white fruits are nicely matured in a beautiful even not complete yet oxidation. Quite appropiate buttery mouth toach without any dominance. A complex and very attractive Torrontes
like no one I ever tried before (well, I must say some vintages of Torrontes 'Etchart International' back in the 90's were close to this amazing). A 93 points white vivid expression both the nature of Torrontes and Cafayate imprints. It should get more nice notes of
beautiful oxidation next couple of years. Given the strong acidity and alcohol of this barrique aged Torrontes, I wound't be suprised if it develops even more terciary notes to allure some palates during the next 4 to 6 years. A must to taste now and keep safe some bottles for the years to come.

Infinitus (Fabre Montmayou Barrel Select) malbec 2010, a fruit driven terroir expression of Northpatagonia

2011-11-28T03:27:00.000-03:00

Infinitus (sold int´l as Fabre Montmayou Barrel Selection) Malbec 2010, By Domaine Vistalba, USD 15
A Malbec from Rio Negro Valley in North Patagonia.
Striking Malbec with all the beauty of northpatagonia expressed with strong tannins,concentrated black and red
cherries with plum and violets. Firm backbone with nice chocolate slightly expressed. Now a 90 points malbec to improve next 2-4 years. One of the best Patagonian Malbecs given the balance and terroir expression quality.

Infinitus (Fabre-Montmayou Barrel Selection) Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, a fruit driven Patagonian excellence

2011-11-28T03:07:00.001-03:00

Infinitus Cabernet Sauvignon 2010. By Domaine Vistalba, USD 15 (Sold internationally as Fabre-Montmayou Barrel Selection)
A Cabernet Sauvignon fron Rio Negro Valley. Rio Negro Province, North Patagonia.
A deep blue violet color with striking onset. Close to pure blackberries and violets from the nose on and finishing with a concentrated palate adding nice pepper notes with very soft smoke and chocolate. Strong and concentrated Cab mostly about black fruits and rose/violets aromas. A 90 points CS worth it the price to impress many palates. It´ll be better probably 3-4 years from now.
This styled Cabernet goes pretty away from the oak complement and place itself as a good fruity driven counterpart of a modern oak complemented Cabernet. That means a good rival to ripe and oaky driven reds. A wine with strong character as the hallmark of this winery.

Chakana reserve Malbec 2009, a well balanced Uco Valley + Lujan blend

2011-11-27T21:38:00.000-03:00

Chakana Reserve, Malbec 2009, By Chakana Wines (Andean Wines), USD 15
A beautiful Malbec bottled in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza.
It mixes ripe and sour black cherries and berries typical from Uco Valley with a bit of soft and strong red berries. Delicious chocolaty note rounds up. Very good balance and attractiveness
all over the palate. Delicate and soft and not even close to overconcentrated. Nice enough complexity.
An 89 points malbec that will get better next few (lets say 2-4) years. Great value.

Pulenta Estate, Sauvginong Blanc 2009, a worthwhile shine from High Agrelo

2011-11-27T21:22:00.000-03:00

Pulenta Estate, Sauvignon Blanc 2009, By Pulenta Estate, USD 12
A Sauvignon Blanc fron High Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo in Central Mendoza.
Striking mix of herbal, citric and ripe white peach fresh and nicely acid. No oak note whatsoever wich could have well ruined the beauty of this SB. The herbal goes like some type of chicory or bitter lettuce.
The citric close to sweet white grapefruit. Not very complex although it keeps the shine alive. An 89 points SB worthwhile the price/qty equation.

Udwe Pinot Noir By Marcelo Miras & Saurus Patagonia Select Pinot Noir By Familia Schroeder, Two 15 Bucks Pinots from Northpatagonia

2011-11-23T21:57:00.003-03:00

Udwe, Pinot Noir 2010 ,By Marcelo Miras, USD 15

Saurus, Barrel Select, Pinot Noir 2006, By Bodega Schroeder, USD 15

-Udwe:A Pinot from Rio Negro Valley. Cooked red cherries and plum with some sour quince.
Some unwanted oxidation (even cork not leaked) renders a compote quality to the fruits.I don´t feel it attractive neither to improve over time.
An 84 points

-Saurus:A Pinot from San Patricio Valley. Bright red cherries, sweet and modestly sour. More gentle than wide and deep as usual for a Patagonian Pinot Noir. Its easy to drink and friendly though no complex. It might get better a couple of years ahead.
An 88 points

XumeK, Malbec 2009, from Zonda Valley to win anyplace a bombastic Barossa already did it

2011-11-22T00:27:00.001-03:00

Xumek, Malbec 2009, By Bodega Santa Sylvia, USD 12
A Malbec from Zonda Valley in San Juan Province, north to Mendoza Province by the Andes Montains too.
Nice and blue colored malbec with deep fruit dominated of blueberries and boysenberries. Blackcherries sweet and concentrated. Nice chocolate. Strong alcohol and strong tannins in fruit
expression. Looks like a red to enjoy young ,like before 4 years old. Beautiful alone or with dark,dark chocolate and spiced and complex food like morrocan dishes. Its the Argentinian Malbec version of a Barossa Shiraz in style, power and presence. An 89 points malbec, easy and impressive at the same time. Very good value.

Old Vineyard (La Isabel), Humberto Canale, Pinot Noir 2009, nice and round Pinot from Rio Negro Valley

2011-11-20T14:41:00.000-03:00

Old Vineyard (La Isabel), Humberto Canale, Pinot Noir 2009, By Bodega Canale, USD 19
A fresh Pinot Noir from Rio Negro Valley,(Rio Negro Province) North Patagonia.
Nice and fruity keeping a good wide palate.Balanced and ripe red cherries with a plummy edge. Very mild and not clearly unpleasant metal undertone. Strong and nicely balanced acidity. Quite soft chocolaty undertone. Keeping a delicate balance all the way. An 88 points pinot fair and soft sound and clearly kept simple. The good tannins make room to improve further in 2-4 years.
(tasted at 16 Celsius).

Trumpeter Reserve, Torrontes 2008, a great balanced white to impress most drinkers

2011-11-19T01:54:00.001-03:00

Trumpeter Reserve Torrontes 2008, By Rutini Wines, USD 17
A torrontes from Tupungato Valley (part of Uco Valley). It displays a wide palette of white flowers in aromas. Soft rude plant and grapefruit not as sour and crispy as a typical sauvignon blanc.
Nice ripe peach in the middle palate. A little bit buttery and toasty but only timid. A complex and balanced Torrontes, not as expressive as the Cafayate´s ones but probably at least as good as those. A 90 points white ready to impress most people. Thi delicate balance shoudn´t go better more than 4 years. A great value.

Trumpeter Reserve, Pinot Grigio 2008, quite original white from San Carlos

2011-11-19T01:34:00.001-03:00

Trumpeter Reserve Pinot Grigio 2008, By Rutini Wines, USD 17
A pinot grigio from La Consulta in San Carlos Departament, Uco Valley, Mendoza.
Again and round white (like the Torrontes from the series) with buttery and toasty envelope and this time a beautiful melon and cantaloupe juice. Nice sweety honey aftertaste with some honest
oxidation. Strong alcohol and a stemmy bitterness for some complexity. An 88 points Pinot Gris to enjoy before 4 years old. The Torrontes has more perfume and floral aromas that will surely catch more friends. Better structured than Viogner which reached much more fragil.

Saint Felicien, Cabernet Franc 2007, nice just nice

2011-11-18T01:56:00.002-03:00

Saint Felicien, Cabernet Franc 2007, By Bodega Catena Zapata, USD 15
A series sold only to the local market. A CF blend from Agrelo district (lujan de Cuyo Dpt) and San Carlos (Uco Valley). A soft red mostly sweet,gentle and caramelized. Some red cherries and sweet
quince marmalade attractive but somehow weak in terms of lacking good acidity to back it up. Very mild oak envelope and a very soft wet leather bretty like. Likable and enjoyable though.
I wound´t go more than 85 points. All in all a good value. It dosen´t look like worth waiting more than now.

Navarro Correas Reserva , Selección de Parcelas, Malbec 2009 a good sample mix from somewhere Mendoza

2011-11-18T01:11:00.000-03:00

Navarro Correas Reserva, Seleccion de Parcelas, Malbec 2009, By Bodega Navarro Correas, USD 13
A malbec blending diferent vineyards from Mendoza. Well balanced Malbec mixing ripe red cherries and black ones too, mostly like high settled vineyars given the sweety and sour basic tannins structure. Soft chocolaty and smoky notes by the way without much noise. Probably no better much further of 4 years old. I´d say an 89 points malbec and a very good value.

Reserva del Fin del Mundo, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, a bloody CS to fight any battle

2011-11-17T00:16:00.000-03:00

Reserva del Fin del Mundo, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, By Bodega del Fin del Mundo, USD 20
A CS from San Patricio Valley of Neuquen Province, North Patagonia.
Impressive red brilliant and vivid worth watching. Brave aromas of dark roses and violets allure. The palate offers a set of red cherries and black berries with firm and nicely bitter tannins with great acidity
and alcohol. A strong and solid CS with a fine line of peppers and spice. Absolutely typical of San Patricio Valley and North Patagonia. A 90 points CS that will push any meety casserole or BBQ up to who knows where. This type of CS will reach better after 4-6 years of age . A Great Value.

Reserva del Fin del Mundo, Chardonnay 2010, a great patagonia´s son

2011-11-17T00:00:00.002-03:00

Reserva del Fin del Mundo , Chardonnay 2010, By Bodega del Fin del Mundo, USD 20
An impressive and full body Chard from San Patricio Valley, Neuquen Province in North Patagonia.
Attractive and vivid yellowish with green undertones catch the eye right off the bottle. A solid and strong Chardonnay full of a bi-fruit punch: ripe pineapple and yellow peach. Quite attractive, with nice acidity and alcohol. Some buttery and toasty edge give an appropiate complement.
An 89 points Chardonnay that might surely get more complex in 2-4 years. A great Patagonian Chardonnay full of local personality. An easy to adore white.

Maria Codorniu (Sur) ,a sparkling from Tunuyan to cheers and drink quite easily

2011-11-13T16:11:00.002-03:00

Maria Codorniu (Sur), Sparkling, N/V, By Bodega Septima (Codorniu), USD 13
A sparkling blending 80% Chardonnay and 20% of Pinot Noir from Tunuyan distric, Uco Valley, Mendoza. A well balanced sparkling with extrabrut sugar content. Good fruit like apple and ripe peach with some sweet pineapple. The pinot gives off roundness and counterbalance on tropical fruits. Nice acidity and sweetness. Delicate and soft toasty and buttery note. An 86 points sparkling and a good value. Nothing to die for neither to remember more than a couple of weeks even though it pass by just nice.

Atamisque Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, good and somehow complex Tupun´s son

2011-11-12T01:04:00.000-03:00

Atamisque, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, By Bodega Atamisque, USD 22
A very nice CS from Tupungato city in Uco Valley, Mendoza.
A high settled vineyard that gives this typical imprint over CS with mostly black cherries and plum on a thin structure widen on the middle palate with soft tannins but finishing too soon.
Good balance with soft oak and backed up by good alcohol and acidity. Also a delicate peppery note. An 89 points CS with some weakness for an above premium 20 bucks type of malbec. I don´t feel it will reach any better after 4 years old. At least this bottle, although I should give a try to others bottles to take a better grip of it.

Vistalba Corte B 2004, A Malbec blend to admire Vistalba district

2011-11-12T00:48:00.000-03:00

Vistalba, Corte B, By Carlos Pulenta Winery, USD 25
A Malbec blend with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Vistalba distric of Lujan de Cuyo Dpt in Central Mendoza.
This is a wonderful red, round and complete. Rich and fruity with much more complexity than a malbec running alone.
Say red and black cherries with chocolate and smoke. Beautiful middle palate and adorable aftertaste. A 7 y/o malbec probably
in its plateau of maturity but intriguing to see next 2-4 years. A great value for 25 bucks with all the beauty of high Lujan de Cuyo.
A realy adorable and admirable Malbec blend to drink again and again and gather more friends to the list. A 92 points Malbec blend with great value and profile reached.

Afincado, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Finca Los Aromos. A great Cabernet Sauvignon from Perdriel district

2011-11-12T00:29:00.000-03:00

Afincado, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, By Bodega Terrazas de los Andes, USD 45
The Moet-Hennesyy wine division in Mendoza. A Cabernet Sauvignon from a single vineyard ´Los aromos´
in Perdriel Distric in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza.
A delicate Cabernet Sauvignon with all the finesse and fruity balance with herbal and peppery charge typical of Perdriel District. It goes with a fine blackberry signature not seen in other districts, and much less expressed than Uco´s cabernet (where I´d say sometimes ´overexpressed´). This and the ´Nico´ label of Cobos Winery are two best known CS from this wonderful terroir. Deep delicious tannins,very delicate and fruity equilibrated. Good chocolate very entangled with soft toast and smoke. A 91 points CS and a good son of Perdriel. Probably better in 2-4 years from now.

Cadus Blend of Malbec 2009, a very nice but overpriced blending three vineyards of Mendoza

2011-11-07T23:16:00.002-03:00

Cadus, Blend of Malbec 2009, By Bodega Nieto Senetiner, USD 34
A Malbec blending three vineyards ,Vistalba district (950 mt/3100 ft, Lujan de Cuyo Dpt), Agrelo district (1050 mt/3400 ft,Lujan de Cuyo Dpt),and Vistaflores district (1150 mt/3700 ft, Uco Valley).
A very good malbec spreading floral and fresh fruits like red and blac plums with red cherries. All in a new oak envelope of mostly coffee. Good acidity and concentration. A nice malbec that will enter its polished roundness 2-3 years from now and probable its best 2-3 years more. A 91 points malbec that I feel overpriced here (you may get this quality here for less than 25 bucks, I mean not all malbec but quite a few of them reach a close quality by less than 25 bucks).
Keeping the winery (for which I´m used to find this price/quality ratio) and the price apart, the wine is very nice.

Laureano Gomez, Reserve Pinot Noir 2010, from Tunuyan and a renowned winemaker good and fruity to enjoy young

2011-11-05T16:24:00.000-03:00

Laureano Gomez, Pinot Noir Reserve 2010, By the winemaker, USD 22
A Pinot from Tunuyan, Uco Valley, Mendoza showing nice character and tipycity. Round and thin red cherries with black ones as won´t be other way from Uco´s any grape. Good acidity and alcohol. Nice ripeness too. Now an 89 points PN and surely 90 points 2-4 years ahead. It doesn´t look like a pinot with tannins and struture to improve beyond 4-6 years. Fair value for the price.

Montesco Passionate Wine, Sauvignon Blanc 2011, a bored white

2011-11-05T02:05:00.003-03:00

Montesco Passionate Wine,Sauvignnon Blanc, By Matias Michelini, USD 20
A Sauvignon Blanc signature wine from Gualtallary district in high Tupungato, Uco Valley.
An opaque Sauvignon Blanc. Timid expression of tropical fruits with weak citric note under a big mineral dominance that spreads all over the palate. There´s a honey and dry herbal tone not quite alluring to me. Good but not nice acidity. Good and nice alcohol. I woudn´t go more than 84 points on this SB neither pay 20 bucks for it.
(tasted twice with unblind reference once: Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Marlborough, NZ, 20 USD, 89 points)

Malma Reserve Merlot 2007, a great value from San Patricio Valley

2011-11-05T00:13:00.000-03:00

Malma Reserve Merlot 2007, By Bodega NQN, USD 14
Unbelievable merlot from San Patricio Valley of Neuquen Province, North Patagonia.
Ripe fresh and also cooked red cherries and plum with aromas of violets and fresh red roses. Great middle palate growing from the initial toach. Nice alcohol and acidity. Good chocolaty and toasty notes. A 90 points merlot with tannins to improve the first 4-6 years of ageing in the bottle.One of the gratest values in terms of price/quality offered.

Marchiori & Barraud Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, a great CS from Perdriel District

2011-11-05T00:01:00.000-03:00

Marchiori & Barraud Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, By the authors, USD 20
Very attractive CS from Perdriel Distric if Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza.
Announcing aromas. Very smooth and expressive palate, balabced and fruity. Ripe red and bkack cherries with vanilla and a mix of chocolate and coffee pinchs. Nice memory after the palate. A quite attractive CS with only small peppery and herbal notes. A noticeable spicy toach of cinnamon and soft star anise. A 91 points CS that should get better next 2-4 years. Great value from the prime growth zone of Mendoza (to my own taste,for sure).

Laureano Gomez, Malbec Reserve 2010, A very good Tunuyan red in an easy and straight style

2011-11-04T23:48:00.001-03:00

Laureano Gomez, Malbec Reserve 2010, By Bodega Laureano Gomez, USD 22
A nice Malbec from Tunuyan city in Uco Valley, Mendoza.

Dense blue with much violet tone. Expressive nose. Straight inicitial palate with thin middle palate dominated by boysenberries and sweet blackberries and plum, overripe plum I´d say.Good envelope of chocolate and smoke. The usual Tunuyan´s Malbec. Attractive and typical but lacking that wide middle palate of red fruits found in others malbecs and that I admire more. I wound´t go more than 90 points with this malbec, even probably most would go 91 or 92, more if you think of 3-4 years ahead. Good value.This malbec is easier to drink and more sweety than the Salentein Reserves Gomez did up to 2007/08 vintages.