Desierto 25/5, Merlot 2005, far better than most mendoza´s merlot

Desierto 25/5 Merlot 2005, USD 10

Striking merlot from 25 de mayo,High Rio Colorado Valley ,La Pampa. One merlot with great typicity for grape and showing striking attractiveness. Ripe and abundant black cherries and black currant coverd nicely with strong chocolate. Sweet tannins and wide in the palate. Dashes of soft spice like black pepper. Not very lasting though. I´d say 89 points with an excelent value. Far better than most Mendoza´s Merlots.

Calvulcura 2003 and Finca La Anita Malbec 2002, Good and better

Calvulcura, merlot & malbec 2003, USD 18

Nice blend from high Uco´s Valley ,Mendoza.

Probably close to plateau ending. Nice pallete at the nose with red rose perfume and red berries.

It covers the palate more at the early and middle parts. Short aftertaste. Nice young oaky stuff like vanilla and sweet cinnamon. May notice some plum jam too. I´l go 87 points with an acceptable value.

Finca La Anita, Malbec 2002, USD 30

Wonderful Malbec from Agrelo District of Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza.

Beautiful fruit broad in the mouth with cherry like and raspberry too. Less plum and mince jam.

Just soft smoke and choco envelope barely perceived. Long lasting enyoyable. I´woudn´t go less than 91 points for this very good value.

Finca La Anita, Tocai Friulano 2002, terrific white from Agrelo District

Finca La Anita, Tocai Friulano 2002, USD 17

Beauty finesse from Agrelo Distric if Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza.

Nice herbal and melon aroma with peach in a nice acidity and alcohol. A deep with with broad palate.No oak at all (as read on the label: ¨no oak to honor the grapes quality¨). I´d say 90 points white with very good value on it.

Four Superpremium Malbecs USD 40-65,some wonderful,some forgettable

(same day Blind Tasting)

Angélica Zapata, Alta Malbec 2004, USD 44 (sold Int´l as `Catena Alta´)

Wonderful Malbec from different parts of Mendoza, ripe and attractive fruit driven but nice new oaky stuff.Wide palate with red and black wild berries mostly ripen and jammy. Gentle tannins with clear coconuts and vanilla with final chocolate. Nice lasting aftertaste. Good balance. I´d say 91 points red with a very good value component for a great malbec

Calle 15, KM 20, Malbec 2004 USD 44.

Nice Malbec from Agrelo district in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Good beginning but halted by a rustic old fashion wine with notes of oxidation. The fruit tastes compoted and somehow colorless. I´d say a 83 points wine with bad value component.

Riglos ,Gran Malbec 2005, USD 44

Wondeful Malbec from Uco´s Valley with all the typicity, attractivness and balance. More balanced than Angelica´s Alta 2004. The oak stuff is deeper and merged in a elegant backbone.

It grows bigger with a couple of hours of decanting. Less fine oak dashes like coco and vanilla and more smoke and choco at the end. More cooked fruit. It might mature better in a couple of years losing some fruit brighting now.I´d say 92 points for a very good value too.

D.V. Catena, Nicasia Vineyard Malbec 2003, USD 65

Wonderful Malbec from San Carlos distric of Uco´s Valley, Mendoza Imposing red complete and seductive. Perfect fruit from malbec (plum, balckberries,boysenberries,mince jam) with wonderful structure extremely balanced reaching all the palate. Fantastic lingering. I´ll go 93 points with this malbec that even may grow more mature in a couple of years.

Trapiche Varietales, Malbec 2009, barely acceptable value

(375 ml bottle depicted)

Trapiche Varietales, Malbec 2009, USD 4

Basic wine from Mendoza somewhere around. The bottles sold in Argentina come from Santa Rosa departament and those sold international come from High Mendoza River (Lujan de Cuyo & Maipú departaments).Timid expressions of malbec tipicity. A soft but round and likable wine. May be the bottles sold Int´l are different.This one I woudn´t go more than 78 points and a barely acceptable value. There are a bunch of red labels 3-4 bucks with a substantial better value.

Ricardo Santos, Sémillon 2009, a must try unbeatable Sémillon

Una Selección de Ricardo Santos, Sémillon 2009, USD 15

A wonderful Sémillon from Lunlunta district of Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza.

A complex and attractive white with a balanced structure of white peach and pineapple mixed with small amounts of tropical fruits like melon.The palate is complete. Strong body with great minerality, honey sweet and bitterness berry stem like and also some buttery oak stuff gently involving. Solid backbone with long lasting aftertaste that entertains your memory putting apart its elements. I´d say 93 points white with a wonderful value component.

Bramare, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, good value

Bramare, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, USD 30

Good Cab from Perdiel distric of Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza.Not as good as the malbec brother but nicely presented. Fruits ripe and sweet are present.

Not very Cab though in terms of complexity. Fine oak arragement of coconut,vanilla and chocolate.

Nice palate throughout with lasting memory. I´d go 89 points with a good value though.

Sur de los Andes, Malbec Gran Reserva 2006, just a good value

Sur de los Andes, Gran Reserva, Malbec 2006, USD 20

Nice malbec from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Better nose than palate. Soft fruits mostly black ones

with pleasant alcohol and acidity. A little bit hollow and empty in the middle palate (wich is the strongest point in malbec argentino). Nice cheap (second & third use) oak at the end (choco and smoke) gives roundness. Lack complexity and finesse.I´d say 88 point red with barely a good value component.

Punto Final, Malbec Reserva 2006, just barely good value

Punto Final, Reserva, Malbec 2006, USD 18

Nice malbec from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza.

Fruit driven red with simple impact and smooth tannins ending with soft smoke and chocolate.

It doesn´t look to improve any farther. The palate dominates the middle component with

just a little aftertaste. Lacks complexity.Born to be and end young in up to 4 yrs old.I´d say 88 points red

with just a good value.

Finca Los Gigantes 2005, old fashion gone bad

Finca Los Gigantes, 2005, USD 17

Extrange blend from NorthPatagonia (Añelo, Neuquén). Compote fruit (oxidated) with no vivid bright mostly like and old fashioned European red. This time lacking the sweetness typical (very nice) of some oxidated old world reds. Short and no memorable at all. I´woudn´t go more than 83 points. No good value at all.

Callia Magna, Shiraz 2008, undoubtely a Great Value

Callia Magna, Shiraz 2008, USD 8-9

Nice Syrah from Tulum Valley, San Juan ,Argentina

Attractive red from the beginning with a clean ruby brilliant. You get sweet cherries and blueberries on the nose mixed with a soft smoke. Very little spiceness I wish were more. Attractive palate too mostly middle. No awkward hint. Round a soft. Lack lasting memory. I´d say 87 point red with a great value component no doubt.

Pulenta State, Gran Cabernet Franc XI, 2007,Good value

Cabernet Franc XI Pulenta State Winery, USD 25
Good value from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza
Clear notes of blackberries and blueberries, ripe and cooked mixed together. Nice middle palate with short aftertaste. Good balance in acidity and alcohol but lacks personality to remember. A good red but hard to stick out from the rest. I´d say a 88 points red with barely a good value.

Finca La Anita, Semillon 2004, Wonderful white form Agrelo

Finca La Anita,Semillon, 2004, USD 18
Great Sémillon from Alto Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo distric ,Mendoza
Dry leaf notes with sweet honey and a wonderful middle palate ending with radicchio herbal. A teerific semillon ripe and complex with strong alcohol and acidity endurance. I´d say a 90 points wine with a spectacular value for the price.

Diego Murillo, Malbec 2007, nice patagonian for everyday

Diego Murillo, Malbec 2007, USD 4

An everyday red with some Patagonian character. The nose´s very interesting and attractive. Afterwards not followed by the short palate and thin structure. Mostly soft and hollow. I´d choose it with a casserole, pot roast or bake well spiced. Anyway no more than 79 points wine with an adequate value for the price.

Humberto Canale Estate. Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 2008, very good value & typicity

Humberto Canale Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 2008, USD 10

Very good red from Alto Valle de Rio negro, NorthPatagonia

Clear patagonian with deep dark ripe fruit in a strong alcohol and acidity with typical eucalyptus notes. Nice balance with gentle tannins. The palate shows more middle component but exquisite end of palate too. Soft smoke aftertaste. I´d say 89 points with a very good value. Just lacks concentration to be an excelent one.

Desierto Pampa, 2006, a complete palate for a great value

Desierto Pampa , USD 25

Very Good blend from 25 de Mayo, La Pampa, NorthPatagonia

Quite balanced and attractive Cab Sau, Merlot & Cab Franc Nice red fruits with firm tannins.Slight smoke and chocolate. A wine woth trying because you feel the palate complete with nice aftertaste. I´d say 90 points for a great value.

Nomade, Malbec 2006, another good value from Uco´s Valley

Nomade, Malbec 2006, USD 9

Good Malbec from San Carlos distric ,Uco´s Valley

Typical Uco´s with clear red acid fruit in a thin and great middle palate. Soft smoke and a little,very little hint of eucalyptus and mint. It´s not wide in the palate, like all Uco´s too. Overall balanced and attractive. I´d say 88 points red with good value.

Desierto 25/5, Cabernet Franc 2005, great value from La Pampa

Desierto 25/5, Cabernet Frank 2005, USD 10

Terrific red from 25 de Mayo, La Pampa, Northpatagonia

Quite like merlot in red fruit aroma with nice tannins ,a soft spice and smoke and quite wide in palate. Mostly middle palate and good aftertaste, better than the onset taste. One of those reds you want to repeat sip after sip because its great balance and roundness. I´d say 89 points wine with great value quality.

Luigi Bosca Gala 1, Malbec & Petit Verdot & Tannat 2006,beautiful blend to get enchanted

Gala 1, Malbec-Petit Verdot & Tannat, USD 30

Fron highest disctric in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Terrific blend with plenty of fruits with wide palette (figs,blackberries,plum,cherries) and very gentle in palate stance. Nice palate mostly inicial and middle with a timid end . A hint of vanila too. This is the type of red to enyoy in any occacion, with or without food. I´d say 90 points wine and a very good value.

Finca La Anita,Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, great Agrelo District value

Finca La Anita, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, USD 35

Very attractive Cab from Agrelo Distric in Lujan de Cuyo Mendoza.Beautiful red and black dark fruit like blackberries entangled with sweet bell pepper-like tones in a soft and tender tannins deep. A little hint of oregano and smoke. The palate enyoys from the early to final passage. Not very long lasting though. A gentle Cab with finesse. I´d say 90 points with a very good value.

Black Tears, malbec 2006, wonderful even for frantic anti-oak guys

Black Tears, Malbec 2006, USD 38

Wonderful Malbec from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Beautiful blend of flowers,fruits and oak in a strong backbone of sweet tannins.

The oak (mostly vanilla and coconut with choco too) doesn´t blind the fruit but it goes enchained one with another. It covers well the palate from the beginning. A little bit overexpressed or concentrated but equally gorgeous. I´d say a 92 points and a very good value. You must be a frantic anti-oak to not enyoy this red. I dont´remember any reasonable one.

Finca Koch, Reserva, Colección de Cava, 2007; Not a good value

Finca Koch, Reserva 2007,Colección de Cava, USD 16

Blend mostly Malbec and Cab Sau with some Merlot from Tupungato´s Valley,Mendoza.Nice but not a good value. Typicity of terroir with nice fruit mostly black ripe berries with good middle palate but short and not complex et all. Hint of coconut and chocolate. It won´t go bad with any dinner but you won´t remember it either. I´d say 85 points red. Great value if up to 7-8 bucks!

Altos Las Hormigas , Malbec 2006, always good value

Altos Las Hormigas, Malbec 2006, USD 12

Very good malbec from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza

Well done malbec with typicity and attractiveness. Ripe fruit mostly combined red acid and black sweet with clear vanila and a smoke and chocolate base too. Smooth but nice hint of acidity. Overall well balanced. I´d say 88 points malbec with very good value.

Graffigna Centenario Malbec Reserve 2006, one top Great Value

Graffigna Centenario Malbec Reserve 2006,

USD 7

Great Value from San Juan, Argentina .Nice easy drink malbec with tipicity and a plus very attractive: its soft and balanced struture. Fruity and a hint of smoke and vanila. It goes well all trough the palate. It doesn´t show any edge of awkwardness. I´d say 88 points red. Great value for 7 bucks. One of the top best values no doubt.

Don David Tannat 2006, Boring but drinkable

Don David Tannat 2006, USD 9

Boring grapewine from Cafayate Valley, Salta

Nice violets and blackberries compote and jammy but very unimodal in complexity. Not susprising for the grapewine variety. Not a great palette for going solo prime time. I´d say 84 points red with good value.

Flecha de los Andes, Gran Malbec 2008, timid malbec from Uco´s Valley

Flecha de los Andes, Gran Malbec 2008, USD 33

Standard malbec from Uco´s Valley overpriced. You get nice fruit mixed with chocolate and soft sweet tannins of malbec. But not impressive in anyway and well timid in the palate. Mostly initial palate with thinny finish. Some strange backbone like leather from Brett. I´ll go 87 points for this regular malbec clearly overpriced. Bad value I guess.

Catalpa, single Vineyard, Merlot 2007, personal wine

Catalpa, Merlot single Vineyard 2007, USD 20

A personal Merlot from Tupungato, Mendoza Strange red in terms of tipicity. Great fruit, mostly bleckberries and boysenberries with nice acidity. Strong tannins with nice bitterness and minerality. A tipical hint of eucalyptus from Uco´s Valley nearby. I´d say a 89 points wine and a 84 points merlot. Good value. Nice personal wine.

Occhioverde Merlot 2006, Unoaked Wonderful Value

Occhioverde, Merlot 2006, USD 7

Grapes from San Carlos district in Uco´s Valley, Mendoza

Delicious unoaked merlot with beautiful fruit, mostly red cherry and raspberry in a sweet ripeness.Great middle palate like pure merlot. Straight from the nose down. Lacking the spiciness that makes merlot unique (specially Pomerol type) .Beautiful balance too. It strikes you by the delicate fruit.I drunk it with pasta and muschrooms wih tomato sauce but I guess it´l go better with many caserole or mediterranean combos.I´d say 88 points red with wonderful value.

Alta Vista Classic, Malbec 2008, Terrific Value

Alta Vista Classic, Malbec 2008, USD 6-7

Wonderful Malbec from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Fruit punch with great balance in acidity and alcohol that makes it very balanced and attractive. Quince, plum, red cherries, chocolate and some coffee mocha. Again: It´ll be nothing without the nice acidity taking backbone of it.It calls you sip after sip. I´d go 88 points for this terrific value. A great wine for pizza and easy finger food.

Graffigna, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Gran Reserva. Excelent Value

Graffigna, Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva ,2005, USD 20

Nice Cab from Padernal Valley (high altitude), San Juan.Very attractive Cab with nice balance and character. Fruits are remarcable with fresh ripe and some compote mixed. Acidity and alcohol in strong equilibrium. Soft oaky tips with a hint of vanila and some more choco and smoke. I´d say a 90 points wine with excelent value component.

One of the few San Juan values above every day quality (the great values Shiraz from San Juan are not more than 5 USD, i.e. Callia, Las Moras to mention,other high quality are above 20 USD like Alma Mora or Grand Callia)

Zucardi Q, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, very good value if you don´t like oaky

Zucardi Q , Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, USD 17

Very attractive Cab blend of La Consulta and Tupungato Disctrics in High Mendoza. Aproachable fruit, red and black mostly like cherry jubilee with nice acidity and alcohol. Better early and middle than final palate. Not very lasting end. Hints of smoke and choco.

Very good wine with cheap oak though. I´d say a 89 points wine with very good value if you don´t care weak oaky stuff.

Cafayate Reserve, Cab Sau 2008 (Etchard), great value

Cafayate Reserve (Bodegas Etchard), Cab Sau 2008, USD 7

Nice Cab from Cafayate Valley Salta

Round and attractive with ripe fresh black fruits and red & green bell pepper. Absolut tipicity for both variety and terroir. Kind of low priced wine but terrific value. I´d say 84 points. Unbeatable for 7 bucks

Familia Reina, Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Marvelous Value

Familia Reina, Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, USD 15

Marvellous Cab from Ucos´s Valley,Mendoza. (Now sold as Andeluna Reserve).All a Cab must offer and all Uco´s Valley has to offer too. Just the perfect balance of maturity and cellaring.No akward edge. Cooked fruit with nice sweet component and adecuate acidity and alcohol. Still strong tannins with moderate green pepper and a gentle spiciness. All invites to repeat the sip. I´d say 93 points with an unbeatable value for 15 bucks. As I mentioned before most super Uco´s Valley reds reach cenit after 5 and close 7 to 10 yrs (Salentein, Andeluna,Achaval Ferrer Altamira,Lindaflor,Clos de los Siete,Flecha de los Andes,right off my head).

Piedra Negra, Malbec 2004, USD 30

Very good malbec from Ucos´s Valley, Mendoza.

Nice balanced fruity driven malbec. Not impressive neither long lasting but likeable.Clear tipicity with potent backbone with sweet tannins and a little smoke & choco ending. Fairly complete palate but not adorable and memorable. I´d say a 89 points barely good value for the price.

Monteagrelo, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, too oaky

Monteagrelo, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, USD 28

Nice Cabernet Sauvignon from Agrelo district of Lujan de Cuyo,Mendoza. Attractive red fruit like strawberries, raspberries and some quince too. Mild peppery notes tipical of Cab. Quite present oaky stuff and disturbing for my palate. I´d say 85 points red with difficult to balance with price.

Salentein Primus, Merlot 2003, a masterpiece

Primus, Merlot 2003, USD 65

Wonderful merlot fron Uco´s Valley, Mendoza .Rich and concentrated ; Full body with great cherries and blackberries. Acid and strong but friendly and absolutly attractive. Moderate smoke and chocolate. The palate is great mostly middle and final with nice aftertaste. I´d say 95 points for a wonderful merlot. Probably better than most int´l $100 of the kind. Surely better and more complex in a few years more of sellaring. I´d like much more if it were more sweety fruits scented and spiced.

Gran Lurton, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, good value

Gran Lurton, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005,USD 23, good value

Cab from Uco´s Valley, Mendoza

Nice and balanced with acid black fruits taking first place. Only a hint of smoke at the end which probably reflects old used barriques. A little bit thin with nice early and middle palate. Just a hint of tipical Cabs like green bell peppers and black pepper spice. I´d say 89 points for a good value. It lacks proper lasting for a Uco´s Cab and gives a small cheap oak. Previous vintages were higher quality reds clearly.

F. Lurton, Reserva Malbec 2007, just a good value

F. Lurton, Reserva Malbec 2007, USD 10

Malbec from Uco´s Valley.

Nice malbec deserving respect. Tipicity covered with great balance. Not strong neither concentrated anticipated by the soft bordeaux red translucent.Equilibrated fruits,mostly red & black forrest with a pale smoke. I´d say 85 points with just good value in it.

F. Lurton, Cab Sau Reserva 2002, too late

F Lurton ,Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, USD 10

Cab from Uco´s Valley, Mendoza.

Still balanced but weak. Some compoted fruits and a hint of green pepper kind of cooked. It remains trough the early a middle palate. Some soft leather and earthiness at the end. These series (Lurton Reserva,Mendoza) are better preserved by 3 to 4 yrs and getting some round balance. Sometimes you get a nice ageing by 6 yrs of cellaring with beauty notes of earthiness and sweet oxidation without losing much body. Now I´d say 84 points with not a good value mostly beacause aged too late.

La Vuelta, Syrah 2009; indulge yourself for 5 bucks

La Vuelta, Syrah 2009, USD 5

Fruit punch from Mendoza. A fruity driven wine to enyoy happily for a bunch of minutes. You won´t remember this red but you´ll enyoy it while it last in your cup. Slapping red with black fruits without the spice of syrah. 83 points with very good value add. I mean you indulge yourself when looking the price payed for it.