Gerome Marteau Reserva 2008, an excellent merlot based artisan from Rio Negro

Gerome Marteau, Reserva 2008, By Marcelo Marteau, Artisan Wine from Rio Negro, USD 18
Very good merlot based blend from Northpatagonia. Nice ripe red small wild fruits mostly cherries and raspberries with strong vivid acidity and tannins. Good chocolate and vanilla from oak cellar that complete the finesse. Nice aftertaste. Typicity preserved and enjoyable. An excellent artisan red from a small producer of Northpatagonia. A 91 points merlot with great value.

Extra Toso, cuvee reserve, sparkling from chardonnay, smooth and peaceful

Extra Toso, Cuvee Reserve sparkling, By Bodega Pascual Toso, USD 12
Nice sparkling, kind of champagne styled, from San Rafael, Mendoza (south).
Good balance of ripe green apple with little tropical fruits like apricot and a touch of toast. Mostly chardonnay driven base lacking the pinot back up. Soft and easy to drink. Not very attractive though but well done. Young to drink young but it doesen´t show the vintage. A good value and a 86 point champenoise sparkling

Andeluna Torrontes 2008, quite attractive white from Tupun

Andeluna, Torrontés 2008, By Andeluna Cellars, Tupungato, mendoza, USD 10
Nice and quite complete Torrontes from high Mendoza lands (Tupungato city in Uco Valley).
Citrus lemony with rude plant and soft ripe white fruits like peach in a nice acidity base. Quite floral at the nose mostly jasmin and wild small white roses.Thin and delecate. A young Torrontes to enjoy before 4 years of cellar. Good value for this 88 points white.

Bianchi Extra Brut ,edicion especial 2003, wow !

Bianchi, Extra Brut 2003, By Familia Bianchi, USD 17
Outstanding sparkling and a great value. Grapes grown and vinified in San Rafael, South Mendoza. Wonderful and balanced green apples with perfect sweet apricot and melon to increase the beauty. Nice toasty smell and aroma lightly better percieved in the palate. Even a hint of lemon probably related to the nice acidity. A 92 points sparkling better than some Reim´s champenoise.

Malma Cabernet & Merlot 2006, a Patagonian Value

Malma, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 2006, By Bodega Nqn, Neuquén, USD 8
Quite attractive blend from Northpatagonia (Cab Sau 60% and Merlot 40%). I like to taste some wines well close to theirs late life. This blend has beautiful complexity, a basic one , but nice and complete. What a well aged and matured wine could finally ever bring. Nice red sweet bell pepper roasted and caramelized with only a hint of herbal spiced touch. Nice red sour little fruits too. Quite smoke and soft dark choco too. I´d say a red for 4-5 years at no better price value. I´ll go 88 points.

Saurus, Patagonia Select, Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Patagonia Typicity

Saurus, Sauvignon Blanc 2008, By Familia Shroeder, USD 10
Nice strong sau blanc from Northpatagonia. Balanced aromas of citrus with peach and rude plant or may be radicchio. These mixed components made this white quite attractive and original.
Good struture and strong backbone. Even so I wound´t go more than 3-4 years with this sau. A 88 points sauvignon blanc with very good value component. I know some vintages of Chard from this winery far more complex and richer.

Finca Flichman, Chard & Malbec sparkling, what? (2 nd part)

Finca Flichman Extra Brut, Chardonnay & Malbec, By Finca Flichman, USD 12
Another akward experiment of sparkling with blanc and malbec blend. Salmon tone with no brightness at all. Strange nose mix of feelings. Wird blend of apple and plum (?)quite acid and no attractive at all. I´d say a 80 points sparkling with bad value for the price. There are few sparkling made of red grapes from this country that deserve attention. This white & red scrumbles is not balanced.

El Esteco, sparkling of Torrontes and Malbec, what?

El Esteco, Torrontes, Chardonnay and Malbec sparkling, By Bodega El Esteco, Cafayate Valley,Salta, USD 12

Soft lemony and white flowers typical of Torrontes and a pinch of red plummy fruit from Malbec with no toasty component at all. Easy a slightly sweet sparkling with no memory after the early palate, which is kind of sad. I wound´t go more than 82 points for this cheap sparkling. No value at all.

Bianchi Extra Brut, elegant and classic sparkling

Bianchi Extra Brut, N/A By Bodega Bianchi, USD 12

Beautiful sparkling from San Rafael valley, south mendoza made of chard and pinot noir.Pulished mix of white fruits like peach with nice apple. Nice acidity and alcohol. Not strong toast component though. Mostly Champagne styled sparkling. A 90 point sparkling with a great value.

Alma Negra, misterio 1, too...lets see

Alma Negra, Misterio I 2007, By Ernesto Catena, USD 40

Good Cabernet Savignon based red with nice red and black fruits mixed and a strong herbaceous component overexpressed. Mendoza based vineyards. Striking chocolate and smoke well balanced. Nice end but dominated by herbal unripe Cab. I´d say a wine not balanced of 86 points at the most. No good value at all.

Luigi Bosca, De Sangre blend 2008, wow !

Luigi Bosca, De Sangre 2008, By Familia Arizu, USD 25

Gorgeous blend from Lujan de Cuyo Dpt,Mendoza. Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. Attractive nose from the beginning says no lie what´s coming up next. Great balance of fruit, ripe and sour, with smoke and chocolate in a beautiful struture of delicate but solid backbone. Black cherries mixed up with strawberries and boysenberries very ripen. Mild touch of ripe green bell peppers. A wine for 10 years cellar to enjoy better and better. I´d say 92 points blend with great value

Emilia Malbec 2010 By Nieto Senetiner, now we go

Emilia, malbec 2010, By Nieto Senetiner, USD 6-7

Nice and attractive Malbec from Lujan de Cuyo´s Dpt, Mendoza

What a contemporary malbec should have. Good juicy ripe plum and boysenberries with a beautiful touch of coconut and vanilla surrounding. Quite balanced and smooth without losing liveliness. Good aftertaste, just long enough to go to back to the beginning. ïd say a young malbec to enjoy before 4 years and a 87 points with very good value for the price. I didn´t get information if this red is sold overseas with any label. I´ll post it as soon as I know.

Pecado Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Lets see Cafayate Valley?

Pecado Reserva, Cabenet Sauvignon 2009, By Finca Quara Winery, USD 8

Cabernet Sauvignon from Cafayate´s Valley in Salta (Northeast Agentina). High lands.Regreatable unripe herbaceous dominant. Unripe red and black cherries, sour and coarse.

This grapes were harvested quite far before time. I´d say 76 points and no value at all unfortunately. Lets wait better works from Cafayate and from Finca Quara.

Uruco, Malbec 2006 from Uco´s Valley,a thumb up

Uruco, Malbec 2006, By Bodega Los Cerrillos, USD 10

Nice and attractive malbec from Uco´s Valley, Tupungato, Mendoza.

Ripe plum and boysenberries typical of high Uco´s with overt and nice chocolate and smoke from oak in a nice complement. Mouth filling at middle palate and short but acceptable asftertaste. Looks like it wont´t get better. A young malbec to be sacrificed and kindly offered before 4 and 6 years at the most. A 88 point red with good value component. Good son of Uco´s and nicely oaky.

Deseado, late harvest Torrontes sparkling that sticks out nicely

Deseado, Torrontes tardio & sparkling, By Familia Shroeder, USD 11

Good sparkling from San Patricio´s valley (San patricio del Chañar, Neuquen, Patagonia) made of Torrontes late harvest (tardio). Nice pale yellow with a dash of green. Sweet lemony nose and middle palate typical of Torrontes from Patagonia and not seen in high lands torrontes (Cafayate or Uco´s Valley). Some white flowers and ripe peach enclose undertones. I´d say a 88 points sparkling with very good value component .

Postales Malbec 2010, quite nice Patagonia Malbec in exchange for 5 bucks!

Postales Malbec 2010, By Bodega del Fin del Mundo, USD 5

Unbeatable value both worldwide and malbecwise. Red deep and brilliant from the start off giving place to a solid malbec encompassing black (bosenberries,plum) more than red (mostly cherries) ripe and nicely balanced. A middle palate dominant red (as most soft malbecs are).The acidity and alcohol add up positive strength to back up the tannins. Almost no oak. Soft chocolate. Young to enjoy before 2-4 years. I´d say 85 points and unbeatable price value.Typical Patagonian (Northpatagona) Malbec at the level of smooth concentration and mild complexity but solid and attractive.

Crios Syrah & Bonarda By Susana Balbo. This time much better

Crios ,Syrah & Bonarda 2007, By Susana Balbo, USD 10.

Nice blend 50/50 from Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Mendoza. Strong backbone of red sour fruits much like plum and boysenberries.Quite interesting slap of spiciness and herbal like green pepper grain that makes it exotic. Big early and middle palate with nice aftertaste of bitterness. All in all is a well estructured red and actually quite complex. Very good value no doubt. Not a wine easy to drink but interesting to discover.I´d say a 89 points red to drink before 4-6 years. Lacks finesse and attractiveness. Its a monster attack with rustic and viking tannins (got it?). This time much better than Malbec Crios which is even more rustic and rough.

Malma Extra Brut Cuvee Reserve, N/A. Lets see it

Malma Cuvee Reserve, Sparkling By Bodega Nqn N/A, USD 12.

Nice and attractive sparkling from San Patricio´s Valley (Neuquén) in Northpatagonia.Made with Pinot Noir 75% and Chardonnay 25% gives good balance of cherries memories and apple scent with soft tostand in good harmony. Extra Brut in sugar. Not sugary or sweety to cover an akward wine. Pleasant and dry.I´l say a 89 points sparkling made to last 3-4 years rich and full. Good value.

Malma Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, wow

Malma Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, By Bodega Nqn, USD 12.

Beautiful Cab from Northpatagonia (San Patricio´s Valley, Neuquén). Quite interesting dark red bluish (not violet)from the begining. Impressive nose that opens up a great palate. Blackcurrant, boysenberries, cherries mostly black and cooked like marmalade. Beautiful bell pepper kind of candied by direct fire. Nice and solid only some gap in the middle palate (where a Malbec should complete pretty well). Nice balance of acidity and alcohol. I´d say 90 points red with very good value for the money paid. May even improve next 2-3 years.

Gran Linaje, Torrontés 2009. Not the best from Etchart Winery

Gran Linaje, Torrontés 2009, By Bodegas Etchard, USD 16.

Nice Torrontés from Cafayate Valley in Salta (Northwest Argentina). Lavander sniff that opens up white flowers ,jasmin, rude plant and a soft hint of citrus. Sweet palate, nice but weak acidity ,unusual for a Cafayate´s must say. Quite thin with an edge of bitter evolving and really gentle. Grape fruit and a crispy kiwi very delicate. I´ll go 88 points with very good value.Not a wide and strong Torrontés usual from Cafayate´s.

Argento Reserva Malbec 2008, another Uco´s son and it goes...

Argento Reserva, Malbec 2008, By Argento, USD 12.

Nice and typical Malbec from Uco´s Valley (specifically from Vista Flores district). Typical means sweet and balanced blackberries easy to drink and very friendly. Not a complex malbec wich puts it below 10 bucks (I say it should be!). Soft tabacco/chocolate very soft.Equilibrated all trough the palate with short aftertaste. Nice and beautiful for 8-9 bucks. So I´ll say 86 points with no good value delivered for 12 bucks.

Andeluna Reserve Merlot 2005, nice value from Uco´s

Andeluna Reserve Merlot 2005, By Andeluna Cellars, USD 15.

Very good Merlot from Uco´s Valley (Tupungato) Mendoza. A well matured merlot from high mendoza.The best part goes to the middle palate where ripe cherries (red and black) steal the show. Althought you go wellfrom the nose on, this middle palate gives the note. Not very long aftertaste though. It doesn´t feel like it´s gonna live better next years. I´ll go 89 points and a good value. Uco´s gets good merlots (not classical ones because the tendency to give more black fruits) but it doesn´t show up the best. Not even close to Northpatagonian´s merlot (which gives much more red sour and fruity cherries with stronger backbone closer to classical Merlots).

Landó 2008 By CARO, not what I expected

Landó (Landeau) 2008, By Bodegas CARO (Barons de Rothschild Lafite & Catena) USD 15.

Close to Amancaya sold Int´l. Blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza. Good balance andfinesse but not a great wine, not even excelent. Good red with some oxidation tones (even the cork was perfect without drippings).Nice palette of cooked fruits and some akward acidity. Good middle palate and globally an easy sip red.I´ll go 88 points and I wouldn´t say a good value though.

Flecha de los Andes, Gran Malbec 2008, wow ! again Uco´s and Rolland´s

Flecha de los Andes, Gran Malbec 2008, By joint venture of Baron Edmont Rotschild & Chateaux Dassault, USD 19.

Great Malbec fron Uco´s Valley branched off Michele Roland group. Strong and ripe blackberries with very nice acidity and chocolate with very soft vanilla. Tipical black fruits candied and smoky hallmark of Rolland´s wines of High Mendoza.Quite long in the palate,but just a little more to be an outrageous wine. Balanced and seductive. I´ll say a 93 points malbec with great quality and typicity for terroir and viticulture style. Great Value. Probably enjoyable more by 4-6 years cellar.

Pulenta Estate malbec 2008,typical highlands malbec from high agrelo Mendoza

Pulenta Estate, Malbec 2008, By Pulenta Estate, USD 19.

Excelent malbec from highlands of Lujan de Cuyo Departament (High Agrelo district). Mostly black sour fruits ripe and vigorous. Nice sugar and fine acidity together. Beautiful backbone with similarity to Uco´s Valley. Soft chocolate and smoke from the middle to late palate.Wide and juicy, only a rather short aftertaste to be a greatest malbec. Nice young but probably enjoyable for some 4-6 years. I´ll say a 91 points malbec with great value component.

DV Catena Malbec & Malbec, lets see

DV Catena, Malbec & Malbec 2006, By Bodega Catena Zapata, USD 23.

Very good Malbec from Lunlunta district (Maipu Dpt) and Agrelo district (Lujan de Cuyo Dpt) in Mendoza.Classical red and plum ripe fruits from a classical malbec from `Primera Zona´ of Mendoza. Some mild complexity enjoyable but not amazing. Good balance but an acidity like unripe plum burnt by the sun a bit uneasy. Good maturation and it may be interesting to see evolve in 2-4 years more. I´ll say 89 points malbec with just a barely acceptable value to price.

Malma Malbec Reserva 2005, probably the best Northpatagonia´s Malbec of the decade

Malma Malbec Reserva 2005, By Bodega NQN, USD 20

Excelent Malbec from San Patricio´s (del Chañar) Valley in Neuquén, Northpatagonia. No doubt the best vintage for Malbec in the decade.Dark and deep red bluish but not violet or purple that slides into the nose with rich fruits,violets and jammy hints.The palate gives out even more details: plum and red and black cherries, ripe and sour. Wide middle palate with round smokiness and dark chocolate. The best part of it. It lacks longer aftertaste to be an outrageous Malbec. It calls for sip after other and to keep it flooding around to enjoy all the richness. A perfect moment of age to enjoy, altough it may keep this way and even evolve into more complexity in 2-3 years. Now 92 points and far away from its partners Merlot, Cab Sau and Pinot from 2005 vintage. A little bit less complex but purer and wilder than Colección 2005 made 60% with this malbec. To my palate this is probably the best malbec Northpatagonia gave in the last decade, clean, pure and deep. A Great Value.

Luigi Bosca Reserva Malbec 2008, you see but not too much

Luigi Bosca, Malbec Reserve 2008, By Familia Arizu, USD 17.

Essencial of ARG malbec. From Vistalba District in Lujan de Cuyo Departament of Mendoza. Not what I mean when say a wonderfull malbec but good struture and the abc of a malbec from Lujan de Cuyo. Nice nose of ripe plum and raspberries. Jammy and well scented. You may catch violets. The palate is less than pure. More initial palate than middle and end palate. Short aftertaste but likeable smoke and chocolate. A tiny spiciness hint. I woudn´t expect a better red after 4 years cellar for this dense and heavy malbec on the beginning but fading away weak pretty soon. I´ll go 86 points and a barely accetable value price. I´d gone happier if I´ve payed 8-10 bucks.

Lindaflor 2002 By Monteviejo; keeps growing quite fine

Lindaflor 2002, Malbec by Bodega Monteviejo, Uco Valley ,USD 40.

Great maturation these 8 years for this typical malbec from Uco´s. Strong black sour fruits pop up from the beginning. Mouthfull chocolate and toast well entangled. Solid and attractive tannins with marvelous backbone. Very seductive. From the middle and growing through late palate and aftertaste I pick up a quite attractive tutti frutti (candied) component hallmark of Rolland´s wines of Uco Valley that seems to come from oak and cellar. I guess it could get better with some terciary notes in the upcomming years and bring more complexity. I´d say a 93 points malbec, may be 95-97 if aged some 3-4 years more. Great Value.

Saurus, Sauvignon Blanc 2007, pour me more

Saurus, Sauvignon Blanc 2007, By Bodega Familia Shroeder, USD 10.

Very nice S Blanc from San Patricio´s Valley in Neuquén, Northpatagonia.Wide palette of citric fruits, mostly grapefruit and soft rude plant. Gentle sweetness. Nice white flowers and a llittle bit of melon. Quite likeable mostly by the balance. I´d say 89 points and a very good value. Looks like you might enjoy it 4-5 years old.

Presidential Blend 2002 by Escorihuela Gascón, lets see

Miguel Escorihuela Gascón, Blend 2002, By Bodega E Gascon,USD 50.

(Internationally sold as Presidential Blend) This Malbec based blend (85% malbec, 10% cab sau and 5% merlot with minor amounts of syrah) from Mendoza is a quite complex and attractive red. Well balanced, more red than black fuits, with some chocolate and smoke and clear long aftertaste. A bit of not nice acidity even the cork was o.k. You may get some sweet bell pepper but not dominant. Could it get better with some couple of years of cellaring? I´d say 90 points red and just a barely acceptable value to price.

Celador Malbec 2007 By Cielo y Tierra , Oscar award behind

El Celador, Malbec 2007, By Cielo y Tierra, Lunlunta District (Mendoza) ,USD 19.

Quite attractive malbec from Maipu Departament of Mendoza. Gustavo Santaolalla (Oscar winner for music of Brokeback Mountain and Babel) is one of the guys behind it (see Don Juan Nahuel malbec 2005, Jul 2010) and these are their first releases. Nice combination of fruit, ripe and juicy, mostly plum and blackberries, with soft vanilla and amazing coconuts in a Californian styled red. A bunch may not like it, but the most will pick it up as very attractive and likeable. I´l go 89 points for a malbec of 4-5 years cellaring with a good value to price.

Petite Fleur, Malbec bland from Uco´s and a family history behind

Petite Fleur ,Malbec blend 2008, By Monteviejo Bodega & Viñedos, USD 19.

Nice and round malbec blend from Uco´s Valley. Short at the end though ,what makes it not as good as you might imagine. Good acid black more than red small wild fruits typical of Uco´s. Hints of spices and smoke. Not wide in palate and actually short aftertaste wich is kind of deceptive. This is not what you expect of a Uco´s malbec of 2 years old for 20 bucks. I´d say 84 points and not a good price value after all.

Pura Sangre 2005, From Lunlunta district a good boy

Pura Sangre, Malbec bland, By Domaine St Diego, USD 19.

Malbec 80% from Lunlunta district of Maipu Departament by Angel Mendoza. Nice and rich blend with fruitiness all around but softly entangled with almost no oak at all. Round and elegant.Spiciness in a very delecate way. Quite short regrettably. Probably to enjoy before 4 years cellar I guess. A 86 points red and an acceptable value though.

Intimo Family Reserve 2009 from Bodega Canale, an attractive northpatagonian

Intimo Family Reserve 2009, By Bodega Canale, USD 19

A blend Malbec based from Rio Negro´s High Valley showing great typicity and attrativeness.Nice vanilla from the start off with a beautiful mix of black and red wild berries and also ripe cooked quince and plum marmalade.Quite wide in middle palate with good aftertaste. Good acidity and alcohol in balance with tannins and fruitiness. I´d say a wine for 4-6 years cellar and a 90 point malbec based red. Good value.

Blush Rose 2010, Fron Northpatagonia a good sweet and traditional value

Blush Rosé 2010, By Bodega Canale, USD 7

Nice soft red blend turned into rose that gives off sweet cherries and raspberries ripe and soft.Not very complex though but not over sweet either. Nice company to many finger food and a easy to drink rose.Young to drink young (less than 2 years). 80 points with good price value.

Graffigna Late Harvest Malbec 2008, acceptable quality from San Juan Province

Graffigna Malbec Tardio 2008 (Late Harvest). By Graffigna Wines, San Juan. USD 13 (500 ml)Good soft and balanced sweet malbec from San Juan Province in Northwest Argentina (close to mendoza).Stronger sun and hot summer give rise to a mostly fruity malbec with low acidity and a good opportunity fora late harvest. Nice fuits like plum and black cherries compoted and slightly smoked. Very delicate and soft bodied.Young to enjoy very young before die. Acceptable value for this 83 points

Barrandica, Blend 2007, Very good effort from Tunuyan, High lands of Mendoza

Barrandica, Malbec 2007, By Barrandica Wineyards, Tunuyan District Mendoza, USD 10.

Very good blend of Cab Sau, Merlot and Malbec from the high lands of Mendoza. Strong backbone of ripe and sour black fruits with very nice lactic acidity. Quite typicity from a vineyard of high Mendoza.Great middle palate and an comfortable aftertaste. Very well priced. A 88 points wine for 10 bucks makes it a very good value (it´ll be a good value even for 15 USD ) and better than most of `the same level´ most exported Argentina´s reds (I won´t say wich ones, just look around the blog or even better taste them).

Tomero Malbec 2009, a chance from Vistalba District

Tomero, Malbec 2009, By Tomero Wines (Carlos Pulenta Winery), USD 10

Vistalba district of Lujan de Cuyo´s Departament in Mendoza. Nice roud and easy to drink malbec. Notes of strawberries with raspberries soft and sweet. Good backbone oftannins. Very soft smoke and chocolate don´t disturb the good fruits in it. Young to drink less han 4 years old.Not concentrated but straight. Not memorable but typical and original at the same time from where was born. I´d say a 86 points wine with a very good value component.

Compare the 2008 vintage tasted younger. Actually a better year than 09.

http://argentinawinesrevisited.blogspot.com/2010/08/tomero-malbec-2008-beauty-from-vistalba.html

Rutini Cabernet Saubignon & Malbec 2007, tradition and quality up for grabs

Rutini Cabernet Saubignon & Malbec 2007, By Rutini Wines , USD 20

Very attractive ensamble for a red that combines wide palate, nice mix of ripe red and black fruits, soft envelope of oak (like chocolate) and good aftertaste. Mostly grapes from Maipu Departament. Enjoyable and to remember. I´d say 89 points red to cellar its best for 4-6 years. Not surprised if some gets better by 8 years. Very good value no doubt.

Otello Malbec reserve 2006, from perdriel a good value

Otello, Malbec reserve 2006, By Sottano Winery, USD 7-8

Nice malbec from Perdriel District in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Mendoza.You go through cooked black fruits like plum and quince marmalade. Hints of blackberries and black currant with a bit, just a little bit of smoke and chocolate . Soft and gentle all through the palate. A young to cellar mostly the short term (drink young before 5 years old) .I´d say a 85 points malbec worthwile the price no doubt (good value).

Colome Tannat 2009, From Cafayate Salta a strange but something red

Colome, Tannat 2009, By Bodega Colome (Hess Collection), USD 23

Interesting red from Cafayate Valley, Salta. A high altitud wineyard (5,400 ft, 1700 mt) with nice red deep typical of there with notes of purple. Inviting nose that goes quite attractive in the palate mostly red cooked fruits in harmony with appropiate chocolate and smoke. Harmonic all palate with nice aftertaste. I´d say a `young to enjoy young´ wine of 88 points with a good value component.

Benegas Finca Libertad, 2005 From High Mendoza River a rolling Cab based blend

Benegas Finca Libertad, By Bodegas Benegas, USD 25

A blend a Cabernet Sauvignon with some Franc and Merlot from High Mendoza River. Good blend with dominant Cab Sau descriptors like red and green bell peppers, sweet and ripe.Nice dark fruits no very sour but likeable. Soft vanilla and smoke from oak. Nice balance. Not very attractivemay be because not having malbec in it. A wine to cellar 5-8 years with improving complexity. I´d say a 89 points winewith a very good value component.

Enclave Sur, Sauvignon Balnc & Semillon Late Haverst 2010, wow !

Enclave Sur, Late Harvest Semillon & Sauvingnon Blanc 2010, By Enclave Sur, USD 10

Wonderfull wine from Rio Negro Valley (Choele Choel district). A blend of late harvested Sauvignon Blanc 70% and Semillon 30 %. Nice remembrances of sweet grapefruit with mango and a hint of white roses that give place to a round winein the palate. Nice alcohol and acidity give body and pleasant endurance. I´d say a wine for cellaring not more than 2 years anda 88 points late harvest with very god value component.

Colección Malbec 2007, a great Patagonian and a great value in one

Colección, Malbec 2007, By Bodega Nqn , USD 19 Terrific Patagonian Malbec from San Patricio´s Valley ,Neuquén, Patagonia. Quite different from Mendoza´s malbecs. Dark red deep and fairly brilliant, which admittedly is not common in Northpatagonian wines where dominates deep red opaque shades. Complex nose with strong red sour fruits that gives place to a wide palate full of black cherries, blackberries, ripe plum and a hint of violets and dark roses. Pinch of smoky stuff and more chocolate. Very soft vanilla. Good memories aftertaste with nice alcohol and acidity. A wine for 6-8 years cellar and a 91 points malbec with great value component. One (if not the most) great values from Patagonia considering its quality and price.

Terrazas, Reserva Malbec 2008, typicity from Lujan de Cuyo´s and nearby Mendoza

Terrazas, Reserva, Malbec 2008, By Terrazas de los Andes, Mendoza USD 15 Elegant and balanced malbec with typical components of Lujan de Cuyo´s Departament. Nice nose and it opens up ripe black plums and dried figs with soft red sour fruits. Soft chocolate and smoke. Nice passage all trough the palate with yummy aftertaste. I´d say a 2-4 years cellar better, but some may go better by 5-7 years (as I tasted them before).By the way ; To note: this doesn´t seem the better quality Reserve that I´ve tasted before with improving complexity after 7 yrs. It looks like a younger vinyard and a less complex wine at the end. A 89 points malbec with good value component .

Lamadrid Gran Reserva Malbec 2005, not what it´s been said though !

Lamadrid ,Gran Reserva, Malbec 2005, By Lamadrid Estate Wines, Mendoza , USD 20Vanishing malbec with nice purple and deep red to the eye and a rather nice nose of ripe fruits and chocolate but decieving in the palate; Intriguing initial palate but oxidated and acidic all through. Preserved cork must say.A disbalanced and not nice wine at all. Better 2-4 years before? Don´t have a clue but now 78 points and a bad value.

Riglos, Gran Malbec 2006, a beauty rich from Tupungato

Riglos, Gran Malbec 2006, By Finca Las Divas, Uco´s Valley, USD 30
Beautiful malbec from Tupungato´s valley in Mendoza. Great black and less red fruits typical from Uco´s. Blackcurrant and berries dominate. Nice vanilla and cocoa all over but not over the top. Quite interesting equilibrium with fairly long aftertaste. No edge of disbalance and attractive sweet fruits from malbec. I´d say a 91 points wine probably better by 6-8 years of cellar. Great value.

Angélica Zapata Alta, Cabernet Frank 2004, delikatessen from High Mendoza

Angelica Zapata, Alta, Cabernet Frank 2006, By Catena Zapata, Mendoza USD 30
Probably close to Catena Alta series sold internationally. Beautiful blend from high vineyards with red more than black fruits ripe and nicely sour with a huge middle palate and a balanced end. Actually all the palate is complete, nice and wide initial and middle with likeable end. Soft smoke and chocolate. I´d say a wine worth cellaring 6-8 years with improving deepness. I´ll go 90 points for this very good value.

Estepa, Mistica Malbec 2005, By Bodega Estepa, Rio Negro, nice typicity

Estepa, Mística, Malbec 2005, By Bodega Estepa, Rio Negro Valley, USD 30
Nice malbec from Fernandez Oro, Rio Negro with good typicity and attractiveness. Sour red fruits ripe and wide in palate dominate. Good chocolate and coffee envelope from oak. No very long end of palate though. Nice balance. I´d say a red for 4-6 years with increasing beauty. I´ll go 89 points and a good value for the price.