Gascon Malbec 2006, a basic Malbec from Lujan de Cuyo

Gascon, Malbec 2006, USD 12

Typical malbec from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza by Bodega Escorihuela Gascón. Nice fruit mostly blackberries and currant with some tiny plum marmalade. Soft smoky end with balanced acidity and alcohol in the middle. Not to remember but nice and basic Malbec. I´d say 86 points on this good value. For sure not to cellar more than 4 years without loss.

Ventus 2010 & UNO 2009, fast track under 4 bucks

Ventus 2010 (merlot, malbec, Cab Sau) USD 4 & UNO 2009 (Cab Sau, sangiovese) USD 3 The first blend from San Patricio´s Valley in Neuquen, Northpatagonia (by Bodega Fin del Mundo) and the second from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza (by Bodega Tittarelli) display nice simplicity with fresh sweet fruit with no oak whatsoever. Ventus 2010 shows more ruby and deep red with more boysenberries and rose. UNO 2009 shows lighter red with sweet cherries and raspberries. Both wines are to drink in the year or two from harvest. Easy drinking and likeable for no money that I feel ideal for finger food. You won´t remember the brand but it´ll go nicely as planned.

Chateaux Vieux 2000, A spanish style `Mendocino´

Chateaux Vieux 2000, Bodega Lopez, USD 12

Original blend from Maipu Departament in Mendoza. Cabernet Sauvignon with Pinot noir and Malbec aged in Big French Cascs for 8 years before bottling. Soft aromas of sweet pomegranade and humid oak chips well entangled. Attractive initial and middle palate with mostly red small cherries and a rather short end. Globally soft with nice alcohol and strong oak evolved into sweet terciary tastes.Already aged. Not to cellar much. I´d say a 86 points red with good value price. A `Mendocino´red with spanish aging tradition.

D.V. Catena Nature 2006, A terrific sparkling

D.V. Catena Nature 2006, Bodega Catena Zapata, USD 45

Absolutely outrageous sparkling from Mendoza.

Nice smoke and tost completed with a wide palate showing peach, citrus and tropical fruits. Velvety and buttery like a peanut butter with honey bee over a tost. Round and very attractive. One of the top 5 sparking from Argentina no doubt. I´d say 93 points and unbeatable price value. The great structure will make it last well for 8-10 years without loss.

Quara, Torrontes Barrique Aged 2006, wondeful Cafayate´s

Quara Torrontes Barrique aged 2006, USD 12, Bodega F. Lavaque.

Beautiful withe fron Cafayate´s Valley ,Salta

Exquisite aroma of white flowers and grapefruit with a hint of rue plant typical of Torrontes.

Delicious palate mostly middle sweet and soft ripe peach grapefruit and melon. Nice smoke and velvety from oak. Very attractive balance with its 14% alcohol. It may live without loss for a couple of years more so it could be terrific for up to 6-7 years. I´d say a 90 points white with absolutely unbeatable price value.

Lagarde Reserva, Malbec 2008, Elegant and fruity

Lagarde Malbec Reserva 2008. Bodega Lagarde, USD 17

Nice and delicate malbec from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Absolutely balanced and elegant malbec with red fruits and plum. Mouth filling with a hint

of chocolate and smoke. Nice passage through palate and nice aftertaste too. I feel it should be better up to 4-6 years of cellaring. i´d say a 89 points malbec with good value price.

Alcayata, Malbec & Syrah 2006, F.Lourton. Simple and Concentrated

Alcayata, Malbec & Syrah 2006, Bodega F. Lourton,USD 14

Nice blend from a single vineyard in Uco´s Valley, Mendoza.

Dark color but simple nose and palate. Nice plum and violets with hint of spice like black pepper and oregano. Hints of smoke and vanilla. Great inicial palate but fades away soon. Lacks complexity, backbone and memory. Not a red for more than 4-6 years cellar. I´d say 86 points blend with barely acceptable price value. I don´t see tyicity from Uco but it is enjoyable red.

Colección Nqn. 2005, Patagonia Universe, USD 20 , By Bodega NQN

Wonderful blend from San Patricio´s Valley in Neuquen (NQN) NorthPatagonia. This blend brings enormous concentrated and juicy fruits ,mostly black ones with some quince and plum too. A great acidity and alcohol around with hints of spice. Nice lingering and wide palate. It looks on its best by now and I don´t think it will be better in 1-2 yrs. I´ll go 93 points on this red. A great value no doubt and a vivid example of Patagonia´s reds.

AVE, Gran Riserva, Malbec 2006, An Italo-Argentinian venture

AVE, Gran Riserva Malbec 2006, Proyecto Mas, USD 20

Nice malbec from lujan de Cuyo, mendoza by Proyecto Mas, an Italian based group.

Tipicity preserved in a well structured wine but not very attractive. Some acidity that I feel

not likeable nor attractive either. It turns the fruit into something oxidated. I´l say 88 points

with an acceptable price value.

Occasionale 2006, Bodega Nieto Senetiner, USD 28

Unusual blend of Lujan de Cuyo, mendoza with malbec, syrah,petit verdot and accelotta.

Nice fruit ripe and complex mix of red and more usual plum/berries. Soft palate throughout with

beautiful hints of coconut and vanilla ending on smoke. I woudn´t drink this beyond 5-6 yrs of age.

I´d say a 89 points wine with no good value for the price,at least taking into account the wines tasted here.

Famiglia Bianchi, Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, a beauty from the `south oasis´

Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Bodega Valentin Bianchi,USD 18

Beautiful Cab from San Rafael Valley south of Mendoza (the `south oasis´) with a good value

component. Balanced fruits with nice acidity and alcohol keeping the attractiveness alive.

From the start off you see a deep red and a nice nose.The palate is more expressive at the end

with dark fruits and smoke/choco stuff. Quite attractive. I´ll go 90 points on this good value 7 years after born and probably living its last 1-2 years.

FIN ,Single Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Nice Cab from Neuquén

FIN del Mundo, single vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, USD 28

Nice & typical Cab from San Patricio´s Valley in Neuquén Province, NorthPatagonia. Bodega del Fin del Mundo.Attractive Cab with curious structure of sweet ripe cherries and raspberries with a touch of blackberries ,choco & smoke and filling cooked eggplant. It touches all the palate ending with some herbaceous tone.I guess a red for no more the 6 years cellaring. I´d say 89 points red but just a barely acceptable price value.

Urban Uco, Malbec and Tempranillo 2004 from Uco´s Valley

Urban Uco, Malbec & Tempranillo 2004 by O. Fournier, USD 12

Nice and original blend from Uco´s Valley made from tempranillo and malbec in 50/50. Strong backbone with sweet violets and black fruits in addition of plum in jammy. Good smoke and chocolate. Great middle palate better than initial and aftertaste. I feel it was better a couple of years back. Like It should be the best time by 4-5 yrs from harvest. I´d say a 89 point red with a good value component given by price.

Finca La Linda, Malbec 2008, Great Value from Luigi Bosca Winery

Finca La Linda, Malbec 2008, USD 8 from Lujan de Cuyo ,Mendoza

Delicate malbec like few (other good example upgrading to 15 bucks is Lagarde Reserva Malbec

whatever vintage) with exquisit balance of ripe red and black fruits softly made jam. It travels through all the palate smootly and velvety. Nice smoke very soft and also a quite attractive spice not usual for malbec. Completely mature. This is a red to get the best before 3 years old. I´d say 88 points and a great value too.

Andeluna, Malbec & Merlot 2007, from Tupungato area the best

Andeluna Malbec & Merlot 2009, Tupungato ,Mendoza 2007, USD 10

Good values from Uco´s Valley in Mendoza. Strong varietals with small oak accompaniment mostly dark choco and smoke softly. Ripe and wide palate with moderate aftertaste. Malbec more to plum and blueberries and small boisenberries. Merlot more to red cherries and raspberries. Super balanced. I´d guess better by 4-5 yrs from harvest.This time I´d say 89 points both reds. Good values though. Better in 1-2 years cellar.

Atos Pampa Roble, Malbec 2009, Great Value from Calamuchita´s Valley

Atos Pampa, Malbec Roble 2009, USD 8

Very attractive malbec from Atos Pampa,Calmuchita´s Valley in Córdoba.

A high altitude wine (4000 ft) at the pre-andes montains. Young and fruit driven red with ripe plum, red cherries and quince jam, all typical of Argentinian Malbec. Well balanced with nice vanilla and more chocolate.Rich and inviting. I´d say 89 points with an great value component. Unfortunately small quantities locally sold.

Footnote: the Cab Sau 2009 `Roble´ is kind in general terms, small shift to herbaceous and soft spicy notes well cooked by the strong high calamuchita´s valley sun.

Atos Pampa, Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, great value from Calamuchita´s Valley, Córdoba

Atos Pampa, Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, USD 12
Great Cabernet from Calamuchita´s Valley, Córdoda. A high valley (1,200 mt, 4,000 ft) close to andes montains. Nice balanced and ripe cabernet with beautiful black fruits and sweet red peppers notes. Mouth watering initial and middle palate with nice vanilla and chocolate all over but exquisitely entangled. A little bit short but nice concentration. I guess a 2-4 yrs cellaring wine. I´d say a 90 points red. A great value.

Putruele Cab Sauvignon and Syrah 2007, good son of San Juan

Putruele Cabenert & Syrah 2007, USD 8
Personal belnd from San Juan Province. Nice blend with mostly ripe black small fruits like black currant and blueberries. Good backbone of sweet tannins. Nothing like tipical Cab sauv around. Hints of speciness and smoke. Overall well balanced. Living its best time I guess. In my mind a good wine for up to 4 yrs. I´d say a 84 points red with A barely acceptable value component.

25/5 La Pampa, Malbec 2006; Terrific malbec from the northeast Patagonia

25/5 La Pampa, Malbec 2006, USD 10
Terrific malbec from the northest Patagonia (25 de Mayo, La Pampa).Bodega del  Desierto.Beautifull fresh fruits like cherries, raspberries and plum with some more cooked ones like quince. Wide palate with nice and round tannins. Vanilla and choco at the middle and final palate and aftertaste make it complete. Short lasting to be a great wine. In my mind it sould go very well for 5-7 yrs from harvest. I´d say a 90 points malbec with a unusual complexity and attractiveness. A great Value no doubt.

Alamos, Malbec 2009, a barely acceptable malbec

Alamos, Malbec 2009, USD 10

Basic wine from Mendoza by Catena Wines. Attractive nose with somehow deceptive palate reaching no more than basics facts of malbec. Short palate and some level of oxidation not attractive indeed. I woudn´t cellar this wine more than 2 yrs. Far more attractive and solid wines on the shelf of 10 bucks. I´d say 83 points red with barely an acceptable value. I wonder if this wine and that exported are the same. Some wineries advance this information (say Trapiche) ,some others don´t.

Septima Cabernet Sauvignon & Malbec 2006, good value

Septima, Cabernet Sauvignon & Malbec 2006, USD 6

Nice Cab fron Agrelo District of Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Spanish Winery (Codorniú) doing great wines in Mendoza. This line is low cost good value component for a straight red ready to drink immediately up to 1-2 yrs. Basic red with good qualities reaching attractive tones. Fruit based with typicity for both variety and terroir and balance with only a hint of smoke. Easy to drink and far from bombastic.This red pays what it costs. I´d say 83 points with a good value point too.

(BLIND TASTING)

Andeluna Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, USD 18

Superbious Cab from Uco´s Valley Mendoza.This red pops up a wide palette of black fruit mostly and beautifully balanced with green peppers and black spicy pepper. Broad palate and complete:early,middle and end. Aftertaste no very long (if it were so I ´d say a perfect wine). Moderated oaky stuff like choco and smoke with hint of vanilla. Mostly a balanced and attractive red with small oak support. It cound´t get any better for my palate, but foresee a twist of complexity in a few years coming. Andeluna´s reserve got there maximun after 4 to 6 yrs and keep maturing in complexity even up to 7-8 yrs (as far as I followed the line my self). I´say 92 point Cab with unbeatable price.

El Albar, Toro DOC 2001, F.Lurton, from Spain; Not meant to describe. Just say an old fashion wine strong and oxidated with nice style. It went 88 points (USD 35) with acceptable value for a style. Totally different style.

D.V. Catena,Malbec Adrianna Vineyard 2003, USD 69

Very good malbec from Tupungato, Mendoza

Nice bordeaux and violet sparkles ( this lilac or purple is typical of young malbecs and kind of strange for a 2003 malbec) Nice aromas of ripe fresh plum and jammy mince and small red fruits. Good oak envelope mostly chocolate and smoke and a hint of vanilla. Broad wine and lasting. I feel it not very alive. I´ll go 89 points for a not very good value.

Mainqué, Merlot 2007, USD 30

A singular merlot from Rio Negro´s Valley Northpatagonia (where I live in)

Must say this merlot´s aromas are not very expressive, kind of not vivid neither brightfull as I´d expect from a merlot. Intriguing dark fruit with nice spice moderate.Good and soft oak envelope. Strong backbone acid makes it difficult to me to enyoy.May be more cellaring (?) I´d say a 86 points red overpriced. Some palates will find more attractive than I do.

Valle Azul, syrah 2007, good red from Rio Negro

Valle Azul, syrah 2007, USD 30

Nice red from Alto Valle de Rio Negro (where I live in). Must say neither typical syrah nor that high price for it. You get good balance of fresh dark fruit with nice acidity and alcohol from around here. Hints of smoke and overall good passage through middle and final palate. No much spicy stuff wanted for a syrah (I think should). Overall I´d say a 87 points red over priced (tha´s relative though)

Finca La Celia, Heritage, Malbec 2006, good value

Finca La Celia, Heritage, Malbec 2006, USD 29

Nice malbec fron Uco´s Valley, Mendoza

Good value malbec with typical plum and red & black cherries jam soaked in a simple oak base like coconut and choco smoky stuff. Attractive and typical from high Mendoza Uco´s Valley.

Not a long aftertaste neither a good concentration. I´ll go 89 points for a good value.

Don Juan Nahuel, Reserva, Malbec 2005; Nice malbec and nice oak

Don Juan Nahuel, Reserva, Malbec 2005, USD 38

Wonder from Lunlunta distric (Maipu) and Agrelo distric (Luja de Cuyo) Mendoza. The first release of Gustavo Santaolalla (musician Oscar winning) and friends. Wine to enjoy a good fruit´s palette with nice oak. Rich mixture of oak and fruit fresh and ripe. Vanilla and coconut envolve all the red cherries ,black currant and plum in it. Balanced and attractive result. Good middle passage through palate. Not very long lasting though and that´s the only fault. I´ll go 90 points. Good value that I wound´t cellar better more than 4 -6 yrs.