Postales Roble, malbec 2009, great malbec at no money at all

Postales Roble Malbec 2009, By Bodegas del Fin Del Mundo, USD 7

Quite balance and attractive malbec for no money at all.From San patricio´s valley, Neuquén, Northpatagonia. Nice fruit ripe and sweet with mince and plum jam. Good alcohol and medium body malbec to enjoy by the cup or with your favorite dish without sweet components. I´d say a young malbec to cellar less than 4 years at its best and a 86 points very good value.

Misterio Shiraz Oak aged 2008, a value shiraz?

Misterio, Shiraz Oak aged 2008, By Finca Flichman,Lujan de Cuyo,Mendoza USD 12

Basic shiraz from Mendoza. Spicy and sweet with black fruit softly coated with almost no smoke.Short lasting with barely any memory .Young to drink young, lets say 2 years at the most. I´d say 82 points with bad value for the price.

Don Nicanor, Malbec 2008, nice but barely acceptable value

Don Nicanor, Malbec 2008, By Bodega Nieto Senetiner, Mendoza USD 15
Nice malbec from Lujan de Cuyo departament in Mendoza. Typical jammy plum and quince
fruit with some smoke ending. Soft and gentle.Nice coconut and chocolate from american oak like barrels. Young to live 2-4 years without loss. I´d say 84 points red with barely acceptable value for the price.

Pequeñas Producciones, Malbec 2006, nice malbec from Escorihuela Gascon

Pequeñas Producciones, malbec 2006, By Bodegas Escorhuela Gascón , USD 30

Nice and quite typical Malbec from Lujan de Cuyo departament in Mendoza. Dry red with dry fruits like plum and figs. Attractive blueberries not invasive. Nice balance. A malbec for not more than 4-6 years without loss. I´d say a 89 points malbec with a good price component.

Cruzat Larraín, Rosé Cuveé Reserve, attractive sparkling from Mendoza

Cruzat Larraín, Rosé Cuveé Reserve, By Bodega Cruzat, Mendoza, USD 18

Nice and Chapagne style sparkling from Mendoza. Quite attractive balance between apple and peach from Chard and ripe cherry fruit from Pinot. Soft toast from `sur lies´ makes it more complex. No citrus like component whatsoever. I´d say a 87 point sparkling with very good value for the price. A bubbly that may go bright for 5 years no doubt.

Val de Flores, Malbec 2005, wow !

Val de Flores, Malbec blend 2005, By Monteviejo Winery.

Uco´s Valley, USD 40

Wonderful malbec by Michelle Rolland. Plenty of fruit ripe and juicy. Full body with strong backbone but even gentle palate all through. Soft oak behind mostly chocolate. Astonishing balance. A red to enjoy live 7-9 years. i´d say 93 points red with great value component no doubt and one of the top.

Ben Marco, Expresivo 2004, a great malbec blend

BenMarco, expresivo 2005, malbec blend from Lujan de Cuyo, By S Balbo & P Marchevsky,USD 38

Great Malbec with ripe notes of blueberries and plum. Strong new oak coconut and vanilla with a nice passage through the whole palate. Beauty to drink this strong during the first 7 years of age. I´d say a 91 point red with very good value.

Marcus Gran Reserva Malbec 2005, a great patagonian

Marcus Gran Reserva Malbec 2005, By Bodega Canale, USD 50 (2007 vintage USD 30)

Very good Malbec from Patagonia (actually Rio Negro Valley, Nothpatagonia) with strong backbone of naturally concentrated tannins and firm structure. Nice envelop of new oak coconut and vanilla with delecate smoky end. Probably a malbec better appreciated before 5 yeras old.Overall a 90 points Malbec with good price value .

Primus, Pinot Noir 2004, not as big as its brothers

Primus Pinot Noir 2004, By Salentien Wines, USD 48

Nice Pinot with strong fruit and well aged balance.

Typicity preserved but not very attractive in terms of palate. It lacks the richness found in good pinots. You will find several descriptors of good fruits but not close to Patagonian Pinots.Probably better before 5 years old. I´d say 88 points pinot and acceptable value for the price.

Alcayata Viognier & Sau Blanc 2008, form Uco´s a beautiful surprise

Alcayata, Viogner (80%) & Sauvignon Blanc 2008, By F Lurton, USD 12

Uco´s Valley unusual blend with nice bottom line. Invasive nose of white flowers and apricot followed by a beautifull middle palate of peach and grapefruit punch. Likeable sip after sip.I´d say a white to drink young and a 88 points good value.

Flichman Malbec Roble 2008, a basic malbec to enjoy (bis)

Finca Flichman Malbec Roble 2009, By Bodega Flichman, USD 8

Basic Malbec with no virtue at all but acceptable. I woudn´t pay 8 bucks. Nice typical fruit for a malbec from mendoza with nice balance with alcohol and acidity. I´d say a young to drink young. A 81 points malbec with no very good value for the price.

Latitud 33, Malbec 2009, another basic malbec to enjoy

Latitud 33, Malbec 2009 ,By Bodegas Chandon, USD 8

Nice malbec a step above basic and worth the price. Sweet backbone with fresh typical fuity malbec from mendoza. Easy to drink and not beyond basic malbec. I´d say 82 points red and good value.

Circus Malbec Roble 2008, nice basic malbec

Circus Malbec Roble 2008, By Bodegas Escoriguela Gascon , USD 11

Nice malbec if you want to enjoy malbec´s sweet fruits and balance.

You find typical plummy and quince marmalade with a soft touch of smoke. Good palate mostly middle as a malbec from Mendoza usually gives. I´d say a young for less than 3 years and a 84 points red with acceptable value.

Postales del Fin del Mundo, Chardonnay Roble 2009, wow !!

Postales del Fin del Mundo, Chardonnay Roble 2009, By Bodegas del Fin del Mundo, USD 10

Beautiful Chard from San Patricio´s Valley, Neuquen ,Northpatagonia. Clear and crispy ripe peach and pear with nice acidity. Sweet envelope with soft buttery touch. Nicer palate after you enjoy the aroma. I´d say a 87 points white to enjoy young and a very good value.

Memento, Natural Blend 2007 from Perdriel District, strange and nice

Memento ,Natural Blend 2007, AVE project (Alberto Antonini), USD 40

Intriguing blend from Perdriel district (remember Cobos malbec), Lujan de Cuyo departament,Mendoza.This red has the finese of that terroir with equilibrated fruit and elegant palate passage. A little bit soft structured but passing through nicely. I´d say a 89 point red and a good value for the price.

Fabre Montmayou, Reserva Malbec 2008, now a good value

Fabre Montmayou Reserva 2008, By Domaine Vistalba, USD 15

Beautiful Malbec from Vistalba District in Lujan de Cuyo Departament,Mendoza. Plenty of red and dark fruits with sweetness and nice acidity. Enjoyable and attractive.Mostly fuit driven with hints of smoke and oak. Nice to drink before 3 years old. A 89 points malbec and a good value. Compare the 2007 tasted on April 2010.

Animal Malbec 2008, basic malbec

Animal, Malbec 2006 By Ernesto Catena, Mendoza USD 15

A basic malbec with no bright at all. Nice typical plummy and red cherries soft and sweet. A young malbec to last less than 2 years.Quite and easy tannins. Nothing to remember if you know malbec. A 82 points malbec with bad value for the price you pay.

Faldeo del Epuyen, Chardonnay & Riesling 2008, beauty from the very Patagonia

Faldeo del Epuyen, Riesling & Chardonnay 2008, By Patagonian Wines (Cavas de Wienert), USD 10

Nice white from Chubut ,Patagonia. Probably the southest vineyard in a cold cold weather. Crispy acidity with lemony and green apple notes giving sweet tannins and occupying the middle palate nicely. Just a dash of peach from chard. Beautiful company for whatever you want to pair with citric. A 88 points white with a very good value component too.

Special Blend 2007, very good northpatagonian

Special Blend 2007, By Bodega del Fin del Mundo, USD 40

Great blend from San Patricio´s Valley Neuquén, Northpatagonia.

Ripe mix of red cherries and raspberries with dashes of plum and boysenberries.

Abundant coconut and vanilla from new oak. Nice acidity and global balance. Probably a wine for 4-6 years cellar with improving prospect. I´d say 91 points red with a very good value for the price.

Infinitus, Merlot Gran Reserva 2005, very good merlot from Rio Negro

Infinitus, Merlot Gran Reserva 2005, By Domaine Vistalba, USD 30

Great merlot from G. Roca district High Rio Negro Valley, Northpatagonia.

Nice integration of violet flower and several red fruits like cherries and mince marmalade.

Nice acidity and alcohol. Strong backbone with solid tannins. Same vintage 1 year before much greater.I´d say a 89 points merlot with good value.

Desierto 25/5, Calden Blend 2006, wow northpatagonian from La Pampa

Desierto 25/5 Corte Calden 2006, By Bodega del Desierto, USD 20

Great blend Cabernet Frank based from La Pampa, Northpatagonia. Beautiful fruit mostly ripe and sweet cherries and plum with nice quince marmalade. Quite awesome balance and passage trough palate with good aftertaste too. It leaves a velvety note in middle palate. Soft smoke and chocolate. Nice to drink young or say up to 6 years old. I´d say a 91 points red with a great value plus.

One of my best choices.