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.