Tercos, malbec 2007, a lunlunta malbec with typical character

Tercos, Malbec 2007, Mendoza,By Bodega y Viñedos de Lunluna, USD 10

A nice Malbec from Lunlunta District (Maipu Departament) showing good balance of red sour fruit,ripe tannnis and appropiate alcohol. A touch of chocolate adds up elegance. Not a concentrated neither a prime time star even though I feel even for the price. Lunlunta (750 mts or 2,500 ft) district gives malbecs a bit more acids and vivid than the traditional Lujan de Cuyo (lets say most Norton wines) and makes then quite interesting. I´d say a 87 points malbec to enjoy between 4 and 6 years with some improvement and a good value for the price.

More concentrated and well aged on american oak this wine might well reach above 93-94 points. I´m cellaring one named Oneus 2004 by Angel Mendoza (a winemaker Lunlunta based) and just keep trace of that upcoming post.

Maula, malbec 2009, a basic Tupungato´s but not a good value

Maula, Malbec Oak 2006, Tupungato,Mendoza,La Bruja S.A., USD 12

A malbec made by a Tupungato Winery for an exporter to Mexico. Nice but basic malbec fron Uco´s. Good balance of blackberries and black plums with a tiny touch of smoke and chocolate. The alcohol is nice and the tannins go stronger at the beggining and middle palate. Like most Uco´s malbecs it has good begining and a short live afterwards.A malbec for 4-6 years life
that might improve some details but not much though. An 81 points malbec with barely acceptable price value. I mean you may get even but I wouldn´t buy it twice.


The Patagonian Lassia Malbec 2009 posted just before this is clearly wider,more complete and more attractive for 4-5 bucks less to pay. I would buy it twice and more too.

Lassia, Malbec 2009, a personal and tyical Patagonian for no money at all

Lassia, Malbec oak 2009, Bodega Familia Patritti, San patricio, Neuquen, USD 7
A particular malbec from Northpatagonia. Strong and vivid as a rude Patagonian. Not easy to drink though. It has sour red fruits ripe and well rounded by bitter tannins and nice alcohol. You may need time to pick up every bit of its backbone. Once you got it you´ll keep drinking it sip after sip. Its not delicious bbut quite balanced. Its naturally strong like the desert that brings it.I like the typicity and originality of the Patagonian malbec. A 86 points with a very good value component. Probably to enjoy the better cellaring less than 4 years. A longer cellar might bring a drinkable and totaly transformed malbec.

I guess most of my friends won´t like it , its not easy to drink. In my opinion a malbec doesn´t need to be easy and soft or fruity and delicate. This malbec shows its homeland as mendoza´s does it too, both are different and by the same token wonderfull reds.

Gestos malbec & malbec 2008, lets play...

Gestos, malbec & malbec 2008, By Bodega Flichman, USD 10
A blend of two malbecs from different terroir of Mendoza (Tupungato in Ucos Valley at 1,100 mts or 3,600 ft and Barrancas in Maipu Dpt at 700 mts or 2,300 ft). Nice malbec with basic attractiveness but lacking complexity to pair the price level. Lets see: you get red cherries and plum sweet and cooked.Only a bit of black cherries from Uco´s. You also get soft chocolate and a good balance in the early and middle palate. Nice tannins and short but enough aftertaste to enjoy. A 86 points malbec with good value component. To enjoy less than 4 years. It looks less attractive than the Cab Cab brother `put in the blender´play (`and make a great and complex wine´).

Gestos, Cabernet & Cabernet blend from mendoza showing a great Cab punch

Gestos Cabernet & Cabernet 2008, By Bodega Flichman, USD 10

Good effort with a blend of Cab Sau from Tupungato (Uco Valley, 1,100 mts or 3,600 ´) and Barrancas (Maipu Dpt, 700 mts or 2,300´).
This red has a round Cab syllabus to enjoy carefully. Sweet bell pepper both red roasted and green fresh and cooked. A nutty edge and a toach
of mints adds up complexity. Soft chocolate and toast too. Nice alcohol and acidity complete a good middle and end of palate, I´d say a 88 points Cabernet blend to enjoy 4 to 6 years quite well. A very good value. I must recognise that every Argentina´s blend of `same variety different terroir´I tasted didn´t reach much farther in quality anyone alone. I prefer `same terroir´ wines as direct vineyard expression. It might happen that a good bottle of those blends distroyes my contention.

Navarro Correas, a traditional well balanced Malbec from Maipu Dpt, Mendoza

Navarro Correas, Colección Privada, Malbec 2009, By Bodega Navarro Correas ,
USD 9


Nice and attractive Malbec with wide middle palate of red cherries with a toast and coffee note well entangled. No very complex but a good palette typical of a good central Mendoza malbec. Likable Maipu Dpt Malbec to enjoy probably less than 4 years of cellar. I´d say a 86 points malbec with very good value component.

Viñas de Syracusa Malbec 2007, far from Patagonia value

Viñas de Syracusa Malbec 2007, By Familia Pirri, Rio Negro, Patagonia,
USD 6


Basic Malbec with some unwanted acidity even though the nose and palate are drinkable. Red sour fruit with bitter tannins at the edge. The alcohol is nice. Not a wine to enjoy easily. I´d say a 75 points malbec far from Patagonia value.

Andeluna Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, a young typical Tupungato to enjoy every time

Andeluna Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, By Andeluna Cellars, USD 9

Very inviting Cab Sau from Tupungato (Uco Valley). Sweet vanilla and chocolate circling the well ripe black cherry and boysenberry. Nice alcohol and acidity in balance. Soft peppery note to make it more CS. Just and inch above light in body but keeping the shine. I´l say an 87 points Cabernet with very good value. A wine to enjoy before 4 years. It doesn´t show the concentration and body of its elder brother ´Reserve´even though the soul is there. I love this winery´s wines. Great quality with very good values and big production volume with consistency after the years.

Alta Esperanza, syrah 2008, Catamarca Province stepping up

Alta Esperanza, Syrah 2008, By Bodegas Alta Esperanza (Longo Family), Tinogasta (Catamarca Province), USD 6

This syrah is from Fiambala Valley at 1,550 mts (5000´). It shows a nice balance and attractiveness but a long long step behind its malbec brother. Soft black cherries and compoted (like short cooking with sweetened water avoiding the break down of the fruit or when you preserve the fresh cherries in syrup freezed to use after a few months). Short spiciness too. Kind of wide in palate though. I´d say a 78 points red with no good value component .To ever drink before 2-4 years old.

Alta Esperanza, Malbec 2008 From Famatina Valley a magnetic malbec

Alta Esperanza, Malbec 2008. By Bodegas Alta Esperanza. Fiambala Valley. Catamarca. USD 6

A well strutured and attractive malbec with all the backbone of a 15 bucks one keeping the good value. Clearly underpriced at the domestic retail level. Attractive oaky chocolate and soft vanilla introduce to a well balanced typical AR malbec with fresh sweet cherries and black plum not overexpressed. Easy to drink with a mouth filling quite magnetic. A 87 points malbec to cellar easily 4-5 years without loss. An unbeatable value presented today and here like a great business opening.

Viejas Cepas. Malbec premium roble 2008. Quite good effort from General Alvear, Mendoza

Viejas Cepas. Malbec Premium Roble 2008. By Familia Anaya.General Alvear, Mendoza.USD 6

An impressive value from SouthMendoza close to NorthPatagonia. It shows the foreseen deep brilliant bordeaux that allures me every time I see a good red from San Rafael (SouthMendoza) to 25 de Mayo (La Pampa) or San Patricio or Añelo Valley (NorthPatagonia). Cooked ripe red cherries and quince with gentle tannins and a licorice note quite attractive. Nice oaky stuff too (mostly dark chocolate). An 86 points with very good value. Probably better 5 to 6 years of proper cellar.

Atos Pampa Sauvivgnon Blanc 2009, new effort, we must wait

Atos Pampa ,Sauvignon Blanc 2009,By Atos Pampa Winery, Calamuchita Valley,Cordoba,USD 8.

Pionner in a recent effort to do high quality wines around. The Calamuchita Valley is a beauty located at 1,200 mts altitude ( close to 4,000 ft) in the pre-andes montains with a dessert kind of climate. The Malbec and CS recently made are priming quite good. This SB is so far poor. Pale yellow shade with unidirectional nose and palate. Only ripe apple monotonous and without acidity on the structure. It barely reaches 70 points. A flat and hollow white. We will see what follows next years.

Reiquehue, Malbec 2008, an artisanal wine from San Carlos, Mendoza

Reiquehue Malbec 2008 By Finca Reiquehue, San Carlos Mendoza. USD 8.
Artisanal Winery from San Carlos Departament (one of the three components of Uco Valley, the others are Tunuyan Dpt and Tupungato Dpt). Nice balance of violets soft and tender with a intriguing backbone of ripe and bitter tannins. The fruit is a typical mix of compoted ones with a touch of eucalyptus leaves. The alcohol warms up the mouth nicely. Not a concentrated neither complex one must say. A wine to enjoy before 4 years. A 85 points malbec with good value component. Wines more concentrated and oaked from this area are first class reds of superb quality.

Calatayud , Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, an artisan wine from Tunuyan Mendoza

Calatayud Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. By Altos Viñedos de Jose Calatayud. Tunuyan, Mendoza.USD 7.

Interesting Cab from above 1,000 mts (or 3,300 ft). Good balance without much concentration but nicely structured. Gentle herbaceous tannins with peppery notes and a touch of earthiness quite interesting. Not over the top fruitiness of easy drinking. You may even pick some eucapyltus spiciness too. Likeable balance through the palate. Probably not a wine to stand up alone but easy to go along with many foods and dishes. Good value clearly. Sure drink before 4 years. A 84 points Cab Sau with typicity and honesty.

4,000 bottles made on this Family small artisan Winery.

Valentin Chiappa Malbec 2007 from Rivadavia Dpt. Mendoza

Valentina Chiappa Malbec 2007. By Mondovino Argentina S.A., Rivadavia, Mendoza. USD 10

Simple but honest Malbec with soft color and palate. Nice notes of minty herbal quite alluring in the middle of soft red cherries with an edge of toast. Not complex neither concentrated Malbec although it gives the main layers of a Mendoza´s Malbec. I wound go even for no more than 7-8 bucks with this malbec. So I feel it a little bit overpriced for the lack of concentration and complexity. A 84 points Malbec overpriced. Not ready for any time after 4 years.

A Chianti and a Mendoza reds compared at Brazil retail price (close to the beach of course)

Cecchi, Chianti 2008, 375 ml, USD 17
This is a Chianti DOCG in small bottle (kind of 2 half filled wine glasses). Not a complex red but well balanced. Acceptable and complete palate all through. Not deliciuos either but a kind of sourness stand that makes it drinkable. Red berries compoted and unsweetened. I´d say 84 points and probably structure enough to endure 4-6 years of proper cellar (the agglomerated cork stand for no more than that span)


In Brazil same price Terrazas, Malbec 750 ml 2008 from Mendoza (Lujan de Cuyo Departament) showed a very good structure with fruity mix balanced with alcohol and a softer acidity but far much more complex and attractive. I´d say a 88 points red to enjoy the best less than 4 years (even the natural cork may allow a 6 years cellar growth).
The last `same price´ tasted was a 2008 Brazilian Cabernet Sauvignon from Rio Grande do Sul State and didn´t reach the 70´s point threshold.

Brazil´s market of wine´s overtaxed pushing artificially up the prices. Argentina´s market´s showing the same distortion only with imported wines. The joint venture of winelovers may overcome these high charges for individual consumers. The way things go!

Chakana Yaguarete Collection, Syrah 2010, a basic Lujan de Cuyo worth trying

Chakana, Yaguareté Collection, Syrah 2010, By Chakana Winery, USD 8
Nice and balanced syrah from Lujan de Cuyo Dpt in Mendoza. Soft and fruity with a touch of spice (black and green peppercorn and hint of cloves) all balanced in nice alcohol and acidity. Not even a hint of oak around. I´d say a 83 points red with good value component to enjoy before 2 years. Not a complex neither a strong backbone red but a drinkable and nicely delicate one. What Lujan de Cuyo may bring.

Benjamin (Nieto Senetiner) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, lets look for typical Argentina´s Value

Benjamin (Nieto Senetiner) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, By Bodega Nieto Senetiner, USD 8
Sweet fruity red rather simple and boring with only scarse memory of typical Cab notes. A poor structured red that you may get even if paid for 4 bucks. A 73 points red to drink before 2 years born and a bad value for 8 bucks. Must say this is the value realation I get off every Nieto Senetiner at all price range. Wine with overt unbalance and desequilibrium clearly out of competitiveness. Sorry, not a typical Argentina´s value.

Los Arboles, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, very good value for simple occasions

Los Arboles Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, By Bodega Navarro Correas, USD 8
This red comes from Godoy Cruz District of Muipu Dpt in Mendoza City.
Round a basic beauty that invites to drink with most everyday food. Nice ripe black cherries with soft peppery notes and gentle tannins. A little strong alcohol that balance quite good by cooling it down a little bit if you would. A sound Cab from around high mendoza river to enjoy the best before 4 years old. I´d say a 85 points red. This label´s shown consistent quality throughout the years. A very good value.

Rincon Famoso, a Sangiovese based red to enjoy for no money at all

Rincon Famoso, Sangiovese based blend 2004, By Bodega Lopez, Mendoza,
USD 5-7



Quite simple but stright blend Chianti styled with Sangiovese dominant and a touch of malbec and merlot form Maipu Dpt, Mendoza . Great terroir and a wine made following Chianti tradition. Brown red brilliant and lucent. Soft fruits mostly cherries sour and ripe with figs and delicate hint of cinamon or like dried tree crust. Good red to enjoy the style and a very good value.I mean, not very complex but quite good for the price you pay. I´d say a 83 point blend to enjoy a number of years from now.

Baron B, Extra Brut Sparkling froim Moet Chandon, a toach to remember

Baron B, Extra Brut, Special Cuvee, By Bodegas Chandon (Moet Chandon), Mendoza, USD 17

Beautifull sparkling from Lujan de Cuyo, mendoza with Chardonnay dominant and a toach of Pinot Noir. Quite balanced peach and pineapple with toasty and buttery envelope in the middle and late palate. Acidity and alcohol very appropiate. A sparkling without vintage butlikele to enjoy sevral years. A 90 point wine with great value component. One of the most digged through wines in town.

Salegna VII, malbec 2008, From Uco Valley no more than typicity

Salegna VII, Malbec 2008 by Mayriel Wines, Uvo Valley, Mendoza, USD 10




A great example of a good malbec from a good terroir and well done. Nice and attractive black fruits at the level of the initial palate rounded by sweet chocolate. Friendly and straight tannins without complexity but also withoutr overexpression. Like most Uco´s malbecs it falls short in the palate leaving you wishing a longer wine. No defects regarding that initial attack. A malbec for less tha 4 yrs cellar. I´d say a 85 points malbec and a good value.

A Lisa Malbec 2008, something delicate and typical

A Lisa, Malbec 2008, By Bodega Noemia de la Patagonia,Rio Negro, USD 25

Nice Malbec from Northpatagonia. Good balance of red fruits compoted and nice acidity. The alcohol is quite pleasant. I feel a nice vanilla and milky chocolate tunned up with the rest. The middle palate gives nice plums jam sour and sweet. Round and velvety tannins. A delicate soft and midly complex patagonian malbec with a touch of merlot in the blend. A wine to enjoy 4 to 6 yeras if properly cellared and good luck follows. An 88 point malbec clearly overpriced. Reaching a good value if less than 15 bucks.

Don Nicanor, Malbec 2008, lets see...

Don Nicanor, malbec 2008, By Bodega Nieto Senetiner, USD 14

A wine from Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Mendoza. Brilliant red almost bloody with attacking aromas of red fresh fruits and red plum. The palate is full of unripe red fruits and a little too much herbal component unusual for a malbec (like harvested way before time or some trouble with canopy and irrigation balance). No problem with the aftertaste. Unbalanced unfortunately. I wouldn´t cellar this malbec any time at all. I´d say a 79 point malbec with bad price value.

Finca La Linda, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, typical Lujan de Cuyo elegance

Finca La Linda, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, By Luigi Bosca, USD 12

Quite easy and elegant Malbec from Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Nice aromas of red fresh and sour fruits with a wide palate of velvety touch all over the mouth. Fine balance with soft chocolate in it. Short aftertaste is the only weak point. I´d say a malbec for less than 4 years and a good value of 86 points. Standard Malbec from around Mendoza River, delicate, juicy and balanced. A wine to enjoy easy and relaxed without much expectations of big concentrated malbecs.

Newen Malbec 2009, good Northpatagonian son

Newen, malbec 2009, By Bodega del Fin del Mundo, USD 12

Nice malbec from San Patricio valley, Neuquén, Northpatagonia.

Fine aromas of compoted red wilds fruits like cherries, raspberries with some delicate roses and violets. Good palate with typical strong but balanced tannins. Soft chocolate and toast. A little bit alcoholic percieved a little bottering. I´d say a wine to cellar less than 4 years. A good value and a 87 points malbec. Not a very good malbec but it worth the price and you ´ll enjoy the typicity of Northpatagonia quite original and different of Mendoza.

Septima Gran Reserva 2008, another big player

Septima Gran Reserva 2008, By Bodegas Séptima (Codorniu branch from Spain), USD 20

Quite interesting blend made of malbec 55% (Agrelo and Altamira), Cabernet Sauvignon 35% (Tupungato and Ugarteche) and 10% Tannat (Agrelo) reflecting the intriguing hand of its winemaker (Mrs Paula Borgo). Beautiful red brilliant and deep. Wide aromas and better palate of red cherries and black cassis & boysenberries marmalade with nice acidity and alcohol. Good balance of mouthfilling fruit with a perfect chocolate and tabacco edge. A very good value with 91 points score. I would bet it ´ll go much better in 6-8 years. I liked much more the 07 vintage.

Tenuis, Pinot Noir from Northpatagonia unusual beauty

Tenuis, Pinot Noir, By Bodega Agrestis, USD 12

Quite unusual Pinot from Rio Negro, Northpatagonia. The light shows a soft and lucent ruby with brown tones. It follows a strong compoted mix of black and red cherries ripe with figs tea. You pick up the sweet fruit´s maturation with a nice backbone tannin of bitter. Even a hint of mint may edge. Nice acidity and alcohol. The whole balance and structure are better appreciated at a little warmer temperature than usual for a Pinot (lets say 17-18 celsius, 62-64 F). Quite friendly and easy chocolate and toast. I´d say a pinot for less than 4 years cellaring but quite original in character. I´l go 89 points with a very good value price. Not a bad performance for a Pinot Noir of Argentina.