Verum Pinot Noir Reserva 2007, not even close to its brothers

Verum Reserva Pinot Noir 2007, By Bodega Del Rio Elorza, Frnandez Oro, Rio Negro , USD 20

Flat and poor Pinot from Rio Negro Northpatagonia. Not even close to what you might expect from this terroir and vintage.Timid red cherries overcooked and acid without the normal elegancy and attractiveness of a Pinot and a Northpatagonian. A toach o chocolate adds an edge. An 82 points Pinot and a bad value. Acceptable if 7-8 bucks price.

Estancia Mendoza, malbec 2010, good introduction to Uco Valley Malbec for 5 bucks

Estancia Mendoza, Malbec 2010, By Estancia Mendoza, USD 5
A simple and straight malbec from Tupungato city at Uco Valley, Mendoza. No more than ripe dark berries sweet and soft. Nice alcohol and acidity make it friendly. No more.
A 80 points malbec at a rather gentle price. Get paid even. Good value. A good introduction to malbecs from Uco Valley.

Verum Malbec Reserva 2007, very attractive Northpatagonian won´t go unnoticed

Verum, Malbec Reserva 2007, By Bodega Eduardo Alfredo del Rio, USD 20

Very attractive ripe Malbec with Patagonian nature and seductive oak container. Ripe sweet plum and black cherries with boysenberries. Strong chocolaty and coconut notes lasting and pairing the fruit all the way down to aftertaste. Very attractive to many palates. Not my personal best choice. Too strong oaky stuff that fills my up beyond wonder although it may go unbeatably well with dark chocolate and cheeses. It doesn´t show complexity even though this bi-polar core ( sweet strong dark fruits plus choco & coco) goes seductive. A 88 points malbec sold locally too expensive. An Argentinian value at 20 bucks level should go above 92 points as I understand it. Anyway, this malbec sold internationally 12-15 bucks is a great value.

FOLLOW THE COMMENT ON EVOLUTION A FEW DAYS AFTER OPENED !

Alta Vista Premium Malbec 2009, one of the best examples of Argentina´s value

Alta Vista Premium Malbec 2009, By Bodega Alta Vista, USD 12

A straight sample of Mendoza´s value. Round and attractive with terroir expression (Uco Valley and high Lujan de Cuyo vineyards) at gentle price. Good mix of mostly black berries and black plum sweet and ripe sustained by good alcohol and acidity. Good chocolate and toast edge. Great middle palate and aftertaste. A 90 points malbec with the best value component. A malbec to enjoy young (say first 4 years) with all the virtue to show now but solid and full of backbone to mature in more terciary virtues after 4 to 6 years (surely close to 92 points). Few around the world wines reach this bottom line so clear.

Colección Perdriel Malbec 2002, a good Perdriel´s son

Perdriel Colección ,Malbec 2002, By Bodegas Norton, USD 12

A hard to find wine here and probably not exported under this label so far (only the winemaker knows what barrels go to what labels !). This time reaching nicely the end of life. Still balanced malbec with red cherries and plum cooked although poorly differenciated. A weak acidity doesn´t help more than a little bit. The alcohol feels somehow strong though. Now an 85 points malbec that surely was close to 90 up to 6-8 years from vintage. A good value from Perdriel District brought out by one the most outstanding wineries from mendoza.

Serbal , Malbec 2009, from nearby Tupungato an attractive malbec

Serbal, Malbec 2009, By Bodega Atamisque, USD 12

Nice Malbec from nearby Tupungato city in Uco Valley. Fresh sweet black berries with a toach mostly at the sniff of a herbaceous note bringing a good complement. Soft ground black pepper. Good sweet chocolate and hint of tabacco. A malbec to enjoy better 4-6 years of born and a good value too. A 86 points red. No memorable but nice to watch grow in a couple of years as a premium malbec.

Verum Merlot Reserve 2007, great value if less than 15-17 bucks

Verum Merlot Reserva 2007, By Bodega Alfredo Eduardo del Rio, USD 22
A 12 mos French Barrique Merlot from Fernandez Oro district in Rio Negro Valley, Northpatagonia. Round fresh and fruity merlot with chocolaty and nutty components leaning on red currant and quince sweet compote (slow simmering in syrup). Strong alcohol perceived and good acidity. Now is balanced and nice but it´ll be better in 2-4 years cellaring. Not complex to be a great merlot lacking spice and herbal components at once. An 88 merlot (probably close to 90 if well matured) good value if less than15-18 bucks and nice to see evolve in a 2-4 years time span.

Malma Malbec 2010 (Finca La Patay) 2010. The Patagonian Value Malbec you alway will fall in love with

Malma (finca La Patay), Malbec 2010, By Bodega Nqn, USD 9

Sometimes exported Int´l as Lonko from San Patricio Valley in Neuquén Province, Northpatagonia. Great malbec with sweet ripe and young quince and black plum jam. Nice acidity which merges with sour black cherries. Soft if any chocolate in any case good enough. A typical Patagonian value to enjoy young during the first 4 years born, but no bad if shifted toward some nice oxidation. Always close to 86 points Malbec. Great value for this price range. Far ahead of many labels in Argentina´s Malbec.This´s the character Malbec you fall in love with.

Kinien Malbec 2003, old fashioned malbec

Kinien Malbec 2003, By Bodega Ruca Malen, USD 30

(Agrelo District, LDC,central Mendoza)
Old fashioned malbec focused on `a little bit of everything´ and `no overexpression of anything´.Red brownish still bright color. Hard to catch aromas. Cooked quince and red cherries unsweetened.
A pinch of chocolate. A little bit oxidated tannins although still balanced and attractive. Good alcohol and soft acidity back up the tannins. An 88 points malbec which some people may enjoy but most probably won´t. Given its delicate tannins it surely was much better up to 6 years cellar and then it could had reached 90 points or more. In any case a poorly expressive malbec for 30 bucks. Good value if less than 15 bucks.

Quattrocchi Malbec Reserve 2007, right on the money Malbec if less than 10 bucks.

Quattrocchi Malbec Reserve 2007, By Bodega & Viñedos José Quattrocchi, USD 18

A regular Malbec from Lavalle city Northeast Mendoza. Good sort of fruits mixed red and black cherries ripe and chocolaty tagged. Not very attractive tannins in terms of seduction. Good balance. Nice passage through the palate. A 85 points Malbec way overpriced locally at least (given the local inflation rate over the dollar this may be a distortion). Not a good value at this price. An Argentinian Malbec value for 18 bucks is a 90 points red! (at least 90 points!). So this malbec reserve is a good value if less than 10 bucks.

Quattrocchi Malbec 2008, a poor red from Lavalle Northeast Mendoza

Quattrocchi, Malbec 2008, By Bodega y Viñedos Juan Quatrocchi, USD 7-8
A low quality malbec from Lavalle, Northeast Mendoza. Rudimentary notes of fruits  with an oxidated red shade.
Not a wine to even buy or try. Less than 65 points red. To avoid drinking. We´ll see some others bottles across the price and quality range of this winery to see what happens. Hopefully won´t be this poor.

Goyenechea 135 Aniversario, Blend 2006, Partida Limitada. Great blend from South Mendoza

Goyenechea 135 aniversario, Blend 2006, By Bodega Goyenechea, USD 25

2006 blend for the 135th foundation anniversary made of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Malbec from San Rafael, south Mendoza. Super blend with great complexity even not the stroke of high lands of Uco´s or Cafayate´s. Interesting balance of red and blackberries with small plummy accent. Chocolate and vanilla softly mixed. Wide middle palate and nice aftertaste even not long enough. Small red and green bell pepper as a very secundary note. Probably to enjoy mature as it is now for 6-8 years from harvest. A 92 points red and a good value. A gentle and balanced blend.

Altos Las Hormigas Terroir Malbec Valle de Uco 2009, great surprise

Altos Las Hormigas, Terroir Valle de Uco , Malbec 2009, By Altos Las Hormigas, USD 25
A malbec from Uco Valley at 900 mts (2,900 ft). Far better in quality expressed than previous efforts of this winery. By `quality expressed´ is meant typicity of terroir and solidity in clean tannins. Amazing black cherries & berries sweet and sour with very attractive ripeness. Good hint of green and black peppercorn. Good chocolaty note too. An interesting black fig jam dark and mounth filling. A 93 points malbec of high quality and a great value too. It´s got the tannins to envolve for the better in 6-8 years of cellar from harvest.

Alto Uxmal, unoaked Malbec basic and acceptable

Alto Uxmal, Alternative style malbec 2009, By Bodega Uxmal (Catena Wines), USD 12

An unoaked Malbec from agrelo district in LDC (Lujan de Cuyo) Dpt, central Mendoza. Bizzare name and label for a rather simple malbec. Good fruit balanced without complex structure and concentration. Enjoyable and a typical central mendoza´s value. As usual for all Catena Wines I put this malbec in good value if less than 10 bucks. I understand if people like it quite right off the uncorked bottle (as this label is one of the best sold) but if you follow the malbecs from Argentina you´ll find many 12 bucks better malbecs (probably smaller wineries and slower marketing strategies too). I´d say a 84 points malbec with typicity and basic atractiveness and all in all a good value.It doens´t have the tannins to endure or improve after 4 years for the most.

Colome Malbec 2007, a great value at ultrapremium quality

Colome Malbec 2007, By  Bodega Colome (Hess Colection), USD 25-30
Outstanding Malbec from Cafayate Valley ,Salta 
(northern ARG).
Plenty of complexity and deepness. What a complete malbec should look like. What a Cafayate´s Malbec should bring along too.Red and black fruits, ripe and balanced in a sour-sweetness impressive. Chocolate and toast notes to round it up.Very wide palate and long aftertaste. Not very complex to reach the sky though. A Malbec to enjoy at large. A high quality red 94 points to enjoy now and cellar 4-6 years from vintage. It´ll be nice after 8 years but I don´t feel it´ll be better than now. Great value for a high quality (ultrapremium) malbec.

Caelum Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Agrelo District, very nice but locally overpriced

Caelum Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, By Bodega Caelum, USD 10-12
Nice and round even simple Cab from Agrego district in LDC, central Mendoza. Good ripe black fruits, sweet and chocolaty notes not overexpressed though. Balanced in alcohol and acidity. I wound´t expect better quality after 4 years cellar. Its a fair price but not a good value. You may pick up a whole bunch of 10 bucks reds very attractive and an edge above this quality (in complexity) which is good but much better value if less than 10 bucks. A 83 points Cab a little bit overpriced but probably a local distortion though.

Lagarde Malbec 2009, a elegant even basic premium Malbec from LDC

Lagarde, Malbec 2009, By Lagarde S.A., USD 15

Nice and swimmingly structured Malbec albeit keeking it simple. All the basic virtues of a Lujan de Cuyo Malbec (LDC) with fruity and gentle backbone of plum and red cherries. Wide middle palate ,round and somehow elegant. Good (just good) concentration of a premium malbec. To enjoy better after 4-6 years of cellar. Soft chocolate and toast. Not very powerfull neither impressive malbec even though balanced. It´s not a very complex malbec like those above premium. A 87 points Malbec with good value component.

Familia Gascon, Malbec 2009, what an Argentinina Malbec under 10 bucks should look like

Familia Gascon, malbec 2009, By Establecimeinto Vitivinicola Escorihuela , USD 9

Nice malbec with all the balance and fruit a typical Lujan de Cuyo o Maipu Departament may bring along. Nothing outstanding. Good plummy and quince jam with some chocolaty note, very soft. A young to drink before 4 years old. An 84 points malbec with a reasonable price value. To pair whatever food or dish a red wine might go along. This is exactly a mayor virtue of Argentinian Malbec under 10 : so gently and round to go along whatever dish or reunion a red might go along.

Verum, Merlot 2009, It´s got the Patagonian backbone but lacking the needed fruitiness

Verum, merlot 2009, Bodega Del Rio Elorza, USD 8

A red from Fernadez Oro in Rio Negro. Round and even but lacking some fruit expression though. Red sour and cooked cherries with dark cooked quince too. Strong alcohol and nice acidity typical of Rio Negro `Alto Valle´. I would expect more fruitiness to make it more attractive and balanced (this may be dissagreed upon but most people will probably not) . It lacks good care and maturity to bring much more beauty.An 84 points merlot and one step behind a good Patagonian value.

Tomero Rose Malbec 2008, better forget it

Tomero Rose Malbec 2008, By Tomero wines (Carlos Pulenta, Vistalba) , USD 10



Rather simple and coarse rose. Poor fruity styled with some fig and plum mixed wide middle palate and nothing else beyond. Lack deepness and complexity. Fast travel Rose. Opaque red that I´d say 79 points and realy expensive wine for the quality offered.

Atamisque, Malbec 2007, a typical great value from Tupun, Mendoza´s highlands

Atamisque Malbec 2007, By Bodega Atamisque, Tupungato, USD 34



Very good Malbec with impressive fruits mostly black berries, ripe and deep. Good chocolaty note surrounded by a smoky edge. Good balance overall. Nice and longing aftertaste. Not a ultrapremium (close ,very close) but a very good malbec with great typicity of Uco Valley. A 91 points malbec with typical Mendoza´s value from highlands.

Quara Malbec 2008, Viña Cabra Corral. Not what I expect of a superpremium Cafayate´s

Quara Malbec 2008 Viña Cabra Corral (Cafayate Valley, Salta), By Bodega Lavaque, USD 28



Very young malbec with dominant hebaceous red small fruits and astringency which even not unbalanced are not quite praising. Second layer of chocolate and smoke very soft. Wide palate even not complex one. Good aftertaste. I wound´t go more than 86 points for this malbec not even close to an outstanding cafayate´s son. Overpriced. Personaly I woudn´t buy it twice.

Alto Perito Moreno Malbec 2007, too oaky and bizzare for an Agrelo value

Alto Glaciar Perito Moreno, Malbec 2007,Del Plata Foods & Wines, USD 30



A malbec from Agrelo Distric in Lujan de Cuyo made closed trade under Spanish consultant Isabel Mijares and put on inserstaves of american oak for 8 mos.Good red with overexpressed coffee and sweet dry fruits like dry figs ,prune and raising. Second place for black small fruits and plum. Balanced in acidity and alcohol. A 86 points malbec overpriced and over oaked. Probably living its end life. Likeable as it is , I wound´t buy it twice but some of my friends realy got enlightened by it.

Fabre Montmayou Merlot Reserva 2008, very good value under 20 bucks

Fabre Montmayou, Merlot Reserve 2008, By Domaine Vistalba, USD 15

Good merlot from Vistalba district in Lujan de Cuyo Central Mendoza.
Ripe plum and red cherries with a nice toach of roasted red bell pepper quite attractive for the palate. A hint of green and black peppercorn too.Balancing chocolate and smoke. Nice aftertaste. A red to enjoy at large after 4-6 years cellaring. A 89 points merlot and a good value too.

Maria Codorniu, very nice sparkling under 12 bucks

Maria Codorniu, sparkling wine, By Codorniu (Bodega Septima), N/V, USD 10

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend from Agrelo district in lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza.
Classic sparkling Champaigne style with peach and soft cherries over a bitter backbone. Nice balance of sweet, sour and bitterness. An 88 points sparkling with a very good price value.

Luigi Bosca,Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, nice but good value if under 12 bucks

Luigi Bosca, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, By Luigi Bosca, USD 18

Nice Cab from Maipu Departament Central Mendoza with some mix of typical red and black fruits and red bell pepper. A little toach of black peppercorn. Pretty clear vanilla and coffee from oak. Nice palate passage. Enough aftertaste. A young CS to enjoy young. I wouldn´t go more than 86 points and a little bit overpriced. Good value if less than 12 bucks.

San Felipe, white Blend 2010, a basic mendoza´s white

 

San Felipe, white blend 2010, By La Rural, USD 5

A simple white blend made of Chardonnay, Chenin blanc and Semillon from Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza. Nice floral (like white rose and jasmin) nose and sweet gentle palate ending soon enough after perceiving some peachy tones. I wouldn´t go more than 77 points and a baraly fair price for it. No a tyical mendoza´s value must say.

Septima Cab Sav 2006 & Malbec 2008, two delicate beauties from High Agrelo

Septima, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 & Malbec 2008, By Bodega Septima (The Spanish Codorniu branch), USD 10



Quite attractive by perfume and delicate structure for both. The Cab goes 5 years cellar and the Malbec 3 years.
Both are wines to endure and evolve for 4-6 years easily getting the best close to those timeline points. Thin ripe and sweet fruit kept nicely straight by a good acidity and alcohol. Red and less black cherries with a plummy toach the malbec and rounder the Cab with alluring notes of an older good red. No Brett neither spice and herbal whatsoever. Soft chocolate from american oak. They´re not complex like a ultrapremium although the balance and typicity for High Agrego district in Lujan de Cuyo Central Mendoza make then quite likable.


Both are 88 points reds, an edge for the Cab probably for the better maturity by ageing. Good values and probably one of those wines friendly and delicate that pairs wonderful with umami foods that enhance the percepcion of wine virtues.

Andeluna and Padrillos Malbec 2009, Two under 12 bucks plenty of life in two different styles from Uco valley

Andeluna Malbec 2009 By Andeluna Cellars & Padrillos Malbec 2009 By Ernesto Catena, USD 11 USD


Two magnific malbecs with all the virtues of Uco Valley (Andeluna from Tupungato and Padrillos from Vistaflores). Both show dominant fruit ripe and sweet a bit toward black cherries Andeluna, a bit to red cherries Padrillos.
Padrillos keeps fruity dominant with nice acidity and alcohol balance.
Andeluna offers nice chocolaty and coffee envelope with a smoky edge quite alluring.
Both are quite attractive, one toward pure fruit and naturally driven components while the other toward oaky complexity. Both should be enjoyed young (like first 4 years) to keep the braveness and balance and probably will get weak when terciary notes emerge afterwards. Both are great values from high mendoza lands and you may go 88 or 89 points either one. I prefer 89 Andeluna but some palate and my self down the road might go the other way around.

Ciclos, Malbec 2009, A Cafayate great value below 20 bucks

Ciclos, Malbec 2009, By Bodega El Esteco, USD 18



Good son of Cafayate Valley, Salta
A young and juicy malbec with strong floral and ripe dark plummy notes. Good sour cherries show up too. Soft chocolate shade and a toasty component too. Very interesting after a while opened. It looks it´ll go much better 3-5 years down the road. Now an 89 points malbec and tomorrow at least a 92 points malbec. Very good value and typicity from Cafayate Valley.

Felino, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, a great value to enjoy over and over again

Felino ,Cabernet Sauvignon 2007,By Viña Cobos, USD 15



Great CS from Perdriel District in Lujan de Cuyo Departament of Central Mendoza.
Great sweet ripe red cherries and plum with a smooth peppery edge and a very soft herbal note of bayleaf. Also a thin eucalyptus spice emerging. Good rounding dark chocolate and vanilla. A 90 points Cab sav nicely complex and attractive. A great value no doubt. To enjoy 4-6 years.

Alegoria, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, a very nice CS under 25 bucks

Alegoria, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, By Bodega Navarro Correas, USD 23



Beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipu Departament Central Mendoza.
Sweet fruits well matured with cooked quality and a thick oaky envelope of sweet milk chocolate and leather. Nice bretty tones of smoky sweet and wet wood. Very attractive for the standard drinker. Easy to drink and pass down glass after glass. A 90 points red and a good value. I´ve tasted this CS several times last 4-5 years and its getting more terciary notes driven with nice oxidation.

Fuzion Alta, Malbec 2009, a malbec to party with friends

Fuzion Alta, Malbec Reserve 2009, By Familia Zucardi, USD 8



Standard Mendoza´s value from Maipu Departament. Nice red cherries and red ripe plum with chocolaty note quite well kept gentle by acidity and alcohol. Wide middle palate even though not the complexity of a premium malbec. Eight bucks is a reasonable price and you may choose this malbec for a family & friends party. A 83 points malbec to enjoy before 4 years old and a good value.

Don Baltazar, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Tulum Valley, good value if less than 7 bucks

Don Baltazar, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, By Casa Montes, USD 10-12



A ripe may be overripe Cabernet Sauvignon from Tulum Valley , San Juan Province. A 700 mts (2,300 ft) altitude hot weather region. Fruity and round red without the herbal and spice attractive of a CS. Nice red easy to pass down and get done but not a beauty if you remember its a Cabernet you drunk. I woudn´t go more than 85 points even not knowing this is a Cab. Tannins feel like dying so I woudn´t drink it after 4 years old. Not a good value for 10 bucks. A basic red to smile if payed less than 7 bucks.

Xumek, Syrah 2008, a good value if under 10 bucks

Xumek, Syrah 2008, By San Sylvia, USD 13.



The label and web info point to Valle de Zonda in San Juan Province.
A rather simple syrah with fresh dark fruity notes and a hint of spice like oregano and black peppercorn.Good middle palate with an edge of chocolate. A thin and simple red. To enjoy less than 4 years without loss.A 84 points red overpriced to my point of view. Very valuable if priced less than 10 bucks.

La Chamiza, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2007, good value

La Chamiza Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, By Finca La Chamiza, USD 13



Quite nice CS from Agrelo District in Lujan de Cuyo, Central Mendoza.
Close in aroma and taste to Malbec same vintage counterpart. Fruit ripe and balanced with acidity and alcohol. Good notes of peppercorn both black and green. Soft chocolate and smoke. Short aftertaste.Wide middle palate close to the its malbec brother. A 86 points CS with good value component. Not as expressive as you may expect from a CS. To enjoy 4-6 years .

La Chamiza, Malbec Reserva 2007, a good simple value under 13 bucks

La Chamiza Reserva, Malbec 2007, By Finca La Chamiza, USD 13



Very nice malbec from Agrelo District in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza. Pure fresh and terroir driven fruit. Easy to drink with sweet tannins and soft chocolate and smokyness.All the attractiveness of an Agrelo Malbec. To enjoy 4-6 years with invitng notes of simple matureness.Not complex neither a superpremium malbec.
A 88 points Malbec and a good value.

Pascual Toso, Barrancas Vineyard, malbec 2004, attractive beauty Malbec

Pascual Toso, Barrancas Vineyard, Malbec Reserve 2004, By Bodega & Viñedos Pascual Toso, USD 30



Beuatiful Malbec from Barrancas District in Maipu Dpt, Central Mendoza. . Still wonderful red fruits now compoted with some violet and plummy scent. Nice vanilla and sweet chocolate. A delicate edge of black and green peppercorn. A very delicate and thin but still attractive malbec. A malbec to enjoy better between 6 to 8 years born. A 91 points malbec and agood value.
A sure bet to enjoy once and again in a gathering.