Viña Maipu Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, an essential value from Central Mendoza

Viña Maipu, Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, By Maipu Wines, USD 6
A Cab Sau from Maipu Departament in Central Mendoza. The CS brother of the Malbec reported
below. Same nice fruit,mostly red cherries and boysenberries with some plummy note on good acidity,alcohol and
general balance. Just a clear green peppery and herbal note almost unperceived in its brother malbec. More friendly the malbec but equaly attractive and valuable. I´d say lovable for 6 bucks.
An 85 points red to drink sure before 2-3 years old.

Viña Maipu , Oak Malbec 2010, no one will uncrown this Maipu Malbec only if consistently offered to market

Viña Maipu, Oak Malbec  2010, By Maipu Wines, USD 6
A Malbec from Maipu Departament Central Mendoza.
All the balance and attractiveness I wish from a Real Malbec at Great Value level. That means less than 10 bucks and unforgettable for simple and daily arragements of life. Fully expressive malbec. Red cherries and plum with boysenberries in a perfect acidity and alcohol.
The palate brights wide and pleasant with only a touch of toast and even less of chocolate. The aftertaste allows you to wait the next sip. This is an 86 points Malbec. If this winery keeps this quality at this price level I won´t doubt to place it first in a top list.
Great wine. Great offer.

Finca Ñ ,Oak Malbec 2010, a palatable Malbec from Uco Valley

Finca Ñ, Malbec 2010, By Freixenet, USD 11
A malbec claimed to be from , and actually fullfil completely the Uco Valley´s vineyards. This is a Catalan Cava Producer making Winery in Mendoza.
The wine has actually quite typical compose of Uco´s terroir. Fruity black berries and black plum dominate. The jammy nature and thin palate are a definition . An easy to drink malbec with no much structure to cellar and improve. It sholud reach its best between 2 and 4 years. An 85 points malbec likable and simple. Attractive and basic. Good value for the price and I feel most people will approve malbec is a nice ,easy and palatable red at low cost. At this level I prefer Central and South Mendoza´s and Patagonia´s Malbecs.  

Old Vineyard (La Morita) Riesling 2011, from Rio Negro with all in its name

Old Vineyard (Finca La Morita) ,Riesling 2011, By Bodega Humberto Canale, USD 17
A single vineyard from High Rio Negro Valley, in Rio Negro Province. North Patagonia.
A white you´ll end up drinking easily the whole bottle if sharing with a friend. Absolutelly appropiate acidity with a crispy lemony and pineapple punch that invites me to repeat. The balance and attractiveness is very nice. Only a dash of bitterness, much less than most great Mendoza´s whites. This is a bright and vivid expression of Patagonia´s whites. A 90 points white worthwhile a least a case. It looks fragil though, like better drink it before 2 years. The tannins don´t look strong to endure or even improve much more. 


The cold (by latitude) and low (200-300 mts ,650-980´) North Patagonia gives this beauty whites on Torrontes ,Riesling and Semillon grapes (ocacionally on Viogner too). Clearly different from what High Mendoza´s grapes (like Uco, Tupun, Gualtallery, Tunuyan,etc) gives. The citric and pineapple edge is a hallmark. The tannins are more aromatic than strong to endure. Not every vintage you get outstanding whites although it is common fate.

Vulcano Gran Reserva 2009, a stylish rock label from Tupungato Valley and a great red

Vulcano Gran Reserva 2009, By Tupun Wines, USD 30
A blend Malbec & Bonarda 50% each from Finca El Peral, Tupungato (Uco Valley), Mendoza
Dark blue with a pinch of dark red shade. More red cherries than black berries and currant. Fine oaky nose but not over the top. Wide palate given mostly by the red cherries from the Bonarda. A well balanced blend overall with enough complexity to palate it quite easy. A 90 points red probably best somewhere 4 to 6 years of cellar. I´m not a big fan of the red compoted cherries of Bonarda even those from Tupungato. I would buy it for friends to get along. The rock bar in the label is stylish.

Amalaya Gran Corte 2009, a great Cafayate´s blend

Amalaya Gran Corte 2009, By Bodega Amalaya (Hess Family), USD 22
A Malbec based blend with some Cab Franc and Tannat from Calchaquies Valleys (Cafayate Valley one inner valley) Salta Province, Northwest Argentina. 
A great red with beautiful nose of flowers like violets ,tasted cocoa and soft coffee. A delicate even concentrated wine with ripe black fruits mixed with dark chocolate. The alcohol gives balance.The aftertaste is enough to remember the middle palate. Well attractive and complex. A 92 points wine to enjoy its plateau probably after 4 years old given the well sturtured tannins. A very good value to
repeat several times.

El Zorzal Field Blend 2009, A blend from Gualtallary to enjoy quite easily

El Zorzal, Field Blend Reserve 2009, By El Zorzal Wines, USD 22
A Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec blend from Gualtallary District High Tupungato Valley, Mendoza.
www.zorzalwines.com

Dark blue with an opaque shade of red. Attractive nose from the first sniff on showing oaky chocolate and vanilla. It takes few seconds to palate black cherries and currant with black plummy punch. Good balance with nice aftertaste. A 90 point red worthwhile the try. It may bring the best 4 to 6 years of good age.

Alfredo Roca Family Reserve ,Pinot Noir 2004, another vintage of a great Pinot

Alfredo Roca, Reserva de Familia, Pinot Noir 2004, USD 24
A Pinot Noir from San Rafael Valley, South Mendoza. Impressive Pinot with typicity and terroir expression. Wide palate of red cherries and red plum sour and keeping some delicate roundness in line with a Pinot Noir. Not over fruits neither sweetness or oaky stuff. No black fruits either. I´d say a Pinot of classical expression well done in San Rafael Valley by a fine winery.
It should get better a couple of years ahead given the firm and well developed tannins. For now an 89 points PN worthwhile the price paid locally.


see the 2002 vintage recently tasted here


A small note: San Rafael Valley and General Alvear Dpt (South of Mendoza),the very North of Patagonia (lets say Catriel Valley in Rio Negro Prv and Añelo Valley in Neuquen Prv) ,and South of La Pampa Prv (lets say 25 de Mayo Valley) give some of the Argentina´s reds of highest quality. The wide palate with fully expressed red fruits and tannins transform a Malbec or a Merlot, and sometimes a Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc or a Pinot Noir in outrageous wines. I´ve seen this with Chard too. Those wines are worthwhile follow trough several years (kind of 6-10 yrs) of cellar. They depart from the fully matured and liveness of traditional central (Maipu & Lujan de Cuyo Dpts) and high (Uco Valley) Mendoza, and the sourness & sweet compote cook of Patagonia. Few wines and wine regions in Argentina are this fine and high quality (i.e. Central Mendoza, Uco Valley, South Mendoza & around, and North Patagonia). I´m used to see unbalanced wines from Salta, Catamarca and La Rioja Prvs, or weak wines from San Juan Prv to make a rule of it (at least up to this point in time).   

Old Vineyard (Los Borregos) Malbec 2010, not even for the price paid locally in Rio Negro Valley

Old Vineyard, (Los Borregos), Humberto Canale, Malbec 2010, USD 22
A malbec from Rio Negro Valley By Bodega Humberto Canale, Rio negro Province, North Patagonia.
Delicate and balanced with ripe and toasted red cherries and plum marmalade. Nice notes of vanilla and chocolate from oak. May be too soft to be a son of Rio Negro Valley known for the more rustic and strongest Malbecs in Argentina. I wound´t cellar more than 4 years this Malbec. An 86 points Malbec and I don´t feel even for the price I paid here.

Tikal Amorio Malbec 2008 a very good high Uco´s son

Tikal Amorio, Malbec 2008, By Ernesto Catena (Puerto Ancona S.A.), USD 25


The winery´s site claims vineyars grapes from high Uco Valley: Altamira and Gualtallary districts.
The wine is very good. A juicy and well structured Malbec with black berries and currant from high altitude. Less amounts of quince and plum typical from lower land Mendoza´s vineyard. Good tannins with nice acidity and alcohol.Well integrated and soft oaky chocolaty and toasty notes. A wine ready to drink now and probaly a little better a couple of years ahead with some years (lets say 4-6 years) of plateau thereafter. A 91 points malbec and a good Uco Valley´s Malbec.
Not an outstanding malbec even though you may enjoy it stable in quality many years from now. The label and art are outstanding.

Three Bonarda under the blind judge, Tupun, Mostesco,Sur de los Andes & Algodon State

-Tupun, Reserva Bonarda 2005, By Tupun Wines, USD 15
A Bonarda from Tupungato in Uco Valley, Mendoza.
Nice blue tone. Straigh aromas of violets and ripe plum. A palate that widens with more red fruits and a chocolaty note well balanced. Not a great wine neither close to a standard Malbec (many years ago it was blended with malbec grape to reach more sales volume in domestic market). An 85 points red with barely acceptable value for the price as I see it. 




-Montesco Bonarda 2010, By Passionate Wine, USD 15
A Bonarda from Tupungato Departament, Mendoza signed by Matias Michelini.
Young dark blue with violet tone. Very young aromas of red fruits almost monotonous. The palate displays barely something more. Short aftertaste and a thin wine. Balanced and basic but not attractive neither worthwile the price. An 80 points red at the best ,and far from the other three Bonarda tasted blinded. It doesn´t look will improve much more than a + point next couple of years. 


-Sur de los Andes, Reserva Bonarda 2008, By Bodega Sur de los Andes, USD 15
A Bonarda from Agrelo Distric in Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza.
Nice red with fresh fruits in a balanced structure. Moderate chocolate. Nice acidity and overall tannins. Good to enjoy with food or alone either. An 84 points red close to its momentum. Close in quality and structure to the Tupun bottle. Better than the Montesco bottle. The three of them far below the Algodon State quality.


-Algodon Estate Bonarda 2008, By Algodon Wine Estates,
USD 15 
A Bonarda red from San Rafael Valley, South Mendoza
Beautiful Bonarda with a nice brownish shade on that blue base. Attractive nose giving place to a balanced and attractive red showing ripe red cherries, black plum and mince marmalade. Firm backbone tannins, smooth and sweet even not overexpressed. Nice chocolate, coffee, and sweet vanilla well entangled to please. A 90 points red ready to be enjoyed. Great value as I found in every Algodon State 2008 (Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Syrah).
I hope for this winery to keep this quality and value for more than a vintage. 

Kooch, Coleccion Malbec 2008, a great Malbec from Añelo district of Neuquen province

Kooch Coleccion Malbec 2008, By Cofruva S.A. , USD 40


A wonderful Malbec from Añelo distric in Neuquen Province, North Patagonia.
Rich compote of quince and plum with red cherries even keeping a touch of fresh fruit too. Soft chocolaty and toasty notes well entangled. Nice acidity and alcohol backing up the expressive tannins typical of this terroir. Equilibrated and covering all over the palate with nice aftertaste. A 90 points Malbec probably best between 4 and 6 years of cellar. Not a great value as paid here. I feel more a malbec for the 20-25 range.

Trumpeter Reserve, Viogner 2009, beautiful and complete Viogner from La Consulta district

Trumpeter Reserve, Viogner 2009, By Bodega La Rural, USD 17


A beautiful Viogner from 'La Consulta' Distric in San Carlos Departament (within the so called 'Uco Valley') ,Mendoza.
Nice greenish shade with a soft yellow shine. Very expressive aromas of ripe kiwi, pineapple and apricot with a strong, smoky and toast wind. The palate complete the palette with a charming bitterness and a buttery envelope. A 90 points Viogner, beautiful and very attractive.I wouldn´t cellar more than 3-4 years to preserve this freshness.

Nieto Senetiner Reserva Malbec & Petit Verdot, simple and boring but acceptable

Nieto Senetiner Reserva Malbec & Petit Verdot 2009, By Nieto Senetiner, USD 15
A malbec (60%) based blend with some Petit Verdot from somewhere in central Mendoza.
A dark blue wine brilliant and attrative that carches the eye immediatelly. Nose and palate are simple. Boysenberries and black cherries dominates with a good deal of herbal envelope remembering the Petit Verdot domain. A soft chocolaty note. No complexity whatsoever. A basic red ,simple and enough although boring at the end. I´d say an 85 points red and my feeling´s that I paying more than I´m willing to. Ten bucks would turn my lips way up and happy though.

Koyle 2008 & Clos de Chacras 2007, Two Cabernets from both sides of the Andes

Koyle Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (High Coolchagua Valley, Chile) & Clos de Chacras Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (La Consulta district, Uco Valley; Mendoza), USD 15


Both Cabs are about the same latitude both sides of the andes. All but that different in terms of climates and lands. Koyle displays fresh and round fruity dominance sweet even not strong acidity and alcohol to support it. Clos de Chacras shows more attractive acidity and wider in palate.
Both are delicate in chocolaty notes. Very soft peppery on them. Quite ripe black currant and cherries too. Koyle looks like weaker in terms of age of the vineyard. Clos de Chacras spread more complex tannins probably reflecting an older vineyard. Indeed both are nice CS. Koyle I´d say an 89 points red and Chacras de Coria a 91 points red. I wound´t age mora than 4 years a bottle of Koyle to get a better CS while I would expect some improving in muturing a bottle of Clos de Chacra 4 to 6 years.

Marcus Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc 2001, a good old boy from North Patagonia

Marcus Gran Reserva, Cabernet Franc 2001, By Bodega Humberto Canale, USD 30
A mature Cabernet Franc from Rio Negro Valley (Rio Negro Province), North Patagonia. The oldest winery alive in Patagonia. Nice oxidation with a kind of mixed plum ,quince and cherries compoted and soft undertones of chocolate. Equilibrated palate all through. Surely it was better younger with fresh fruits and
stronger tannins. Now a good red and a good value for those who enjoy aged reds. An 89 points Cabernet Franc in good shape at ten years old.

FIN, Cabernet Franc 2007, the best of the trio and from Northpatagonia

FIN, Cabernet Franc 2007, By Bodega del Fin del Mundo, USD 25


A Cabernet Franc single Vineyard from San Patricio Valley, Neuquen Province, North Patagonia.
The best of the three Cabernet Franc tasted blindly side by side. Round and complete. Quite attractive notes of sweet black berries currant and plum. Beautiful sweet peppery notes with solid backbone tannins. Nice acidity and alcohol. Good chocolaty edge too. Now probably the best moment,but if terciary notes develop in harmony it might reach a nicer point. I´d say a 90 points red and a good value. Worthwhile the price.

Doña Paula, Viña Alluvia, Cabernet Franc 2008, a good but barely acceptable value from Gualtallary district

Doña Paula, Series, Cabernet Franc 2008, Alluvial, By Viñedos Doña Paula, USD 25


A single vineyard (Finca Alluvia) from Gaultallary district in high Tupungato Departament (Uco Valley), Mendoza.
Nice and round CF with typical herbaceous and peppery notes with wide balck cherries in palate and an attractive balance.Good toach of chocolate and smoke. Not very complex although it tastes ripe. An 87 points red and a barely acceptable value for the price. It may get better close to 4 y/o. 

Lamadrid Reserva Cabernet Franc 2009, a basic CF with barely acceptable qty/price balance

Lamadrid Reserva Cabernet Franc 2009, Single Vineyard By Bodega Lamadrid, USD 20


A Cabernet Franc from Agrelo Distric in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza.
A basic CF with prominent herbaceous and peppery notes and secundary black berries. Soft oak with mostly chocolaty edge. Awell structured palate but not quite attractive. I´d say an 85 points Cab Franc to enjoy young, lets say before 4 y/o. Barely a good value though.

Alfredo Roca Family Reserve, Pinot Noir 2002, an appealling Pinot from San Rafael Valley

Alfredo Roca, Family Reserve, Pinot Noir 2002, By Roca Wines, USD 10
Very good Pinot from San Rafael Valley, South Mendoza. 
A likable balance of red cooked and dark berries fruits with black chocolate and toasted coffee (like a bold Guatemala Antigua). Quite attractive in sweetness and complexity keeping a good alcohol and acidity. No Bretty dashes whatsoever. No mineral either. Just compoted and still freshy fruit pulp in a nice balance. A 90 points Pinot that pays off the price. I will follow it a couple of years ahead but I don´t think it´ll improve anymore.

Caelum Chardonnay 2009, a straight and balanced chard from Agrelo

Caelum, Chardonnay 2009, By Bodega Caelum, USD 11

A Chardonnay from Agrelo district of Lujan de Cuyo Dpt in Central Mendoza. Good ripe peach and pear with sweety tone. A short dip of herbality quite nice. Not an overexpressed white, Smooth and attractive. A good value. A 87 points Chardonnay.

Algodon Merlot 2008, the best of the series catching all the medals

Algodon, Merlot 2008, By Algodon Wine States, USD 15


A wonderful Merlot from San Rafael Valley, South Mendoza. Impressive red sweet and jammy fruits
ripe and full of a deep chocolaty note quite alluring. Its a seductive Merlot to drink without a stop sign.Soft spicy minty note but only a dash of it. A 91 points Merlot that I like more than the malbec itself of the same label. A great value.  

Barrandica, Pinot Noir 2010, again a very nice Pinot from Vistaflores

Barrandica, Pinot Noir 2010, Vistaflores, By Antucura Wines, USD 15
A very good PN from Vistaflores District in Tunuyan, Uco Valley.
A nice blue out of the transparent red typical of a Pinot anticipating a juicy and jammy wine. Exact blueberries and dark ripe cherries sweet and delicate as in a Pinot Noir.Good acidity and alcohol. Nice aftertatse. An 89 points PN that may get realy interesting between 4 and 6 years of proper aging. A very good value.

Algodon Cabernet & Syrah 2008, a great value from San Rafael Valley

Algodon, Cabernet Sauvignon & Syrah 2008, By Algodon Wine States, USD 15


A 60% Cab from San Rafale Valley, South Mendoza.Great blend with good struture of black fruits and chocolate red. Round and wide in palate. Little toach of black peppercorn. Good memory after the swallow. Easy to get enchanted. Looks like young vineyards, so it might give terrific reds during the next years. For now a red to enjoy the best somewhere inbetween 4-6 years of cellar. An 89 points blend. And a very good value as all the reds I know from this young winery.



Note: Sorry about the strange shadows over the label. They are spillings of a shattered bottle on the shipping home.

Gerome Marteau, Reserva Pinot Noir 2008, getting better and more likable

Gerome Marteau, Pinot Noir reserva 2008, By Marcelo Marteau, USD 22



A Pinot from Fernandez Oro district in Rio Negro Valley,Rio Negro Province, North Patagonia.
Nice balance of red compoted and jammy cherries too. The fruit´s got a fresh sourness quite appropiate to balance the cooked one. Nice chocolaty and vanilla not over the top. Wide palate and enough aftertaste. An 89 points Pinot with both typicity for North Patagonia and attractiveness. It should get better by reaching 4 to 6 years old. It´s got structure to reach there nicer. Tasted on April 2010 and showing more scented herbal like eucalyptus.

argentinawinesrevisited.blogspot.com . Gerome Marteau 2008, April 2010

Altocedro Reserve Malbec 2009, a high quality Malbec to repeat

Altocedro Reserve Malbec 2009, By Bodega Altocedro, USD 40



All the beauty of La Consulta District (San Carlos Dpt, Uco Valley) expressed with great typicity. Sugary black fruits with nice acidity and elegance. Dark chocolaty note not over the top. Soft vanilla too. Quite balanced palate with enough aftertaste to reach the next sip. A 92 points Malbec good to try now and better 4 to 6 years from vintage. A fine and high quality Malbec.  

Amauta IV Syrah 2007, hard to drink twice

Amauta IV, Syrah 2007, By Bodegas del Porvenir, USD 24



A Syrah from Cafayate Valley, salta Province in North Argetina.
A nice red that won´t deceive at all. Fruity and sweet with red compoted cherries and quince. No spiciness to remind a syrah. Not even the concentration and elegance of it. An 86 points red with no story to tell. It might have been better before 4 years old.

Nemesio Propietor´s Reserve Blend 2007, the most balanced of the triad

Nemesio, Propietor´s Reserve, Blend 2007, By Bodega NQN, USD



A 60% Malbec and some Cabernet Sauvignon from San Patricio Valley, Neuquen Province, North Patagonia. The best of the triad. More complex and wide in the palate with a pinch of herbs and red bell pepper which don´t botter at all. An 88 points plus red nice before 4 years old. Again this label´s not the best of this winery repertoire during the last few years.

Nemesio Malbec Reserve 2009, good but not shiny

Nemesio, Malbec Reserve 2009, By Bodega NQN, USD 14-16



A basic malbec from North Patagonia (San patricio Valley, Neuquen Province) nicely fruity with a soft toach of sweet chocolate. Black cherries and dark plum too. Not complex but straight keeping the basic backbone of a patagonian malbec. Like its ´propietor´s Reserve´ it doesn´t shine quite much given other labels of this winery. I´d say an 87 points malbec to enjoy before 4 years old young and freshy.

Nemesio Propietor´s Reserve malbec 2007, just fine and nice Malbec

Nemesio Propietor´s Reserve Malbec 2007, Bodega NQN, USD 22



A Malbec from San Patricio Valley, Neuquen Province in North Patagonia.
Nice malbec fruity and balanced although not concentrated to linger much. Good chocolaty layer and some toast too. Wide in palate with black cherries and plum fresh and sour. An 88 points malbec just fine. It lacks firmness and beauty like other labels from this winery.