Famiglia Mosso, Malbec 2010, By Piamonte Mendoza SA, (Mosso Wines), USD 13
A malbec from Lunlunta District in Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza.
Quite attractive and straight malbec that will get approve by most. Sweet ripe red cherries and black california plum with strong sweet coffee and clove. Also a clear note of vanilla. Over the edge of oak´s overexpression but keeping a good line that will enchant most drinkers. A 90 point malbec I feel nicer during 2-4 years of age were fruit´s sitll strong to balance the oak. Great value no doubt but given the oaky punch it should be drunk young.
Tres14, Malbec 2009, by Daniel Pi, USD 20
A garage wine (and a signature wine) from a vineyard of Lunlunta district, Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza. A nice malbec with a mix of red and black cherries well entangled with smooth chocolate and smoke and a minimal trace of vanilla. Moderately wide in the palate with enough aftertaste. An 88 point red well priced simple and attractive enough to get even but I don´t know if I´d look after and buy it twice. It may be better at 4 or 5 years old.
The wine had a bit of TCA that washed completely away after a short polyethylene toach.
Paz (de Finca Las Moras) 2009, By Finca Las Moras, USD 24
A 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from different Valleys of San Juan Province.
Nice red with strong shade of blue introducing to an expressive red to enjoy easy. Soft blueberries and boysenberries with a nice smoke and chocolate. Not very acid but neither alcoholic. Modest but delicate tannins ending smoothly. An 89 point red that I wound´t cellar more than 4 years. A little bit overpriced but may be a local distortion. A 15 to 20 bucks range would be much competitive.
Patron Santiago Reserva 2005, By Bodega Manuel Lopez Lopez, USD 23
A Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend from Villa Seca district, in Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza.
Very good wine with astonishing balance and well expressed fruits. Round red cherries with a toach of nice bitter tannins giving a delicate but expressive backbone. Sweet and polished palate by the time. A 91 point red walking its last years of plateau. A great value too. A wine to enjoy the complexity of a mature Maipu´s.
Carmelo Patti, Malbec 2007, By El Lagar, USD 20
Another vintage of this malbec from Mayor Drummond district in Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza.
This time an unattractive malbec (tasted twice) that I cound´t believe my senses. Strange acidity even not undrinkable but rendering the wine unbalanced. One bottle with a residual TCA/TBA which almost disappeared after a wash with a plastic bag. Some low typical red fruits with far memories of plum. I even catch a hint of nail polish that reminds me some unwanted Bret. The wine although drinkable doesn´t reach 78-80 points. I decided to put them out because both bottles had similar readings and after contacting the winery no answers got. I know this winery from several years now (at least 8 years) and I found a wide variablity in wine quality that I´m not willing to take at 20 bucks price level.
If you read my note this month on the 2006 vintage (again tasted twice) you may think a felt insane.
carmelo-patti-malbec-2006
Carinae, Reserve Syrah 2008, By Carinae S.A., USD 16
A syrah from Cruz de Piedra District of Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza
A beautiful syrah with solid and well articulated tannins. Neat expressions of fruits, mostly black berries and black currrants
over a nice chocolaty complement. There is a herbal note quite interesting and a green peppercorn scent to make it more complex.
A 90 point syrah nice and beauty now but enough room for improving a couple of points next upcoming 2 to 4 years.
Great value.
Alto Uxmal, Pinot Grigio 2010, By Bodega Uxmal, USD 10
A pinot grigio from Tupungato Valley (part of Uco Valley), Mendoza.
Nice mix even of green and pale yellow. The wine is quite citric but sweet peach is in there too. You may get a chicory bitter soft and delicate with a bigger herbal note. That little sweet melony edge sets this wine a little bit apart from a Torrontes from the same terroir. A nice white with crispy acidity and good alcohol. An 86 point white good value, but it would be a great value if below 10 bucks.
Carmelo Patti, Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Bodegas y Viñedos El Lagar , USD 20
A Cabernet Sauvignon signature wine from Mayor Drumond district of Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza.
Very good Cab with nice maturity. All expressive red juice with deep red cherries and sweet quince and plum toasted. Barely any peppery note. Soft spice like bayleaf remindings. Well structured and lasting into the aftertaste. The alcohol and acidity are counterbalenced properly. A 90 point Cabernet Sauvignon to acknowledge easy and buy a case. Good Argentina´s value.
Noble Aconcagua, Malbec 2010, By Dos Arboles, USD 8
A malbec from Tunuyan Departament in Uco Valley. A mostly blue wine with all the virtues a malbec from Uco may offer. Ripe sweet blue berries and cherries with a nice toach of chocolate. Balanced and quite attractive. A wine you find hard stop drinking another cup. One of the best values I´ve ever seen. It may be this good 2-4 years. An 89 point malbec for 8 bucks. A great great value.
Zaha, malbec 2010,Altamira Mendoza, By 55 Malbec, USD 20
A 90 % malbec co-fermented with 8% of Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot from Altamira district (San Carlos Departament) in Uco Valley, Mendoza.
Impressive flowers and fuits in an elegant bunch. Not overconcentrated but sharp and definite in ripe fruits.You can tell apart at least 5 different fruits nicely. Minimal herbal and peppery edge giving an intriguing note. Even though fruit driven there are some chocolaty and vanilla in there.Quite round and smooth. A 91 point malbec now that should be set apart in proper cellar for some years to see it at the age of 4-6 y/o (when it shoud reach 93-94 point for sure!). Great value. Not a superb malbec to enjoy 8-12 years but an excellent offer at the super or ultrapremium level.
Algodon Malbec 2009, By Algodon Wine Estate, USD 18
Another vintage of this outstanding malbec from San Rafael Valley, south Mendoza.
Wide and brilliant fron the first ´touch´ of the nose with the mist outflowing the cup. Elegant violets and red cherries with sweet sensation of the oak give way to a wide palate with balanced fruits and oak (mostly chocolate and toast). Some nice notes of figs ripe and sweet and a very light quince membrillo not overcooked. A 91 point malbec now that has 1 to 3 years to get much better. Great value.
Don Diego Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, By Finca Don Diego, USD 14
A single vineyard bi-varietal blend co-harvested and co-fermented with oak chips.
The wine comes from Fiambala Valley in Catamarca Province.
A nicely scented red with memories of red fruits. A little bit dissapointing afterwards with a non pleasant sourness on the palate like barely cooked plums to a sour premature jam. Mild herbal and peppery notes on a barely detectable chocolate. I don´t feel it attractive although it portrais a basic drinkablity. An 81-82 point red that doesn´t worth half the price. Far from an Argentina´s value.
Privado ,Malbec 2008, By Finca Gabriel Benavides (Jorge Rubio), USD 10
A signature malbec from General Alvear Departament, South Mendoza.
Quite interesting malbec at a premium level. Nice plum and dry fig dominate the palate and aromas with only a soft brush of chocolate and coffee from oak. Well balanced with a nice bitter tannin. Probably not likeable for everyone. Mature now at 4 years old, and probably trespassing palteau after 6 years old. An 87 point malbec with adecuate price. I´d say a good value.
Carmelo Patti, Malbec 2006, By Bodegas & Viñedos El Lagar, USD 20
A Malbec signature wine from Mayor Drummond District in Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza.
What a beautiful Malbec! Impressive red cherries and boysenberries with almost a perfect balance of fruit, acidity and alcohol. Well put oak chocolate, smoke and minimal vanilla. Red flowers first pop up from the cup. All through the palate you may entertain your senses picking up small forrest fruits and plum.
A 92 point malbec quite mature that will keep its plateau for at least 2 to 4 years more (8 to 10 from vintage). A must to appreciate what a great malbec may bring around. Great great value.
Chateau Vieux 2003, By Bodegas Lopez, USD 13
A blend of Cabernet Savignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir from Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza.
The wine is kept on the winery several years before release. Brilliant but brownish like coke soda. Quite aromatic. Thin structure of nice redish fruit mostly remembering merlot and pinot with delicate smoke and very soft dark chocolate. Balanced and likeable all through the palate even though it falls short. A delicate and pinot/merlot driven red. An 85 point red easy to go with whatever food you decide. The wine is already mature.
Atos Pampa, Merlot Roble (oak) 2010, By Bodega Atos Pampa, USD 10
A merlot from high altitude (1,200 mts, 3940 ft) single small vineyard at Calamuchita Valley in Cordoba Province. The wine is simple and straight even attractive. Likeable smoky more than chocolaty from the start off. Nice red cherries and raspberries sweet and sour nicely alcoholic. Better appreciated 18-19 celsius (64-66 F) than colder. An 87 point merlot well pulled together at the premium level. Well priced too. The tannins look young and probably not fated to linger beauty more than 4 years old.
see a previous taste: http://argentinawinesrevisited.blogspot.com/2010/07/atos-pampa-roble-malbec-2009
Cicchitti Colección, Blend 2006, By Bodega J.A. Cicchitti S.A., USD 17
A classical Argentina´s blend with all the beauty . Malbec 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30% and Merlot 10% from Uco Valley and Lujan de Cuyo Departament. A deep and vivid blue with dark red included. Very expressive nose of flowers and fruits mostly black ones. Not overconcetrated even the palate gets the best with great balance and focus. Only nice dark chocolate and some mild smoke. Precise toaches of bayleaf, crushed green peppercorns. A great malbec based red that seems walking its plateau. The tannins are so sharp and elegant that I imagine a great terciary move next 2-4 years. I´d say a 92 point red. A great value, very competitive and solid.
Domados Reserve 2008 (Tobiano), By Domados Wines , USD 15
A Malbec 65% and Cabernet 35% blend from La Consulta district of San Carlos Dpt in Uco Valley.
A red cherries dominant malbec with delicate structure and backbone. Mostly fruity with a mild sweet bell peppery note. Nice wideness in the middle palate with an toasty edge. I wound´t say this is a typical La Consulta red. It reminds me some Central Mendoza virtues. An 88 point red with fair price. Probably 2-3 years the older the better.
Felix, Malbec 2010, By Bodega Felix Lavaque, USD 18
A malbec from Cafayate Valley, Salta Province, Northwest Argentina.
Concentrated malbec with typical notes of malbec in a somehow herbal base and slightly acid like lactic (overheated ?). Ripe and wide plummy core with black berries and some dark quince membrillo. Not invasive notes of chocolate. In any case a very good malbec with minor flaws. I´d say an 85 point malbec. I feel uncertain about where to and how much that minor flaw might lead in the upcoming years.
Lindaflor, Malbec 2005, By Bodega Monteviejo, USD 38
A malbec from Vistaflores, Tunuyan Dpt, Uco Valley, South Mendoza
Great malbec with impressive nose of chocolate and sweet coffee. Toachy palate of dark berries jammy and delicate at the same. Caramelized boysenberries with dashes of cloves and cinnamon. Wide middle palate with less impressive ending and aftertaste.Quite complex mix with a few intriguing notes to discover even though still fruit driven. A 93 point malbec turned very complex and delicate at this point in life.
I´m not sure I´d like this wine 2-4 years down the road with more terciary notes and less typical fruit expression. Lets see it! A great value out of any doubt.
ANTIS, Reserve Cuvee Mendoza 2006, By Antis Wines (Andean Wineries), USD 20
A blend of 50% malbec with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot from Maipu Departament, Central Mendoza.
A basic red with no much to remember. Mostly red cherries with a nice concentration and deepness. An akward acidity puts it on the edge of loosing balance. All in all, the wine s likeable at a basic level, lets say a premium level. Not even close to 20 bucks for sure. I´d say acceptable value below 10 bucks. An 84 point blend with no much more to offer.
(the cork was ok and the color brilliant and deep red)
Diamandes (de Uco), Malbec 2010, By Winery Diamandes,
USD 17
A malbec from Vistaflores district, Tunuyan Dpt of Uco Valley.
Deep blue with violet shade announcing a young guy. Very expressive nose and a palate you fall in love. Ripe plum with sour and sweet black cherries and berries. A dominant and concentrated malbec but not over the top. Some chocolaty and smokey toach well integrated. A 90 point malbec now that will evolve next 2-4 years somehow but I don´t now if much enough to step up a point. Great value.
Leyend of Polo, Malbec 2008, By Finca La Chamiza, USD 16
A malbec from Agrelo District of Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza.
Nice frutal and floral aromas with delicate balance after drunk it. You may get ripe raspeberries, red cherries and currants. Appropiate acidity and alcohol buck up the tannins which are elegant and supper. Only an edge of chocolate and vanilla. An 88 point malbec, sound and nice that may fall behind if you like those impressive and punchy Uco´s malbecs. It looks like walking its plateau right now, and may endure so next couple of years.
Gimenez Riili, Malbec 2010, By Gimenez Riili SA, USD 10
An impressive malbec with punchy fruits you learn to love immediately. Ripe blueberries and boysenberries,
black cherries and currants altogether. Sweet and accertive with fleshy tannins and mild oak influence. One of those malbec 9 out of ten guys will adore from the first toach. An 89 point malbec to enjoy young, like before 4 years old. A great Argentina´s Value no doubt. It has the Uco Valley´s signature (Tupungato Dpt, San Carlos Dpt, Tunuyan Dpt) at the premium level, unbeatable in price and quality. This malbec beats many around 15 bucks wines in a blind tasting.
Amalaya 2010, Torrontes & Riesling, By Bodega Amalaya (Hess Family), USD 10
A blend from Cafayate Valley, Salta Province, Northwest Argentina.
A shoking white overexpressing a punch of grapefruit and rude plant with minimal if any other thing to tell. The palate barely gets balance although the sweetness,alcohol and acidity are out there well enough. Unfortunately this citric and herbal overexpression renders the wine easily saturable (probably a similar overexpression in a Chard from NZ is more balanced and likeable). An 84 point white somehow nice but unbalanced.
Santa Julia, Extra Brut n/v, By Bodega Santa Julia (Familia Zuccardi) , USD 10
A sparkling made of Chardonnay, Chenin, and Pinot Noir.
Easy to drink and displaying all the palette of a classic champagne with acceptable balance and quality. Peach and pineapple with soft melony note and a solid cherry buckup of Pinot Noir. Very soft toasty note too. An 86 point sparkling with great value component. I like the classic structre of this wine.
Hollen, Malbec 2008 By Hollen M. James & Hollen M. Charles, USD 18
A malbec from somewhere Mendoza. Very alcoholic and almost overexpressed malbec that keep itself close to the unbalance. A mix of red berries and dominant black cherries quite typical of the high vineyards of Uco Valley. Nice chocolaty note and floral violets are prominent at the first sniff. A malbec that may gain some complexity in 2-4 years at the most. (At some point it reminds me some alcoholic Cafayate´s red not very well taken care of at the vineyard level.) I´d say an 88 point malbec that I don´t like but some people may actually get impressed. The wine is good aside my personal take on it. Overpriced no doubt.
Bournett, Malbec numerado 2008, By Bodega Burnett SA,
USD 9
A malbec from San Rafael Vallley, South Mendoza showing nice red cherries and berries with less plum than a usual malbec. Too young now with some immature tannins from the vineyard or the vintage, or both. Very soft chocolate. An 83 point malbec that I wound´t pay more than 6-7 bucks to keep the good value seal. To drink before 2-4 years old, but even reaching the best it should keep a better quality price ratio by selling below 7 bucks.
Accuro, Reserve Blend 2009, By Bodega Andana SA, USD 15
A well balanced blend with assorted red cherries and boysenberries sweet and deeply enough. Good edge of chocolate and a smokey note to round it up nicely. Not a great and deeply concentrated red even though some basic complexity above premium level is easily noticeable. An 89 point blend well priced that looks close to its plateau and may endure this quality 2 or 3 years more.
Luigi Bosca, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, By Bodega Luigi Bosca (Familia Arizu),USD
A single vineyard Cab from Maipu Departament in Central Mendoza.
Really mature and balanced CS with nice mix of ripe and sour red and black cherries, black plum and quince cooked in dark membrillo. Very aromatic from the first sniffy toach with attractive toasty note. Good sweet bell pepper mostly red and roasted. A 92 point red that looks like close to reach its plateau. It´s got tannins to endure well mature up to 6-8 years of vintage. Great value and I like better than the Malbec from the same series, although it may be a vintage or cellar bias.
Las Perdices, Reserve Malbec 2009, By Bodega Las Perdices, USD 16
A malbec from Agrelo District in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza.
Well balanced and fine malbec. No bombastic neither explossive. Ripe red cherries and boysenberries. Nice chocolate envelope. Good and precise in every edge. To enjoy the terroir based malbec of Agrelo. An 89 point malbec with a plateau lasting 4-6 years easily. Good value too.
Nieto Senetiner, Millesime Brut Nature , By Bodega Nieto Senetiner, USD 25
A sparkling made of Pinot Noir and Malbec (blanc de noir) from somewhere in Mendoza.
Nice pale rose with very fine bubbles. Beautiful notes of little cherries very delicate and barely sweet. Nice peach and apricot quite sutil. Toasty envelope and soft buttery note well described n the back label as ´praline´. A 90 point sparkling and a competitive value, original and attractive.
Gran Dante, Malbec 2006, By Bodegas Dante Robino, USD 30
A malbec from Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza.
A well balanced and nicely complex malbec. Pure violets aromas with nice vanilla and toast. Complex palate with wide middle portion of ripe black cherries and sweet plum. Some red berries too. It lacks some stronger and firmer tannins though. An 89 points malbec ready and walking its plateau. I wound´t pay this price twice: probably I get even by less than 20 bucks.
Not competitive though.
VAS, Malbec 2008, By Bodega Vasija Secreta, USD 20
A malbec from Cafayate Valley (part of Calchaquies Valley) Salta Province, (Northwest Argentina).
An Impressive malbec with extra bold accent in every component this wine is made of. Naturally concentrated ripe califonia plum with black cherries and a nice toach of eucaliptus and dry bay leaf. Also an appropiate chocolaty and very soft vanilla note.This type of strong malbec natural of these very high (around 1,700 mts = 5,600 ft) Valleys is impressive, but may not entertain everybody given its fast growing over the top quality. Even so a 90 points malbec very competitive and faithfull to its terroir.
Calatayud, Malbec 2009, By Jose Calatayud (Altos Viñedos), USD 8
A malbec from Tunuyan Departament of Uco Valley, Mendoza
Not far from the typical premium Uco´s backbone: sweet little blackberries, attractive and easy to drink.
A little pinch of chocolate. Nice to enjoy before 4 years old. Well structured but short palate and even shorter aftertaste. All in all an 87 points malbec that should be competitive even in the 10-15 bucks´s shelve.
Avarizza Blend 2009, By Bodega Avarizza, USD 18
A Blend 2/3 Malbec from Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo Dpt and 1/3 Cabernet Sauvignon from Villa Seca, Maipu Dpt.
Quite impressive red, round and mature, soft and complete. Vanilla and chocolate first pop up to the first sniff. Boysenberries and black cherries with harder and spicy tannins from Cabernet Sauvignon complete the middle and end of palate. Nice aftetaste. Quite elegant and attractive at the same time. A 91 points red that should evolve into a better complexity the upcoming 2-4 years. Great Value from Central Mendoza. Competitive for less than 20 buck given its completeness and complexity with a window for cellar improvement.
Milagro (de otoño), Malbec Roble 2008, USD 12
A malbec from Tupungato Valley (part of Uco Valley) and a signature wine by Francisco Gimenez & Mario Cosarinsky.
Beautiful malbec with all the fruit and typicity of the high Tupun Valley. Ripe black cherries and a plummy edge too. Nice Chocolate and vanilla note complementing. A mature but still young malbec probably better in 2-3 years. Easy and attractive close to those Barossa most people (including my self) enjoy at once. An 89 points malbec quite attactive and very appropiate for less than 15 bucks. One of those wines you buy at least twice to enjoy with friends on any casual reunion.
Freixenet Cordon Negro, Extra Brut n/v, By Freixenet S.A., USD 12
A sparkling from Spain (they call it 'Cava', I thought it was from Mendoza given the widespread availabilty around here) made of macabeo, xarel-lo and parellada. Poor peach and apple mostly green even ripe. Closer to a sidar than a sparkling wine. An 78 points sparkling white I wound´t pay twice this price. I would be nice with you if this sparkling were given for free to me or if I paid up to 5 bucks. Get it?
Familia Bonfanti ,Chardonnay 2011, Bodega Roberto Bonfanti, USD 9
A Chardonnay from Perdriel District in ujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza
A basic and simple white without any beauty to remember. The terroir drove me to this wine. Unfortunately the bottle doesn´t display any historic beauty. Pale yellowish with poor aromas blowing out. Some basic peach and elemental pineapple. Good acidity and alcohol even no bright or attractive structure. A 79 points chardonnay that I won´t buy again.
Rutini Cabernet Sauvignon & Malbec 2006, By Rutini Wines (Bodega La Rural), USD 20
A nice but somehow sad blend 50/50 from Maipu Departament of Central Mendoza
Well expressed fruits, mostly a mix remembering both grapes and a soft oak envelope. If you remember any good malbec or cabernet or both from this mendoza, you forget this Rutini entereraly right away. If you are begenning to know those wines & grapes from mendoza, you may recognise some fine basics on it.
An 86 points red not even close to its money price. Probably ending its plateau in terms of life span and maturity.The 2007 vintage did quite better.
see the 2007 vintage tasted: argentinawinesrevisited
Benvenuto de La Serna 2006, By Colle di Boasi S.A., USD 16
A blend 60% Malbec and 40% Merlot from Vistaflores district in Tunuyan Valley (Uco Valley), Mendoza
Great blend with vivid black little berries and boysenberries typical of Uco Valley with noteworthy vanilla and chocolate. Very good balance and nice tannins, sweet and well structured to enjoy every sip without any overexpression. Probably reaching its best although 2-4 years ahead might bring son terciary finesse. A 90 points malbec based blend with great value.
