Joffre e Hijas, Merlot Premium 2004, nice premium but above premium price

Joffre e hijas , Merlot Premium 2004, by RJ viñedos SA, USD 25
www.rjvinedos.com

A merlot from somewhere in Uco Valley,Mendoza.
A merlot with basic beauty but not at above premium as the price fix the bottle. Black cherries and chocolate, much chocolate. Nice acidity,alcohol and final balance even it shows a thin body.
The complexity is for a premium red, like less than 15 bucks,(far less than the 25!). An 89 point merlot, nice and standard but overpriced at 25 bucks. Probably enduring 6 to 8 years cellar.

Malma Reserve Merlot 2004, a great southern merlot

Malma Reserve Merlot 2004, by Bodega NQN, USD 15

bodeganqn.com.ar


A merlot from somewhere northern Patagonia or south Mendoza expressing exquisite mix of red and black cherries with sweet maturity and sutained by an adecuate cidity and alcohol. Beautiful and attractive merlot. Chocolate and soft allspice (we call it 'Jamaica Pepper') on the edge. By my senses I´d say walking its plateau yet I wouldn´t say how long farther. Eith to 10 years is usual for a merlot above premium from somewhere southern Mendoza & northern Patagonia.
A 92 point merlot full of richness and tipicity. This is not probably from San Patricio Valley as the vineyards where too young by 04.
Great Value. Great merlot to toast.

Andeluna Reserva Especial, Malbec 2004. An old age malbec from Tupungato to enjoy slowly

Andeluna Reserva Especial, blend malbec 2004, By Andeluna Cellars, USD 35



A superlative Malbec from Tupungato Valley (part of Uco Valley). Ripe black cherries a blueberries with a nice oxidation from age. Round tannins with mild acidity and alcohol. Chocolate and dark coffee kept soft and delicate on the palate. An old age malbec to enjoy slowly by its self or pairing cigars, choclate or small pieces of hand food. A 92 point malbec and a great value living its final plateau.

Abel Furlan, Malbec 2006, a great signature malbec from Tupungato terroir

Abel Furlan, Malbec 2006, By Familia Furlan, USD 15

A signature malbec from Tupungato Valley (part of Uco Valley) by Abel Furlan, winemaker.
Beautiful set of black fruits including berries, currant and california plum very sweet and ripe with astonishing
new amarican oak expressing vanilla, cocoa and dark chocolate.Well balanced with soft acidity. A malbec to enjoy quite well 6 to 8 years from vintage.
A 90 point red and a great Argentina´s value.

La Espera, Malbec Reserva 2008, a great San Rafael value

La Espera, Malbec Reserva 2008, By Funckenhausen SA, USD 18

A malbec from San Rafael Valley South Mendoza.
www.funckenhausen.com


Nice and attractive malbec with tipcity and very good backbone. Red cherries and berries with nice oak. Wide palate round and easy. Good concentration as a far as an above premium red.
A 90 point malbec good value. To drink between 4 and 6 years of age.

AVE Gran Riserva, Malbec 2008, a super malbec from Perdriel

AVE Gran Riserva Malbec 2008, By Global Union SA, USD 20



A malbec from Prdriel District of Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza
www.avewines.com

Super malbec with all the ripe and perfect tannins completed by attractive new oak elements. Delicate and expressive red and black berries and plum. One of those wines to enjoy sip after another and to buy at least twice. Its got room to improve nicely next few years like getting the best 4 to 6 years of age.
A 92 point malbec and a great value.

Don Juan Nahuel Malbec 2007, agreat value a great wine from Lunlunta

Don Juan Nahuel, malbec 2007, By Cielo y Tierra S.A., USD 22



A malbec from Lunlunta district of Maipu Depatament, Central Mendoza
www.cieloytierrasa.com.ar


Beautiful a full body Malbec with ripe and delicious red fruit confiture and a fresh delicate oak tone. Vanilla and chocolate enrich the backbone of beautiful and attractive tannins. A 92 point malbec ready to endure well and improve in 6-8 years of history of life. Great value. Great wine.

Malma Coleccion, Malbec 2009, a great above premium Malbec from San Patricio Valley

Malma Colección Malbec 2009, By Bodega NQN, USD 22



A great malbec from San Patricio Valley, Neuquen Province, North Patagonia.


www.bodeganqn.com.ar


Young superpremium malbec with strong fruits now mostly red berries and plum. Chocolate and coffee in there. Beautiful tannins with nice acidity and alcohol. This is a 91 point malbec now, and probable a couple above fully mature between 4 and 6 years old like most above premium malbecs. Great value.

see the 2007 vintage taste: HERE

Decero Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, a mature and lovable Agrelo red under 10

Decero Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, By Finca Decero , USD 9



www.decero.com


A single vineyard (finca Los Remolinos) in Agrelo District of Lujan de Cuyo Central Mendoza
A simple yet delicius red with matured tannins by age and quality. I find red fruits with nice toasted cocoa well evolved into a sweet marmalade. Thinner than a Reserva or most premium and above Cabs. Nicely balanced and farily attractive.
An 89 point red nautered and good value for under 10. Living its last year of plateau. Lovable.

FIN Cabernet Sauvignon single vineyard 2007, a delicate yet very attractive CS from Patagonia

FIN , Cabernet Sauvignon single vineyard 2007, By Bodega del Fin del Mundo, USD 22



A single vineyard (finca la Virgencita) Cabernet Sauvignon from San Patricio Valley, Neuquen Province, North Patagonia.
www.bodegadelfindelmundo.com

An attractive Cab wide on the palate and expressive yet delicate. Nice turning of the fruits into soft marmalade.
Oak only to round it up with chocolate and very soft roasted coffee grains.Not much of that peppery and herbality often times seen. From this FIN series and 2007 vintage I remember over all the Cabernet Franc by its complexity. A 91 point red mature and delicate to pick the best between 4 and 6 years old. Great value for this Patagonian.

Desierto Pampa, Pinot Noir 2007, an impressive Pinot from the north border of Patagonia

Desierto Pampa, Pinot Noir 2007, By Bodega Del Desierto, USD 17


A Pinot Noir from 25 de Mayo City, High Rio Colorado Valley in La Pampa Province, the very begining of Patagonia.
www.bodegadeldesierto.com

Beautiful coke like red, brilliant and attractive like the wine you taste afterwards. Fresh red cherries mixed with compoted plum. A nice toach of chocolate and leathery shade to complete. Attractive and pleasant on the palate. Enough aftertaste. A 90 point Pinot probably nicer or best between 4 and 6 years old. Very good value.

Familia Ponce, Blend Oak 2010, a traight and attractive Cruz de Piedra

Familia Ponce, Oak Blend 2010, By Bodega Ponce Torres,
USD 12


A malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Cruz de Piedra District of Maipu Departament in Central Mendoza.
www.bodegaponcetorres.com.ar


Nicely fruity with plum, red cherries and raspberries ripe and sweet. Also an interesting edge of seet figs. Good balance with mild oak. Attractive and tipical of Maipu Dpt (very close to Lujan de Cuyo in character but probably somehow wilder). An 89 point malbec based blend and a very good value. To enjoy better before 4 y/o of cellar.

Septima Tardio de Gewurstraminer 2009, a delicate and attractive sweety from High Agrelo

Septima Tardio Gewurstraminer 2009, By Bodega Septima (Codorniu Argentina SA), USD 9 (500 cc bottle)


A great late harvest from Gewurstraminer grapes of High Agrelo district in Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Central Mendoza.
www.bodegaseptima.com

Sweet citrus and floral with some minor notes of tropical fruits like guayaba and passion fruit very interesting.
Soft acidity and alcohol (Alc 15 % vol, 54 g/L). A delicate and nicely complex late harvest. A 90 point sweety, easy to drink. Great value too.

Ciclos Malbec Tardio 2006, a great Cafayate Valley late harvest to pair most int´ls

Ciclos, Malbec Tardio 2009, By Bodega El Esteco, USD 17 (500 cc bottle)


A wonderful Late Harvest malbec from Cafayate Valley, Salta Province, Northeast Argentina.
www.elesteco.com.ar

A display of delicate caramelized figs and black plums keeping a soft toasted note quite alluring.
Delicate even expressive. Not near as acid and strong as a Ruby Port, but someway very attractive (Alc 13,6 % vol and 60 g/L sugar). A 90 point late harvest Malbec from ´Valles Calchaquies´. Great value too. It shows a late harvest malbec may reach interesting and high placed resound.

Decero Malbec 2010, a pure and expressive Agrelo´s

Decero Malbec 2010, By Finca Decero, USD 9



A single vineyard malbec (Finca Los Remolinos), Agrelo district in Lujan de Cuyo (Departament), Central Mendoza.
www.decero.com


Beautiful Malbec as Agrelo should bring about. Full expressed red berries and currants with a wide taste sansation on the palate.
Soft chocolaty note to enrich a botton sense of deepness. Easy and delicious as a pure Agrelo. An 88 point malbec and a typical great Agrelo´s value. Few malbecs of this quality at this price level.
To drink young as before 4 y/o.

Luigi Bosca, Riesling 2005, a complex white from a unique terroir

Luigi Bosca Johannisberg Riesling, By Bodega Luigi Bosca, USD 15 (500 cc bottle)



Single vineyard (Finca La Puntilla, La Puntilla District), Riesling from Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza.
www.luigibosca.com.ar

Really original and complex Riesling with attractive citrus and a mineral edge hard to find around. This 7 years old add up a dry leaf note quite interesting. Quite balanced. A 90 point white probably fruitier younger (and higher scored too) but a real beauty now. Great Arg´s value.

Catena ,Malbec 2009, nice and well structured but overpriced

Catena Malbec 2004, By Bodega Catena Zapata, USD 17


A multivineyard selection by Laura Catena and labeled to a Puerto Rico importer.

A nice and attractive malbec no doubt. Tipiciy and fruits all in there with soft oaky notes mostly toasted and chocolate ones. An 89 point malbec to enjoy before 4 years old as I taste it.
Overpriced. I could tell a dozen malbecs right off the top of my mind which better far this malbec at 17 buck level. You won´t like this wine if you enjoy oak ; You might give a pebbles more if you praise a natural fruit driven malbec. I think it´s nice anyway.

Andeluna Rose Malbec 2011, a great Rose from Tupungato Valley

Andeluna Rose Malbec 2011, By Andeluna Cellars, USD 12


A rose from Malbec of Tupungato Valley in Uco Valley
www.andeluna.com.ar

Brilliant and vivid pink color. Nice balance of red cherries and plum in a strong and well paired acidity and alcohol. Vivid expression red keeping a very good balance with sweetness. Given its high acidity this rose will go along perfect with many fish dishes. An 89 point rose to enjoy its best first 4 years old. Very good value.

Viña Amalia, Rose Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, from San Carlos a delicate beauty

Viña Amalia Rose Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, By Viña Amalia, USD 12



Beautiful and delicate rose from San Carlos Departament in Uco Valley, Mendoza.
www.amalia.com.ar

Sweet and velvety. Nice cooked quinces with a touch of red berries and a far memory of red sweet bell pepper. It shows a white floral and peachy pineapple edge nice even strange and unexpected.
Very delicate and attractive palate to pair very delicate dishes and food. Soft acidity. An 89 point rose probably best before 4 years old given its delicate complexity. Although some nice oxidation may bring more complexity. Very good value.

Lassia Malbec 2009, a supervalue from San Patricio Valley ,North Patagonia

Lassia Malbec 2009, By Bodega Patritti, USD 8


A malbec from San Patricio Valley in Neuquen Province, North Patagonia.
www.bodegaspatritti.com.ar

Nice and definitive Patagonian. Naturally concentrated in savors and well defined elements. Red ripe and sweet cherries with black plum slightly sour and sweet. Delicate dark chocolate.
Quite balanced though. A nice red to go fine with many succulent dishes or alone with chocolate. I admit it breaks me with dark chocolate or a sour cheese either. An 89 points and a great (I´d say a super) value from Patagonia.This malbec surely will run nice up to 4 years.

Casillero del Diablo, Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, an internal comparison and a classical value from Chile

Casillero el Diablo, Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, By Concha y Toro,USD 17



A Cabernet Sauvignon from Valle Central, Chile
Attractive red, rich and seductive. Black cherries and deep coffee and chocolate from oak. Balanced on the palate and nice aftertaste without overexpression. An 90 point CS and a great value to a above premium red. It shows tannins to enjoy 4 to 6 years from vintage.

This tasting is intended to offer some international comparison

Tomero ,Sauvignon Blanc 2011, a great SB from Vistalba District: fruity, crispy and round

Tomero Sauvignon Blanc 2011, By Tomero Wines (Cap Vistalba S.A.), USD 10


A Sauvignon Blanc from Vistalba District of Luja de Cuyo Departament, Central MendozaDelicious and well structured white. Fresh grapefruit and kiwi sweet and sour with mild pineapple swimming around. Nice acidity and alcohol all kept balanced. aSimple yet attractive and basically round. Not mineral at all. ( I don´t feel minerality attractive nor delicious anyway, it may add complexity but.. ). An 89 point Sauvignon Blanc delicate and round. Very good value.

http://www.carlospulentawines.com/

Synthesis Malbec 2008, from Tupungato Valley a superb Malbec

Synthesis malbec 2008, By Bodega Sophenia, USD 38

A malbec from Tupungato Valley part of Uco Valley, Mendoza.
sophenia.com

A great malbec ,complete and seductive. Strong backbone typical of those high quality Tupungato wines with black cherries and currants, boysenberries, all with a beautiful new oak envelope like vanilla,coffee, hits of mint,sage and eucaliptus. Lasting remains on the palate. Absolutely balanced and keeping a great attractivess. A malbec to satisfy everyone (which ,say,its not hard to get by most Malbecs) , now for those who like young yet easy to love, with strong and fruit driven backbone ,and 6 to 8 years for those who like it aged and more complex. I feel some bottles may arrive at 8 years old quite well. A 93 point malbec now that might reach 94-95 next 2 to 4 years. A great great value no doubt.
This is one of those high quality malbecs probably hard to drink very young (lets say before 4 y/o) and reaching a great balance and attractiveness approaching 8 y/o .

Mariflor Malbec 2010, mixed emotion of this Vistaflores & Rolland assemblage

Mariflor, Malbec 2010, By Rolland Collection, USD 22

A malbec from Vistaflores District of Tunuyan Departament, Uco Valley, Mendoza. rollandcollection.com

Now too young malbec showing great fruit and character with very delicate oak stuff like chocolate and cinnamon. Strong alcohol and very nice acidity. A very expressive malbec but not over the top.Quite Vistaflores and quite Rolland too. This red is nice now with I´d say 89 points and 90-92 points next 2 to 4 years down the road (lets say 4 to 6 years from vintage). One of those malbecs to enjoy right now and keep some apart cellaring next few years. Good value.

Melipal Malbec 2008, a premium prime time malbec

Melipal Malbec 2008, By Bodega Melipal, USD 13
A nice Malbec from High Agrelo District in Lujan de Cuyo, Central Mendoza. bodegamelipal.com

It shows a beautiful and balanced mix of red and black cherries (lets say ,more black and less red than lower Central Mendoza but less black than Uco Valley) nestled by simple oak like milk chocolate with minimal vanilla. Quite attractive and easy Malbec. A 90 point red to enjoy between 4 and 6 years at the most. Good value.

see the 2007 vintage taste: HERE 

Urraca, Primera Reserve 2005, a beautiful blend to palate Alto Agrelo District of Mendoza

Urraca, Primera Reserva 2005, By Viñedos Urraca S.A. (Familia Langley, Urraca Wines), USD 25

A malbec and merlot blend from High Agrelo District in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Central Mendoza. urracawines.com

A superpremium red with rich mix of forrest fruits and ripe plum. All quite balanced and attractive. A noticeable but partially expressed oak with mostly chocolate and toasty notes. A red walking its late plateau of matureness. Surely the best lies between 6 and 8 years given the beauty and firmness of its tannins. A 91 point red and a very good value.

FIN Cabernet Franc 2007, a second taste for a great Patagonian CF

FIN del Mundo, Cabernet Franc 2007, By Bodegas del Fin del Mundo, USD 25
A single vineyard red from San Patricio Valley in Neuquen Province of North Patagonia. bodegadelfindelmundo.com . 

Very attractive red with nice complexity, now sweeter and round fruit with a bit of nice oxidation but preserving a pappery spicy note with a herbal tone. Probably the complexity is bigger given the softer the fruit. I´d say a 91 point Cabernet Franc to enjoy the best between 4 and 6 years old at a superpremium level. A very good value to share with friends and foods more than once.

see the first tasting same vintage in Oct 2011 HERE

MASI, Passo Blanco, Pinot Grigio & Torrontes 2010, a delicate and thin white

Masi, Passo Blanco 2010, By Vigneti La Arboleda, (Masi Group) , USD 13

A blend of Pinot Grigio and Torrontes from Tupungato Valley, Mendoza. masi.it

Thin and delicate white well balanced in acidity and alcohol. A soft melony and damask pale fruit with a weak toach of citrus and peach. I wounld´t go more than 86 points and as far I see it a little bit overpriced on this rather simple white.

Cicchitti Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, a poor performance red at a premium level.

Cicchitti Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, By Bodega JA Cicchitti, USD 12

A red harvested somewhere in Uco valley and Lujan de Cuyo displaying a basic structure not attractive more than a barely above red table complexity. Some awkward acidity renders the wine
unbalanced. A compoted fruit core with old oak envelope (like wet wood toasted) complementing. An 84 point Cab old fashioned and poor in performance allready matured and overpriced to my taste.

the winery: bodegacicchitti.com

Norton Coleccion Perdriel Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, a basic Cab a little bit overpriced

Perdriel Coleccion Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, By Bodegas Norton, USD 10



A basic Cab ,basically attractive and balanced. Nicely reminds me Lujan de Cuyo´s reds but probably a young vineyard with some lack of deepness. Red and black cherries with chocolaty note and equilibrated tannins. I wouldn´t go more than 86 points for this Cab which feels thin on the palate. Good value anyway, better (to a great value) if sold a table wine price.

Joffre & Hijas, Gran Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, a great Cab from terroir and age

Joffre & Hijas, Gran Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, By RJ Viñedos S.A.G, USD 13



A Cabernet Sauvignon from Uco Valley, Mendoza.
Completely matured CS with all the virtues it could bring along. An superpremium red at a premium price sum up to a great Argentinian Value. I like much more this beauty than any most Argenitinian malbecs. Full black fruits mostly berries sweet and sour thinny sliced and layered typical of an Uco´s red. No peppery neither herbality but strong backbone quite alluring no one will ignore. A 91 point CB fully cellared to its momentum. One of those Argentina´s premium Cabernets to enjoy close to 8 y/o (Salentein Reserve, Andeluna Reserve,some vintages of Patagonian Cabs to mention right off the top of my mind). Great value.

Trumpeter Extra Brut 2009 a 100% chardonnay sparkling from Tupungato

Trumpeter, Chardonnay Extra Brut 2009, B Rutini Wines, USD 22


A 100% chardonnay sparling from Tupungato Vineyards in Uco Valley, Mendoza.




A beautiful sparkling with sour and ripe peach ,green apples and a soft buttery and toasty edge. Quite balanced and attractive. Delicate bubbles as you might expect from a Champenoise method. This green and soursweet combination makes this sparkling quite appropiate for applepies. An 89 point sparkling and a good value.

Siesta en el Tahuantisuyu, Malbec 2007 ,what blending different terroir might bring out

Siesta en el Tahuantisuyu, Malbec 2007, By Ernesto Catena (Puerto Ancona SA, Siesta Wines), USD 30
A malbec blending different high altitude vineyards from Mendoza (Uco Valley and Lujan de Cuyo) and even San Juan Province (Pedernal Valley). Siesta Wines

Original palette of black and red cherries with strawberries and a sweet small plum sour and sharp that reminds me wild plums. Good oak tones mostly chocolate and mild roasted coffee beans. Nice, elegant and balanced. A 90 point malbec blending 3 terroir virtues. You may prefer either approaching each terroir standing alone or a complex painting of them. The caveats of blending different terroirs is that I might prefer what you won´t. Here´s why the idea is good to think of but hard to comply. 

Saurus, Late Harvest Pinot Noir 2008, a beautiful wine to pair with almost anything

Saurus Pinot Noir Tardio 2008, By Bodega Familia Schroeder, USD 22 (500 mL bottle)

A nice late harvest with roasted figs and prunes making the backbone. Not hard to recognise dry natural (unsweetened) cherries too that balance it out nicely. A soft milk chocolaty note too. Likable alcohol and very mild acidity perceived. This late harvest is very personal in structure so you may enjoy it with a nice bunch of food and appetizers or desserts fingerfood. A 90 point late harvest worhwhile the try to discover beautiful combinations to pair. I don´t smoke but a cigar smell with it looks two of the kind. Great value.

Bournett Prestige Roble 2007, a good value Merlot based from San Rafael Valley

Bournett Prestige Roble 2007, By Bodega Bournett , USD 10
A blend 75% merlot and 25% malbec fron San Rafael Valley, South Mendoza
A sound and simple red with floral aromas and red cherries and berries making  the backbone. Wide in palate with somehow short aftertaste yet adecuate to a premium wine. A nice red to enjoy with a casserole and deer ragout as I feel the call. An 88 point red good value. Ending its plateau of maturity.