DV Catena Malbec & Malbec, lets see

DV Catena, Malbec & Malbec 2006, By Bodega Catena Zapata, USD 23.

Very good Malbec from Lunlunta district (Maipu Dpt) and Agrelo district (Lujan de Cuyo Dpt) in Mendoza.Classical red and plum ripe fruits from a classical malbec from `Primera Zona´ of Mendoza. Some mild complexity enjoyable but not amazing. Good balance but an acidity like unripe plum burnt by the sun a bit uneasy. Good maturation and it may be interesting to see evolve in 2-4 years more. I´ll say 89 points malbec with just a barely acceptable value to price.

Malma Malbec Reserva 2005, probably the best Northpatagonia´s Malbec of the decade

Malma Malbec Reserva 2005, By Bodega NQN, USD 20

Excelent Malbec from San Patricio´s (del Chañar) Valley in Neuquén, Northpatagonia. No doubt the best vintage for Malbec in the decade.Dark and deep red bluish but not violet or purple that slides into the nose with rich fruits,violets and jammy hints.The palate gives out even more details: plum and red and black cherries, ripe and sour. Wide middle palate with round smokiness and dark chocolate. The best part of it. It lacks longer aftertaste to be an outrageous Malbec. It calls for sip after other and to keep it flooding around to enjoy all the richness. A perfect moment of age to enjoy, altough it may keep this way and even evolve into more complexity in 2-3 years. Now 92 points and far away from its partners Merlot, Cab Sau and Pinot from 2005 vintage. A little bit less complex but purer and wilder than Colección 2005 made 60% with this malbec. To my palate this is probably the best malbec Northpatagonia gave in the last decade, clean, pure and deep. A Great Value.

Luigi Bosca Reserva Malbec 2008, you see but not too much

Luigi Bosca, Malbec Reserve 2008, By Familia Arizu, USD 17.

Essencial of ARG malbec. From Vistalba District in Lujan de Cuyo Departament of Mendoza. Not what I mean when say a wonderfull malbec but good struture and the abc of a malbec from Lujan de Cuyo. Nice nose of ripe plum and raspberries. Jammy and well scented. You may catch violets. The palate is less than pure. More initial palate than middle and end palate. Short aftertaste but likeable smoke and chocolate. A tiny spiciness hint. I woudn´t expect a better red after 4 years cellar for this dense and heavy malbec on the beginning but fading away weak pretty soon. I´ll go 86 points and a barely accetable value price. I´d gone happier if I´ve payed 8-10 bucks.

Lindaflor 2002 By Monteviejo; keeps growing quite fine

Lindaflor 2002, Malbec by Bodega Monteviejo, Uco Valley ,USD 40.

Great maturation these 8 years for this typical malbec from Uco´s. Strong black sour fruits pop up from the beginning. Mouthfull chocolate and toast well entangled. Solid and attractive tannins with marvelous backbone. Very seductive. From the middle and growing through late palate and aftertaste I pick up a quite attractive tutti frutti (candied) component hallmark of Rolland´s wines of Uco Valley that seems to come from oak and cellar. I guess it could get better with some terciary notes in the upcomming years and bring more complexity. I´d say a 93 points malbec, may be 95-97 if aged some 3-4 years more. Great Value.

Saurus, Sauvignon Blanc 2007, pour me more

Saurus, Sauvignon Blanc 2007, By Bodega Familia Shroeder, USD 10.

Very nice S Blanc from San Patricio´s Valley in Neuquén, Northpatagonia.Wide palette of citric fruits, mostly grapefruit and soft rude plant. Gentle sweetness. Nice white flowers and a llittle bit of melon. Quite likeable mostly by the balance. I´d say 89 points and a very good value. Looks like you might enjoy it 4-5 years old.

Presidential Blend 2002 by Escorihuela Gascón, lets see

Miguel Escorihuela Gascón, Blend 2002, By Bodega E Gascon,USD 50.

(Internationally sold as Presidential Blend) This Malbec based blend (85% malbec, 10% cab sau and 5% merlot with minor amounts of syrah) from Mendoza is a quite complex and attractive red. Well balanced, more red than black fuits, with some chocolate and smoke and clear long aftertaste. A bit of not nice acidity even the cork was o.k. You may get some sweet bell pepper but not dominant. Could it get better with some couple of years of cellaring? I´d say 90 points red and just a barely acceptable value to price.

Celador Malbec 2007 By Cielo y Tierra , Oscar award behind

El Celador, Malbec 2007, By Cielo y Tierra, Lunlunta District (Mendoza) ,USD 19.

Quite attractive malbec from Maipu Departament of Mendoza. Gustavo Santaolalla (Oscar winner for music of Brokeback Mountain and Babel) is one of the guys behind it (see Don Juan Nahuel malbec 2005, Jul 2010) and these are their first releases. Nice combination of fruit, ripe and juicy, mostly plum and blackberries, with soft vanilla and amazing coconuts in a Californian styled red. A bunch may not like it, but the most will pick it up as very attractive and likeable. I´l go 89 points for a malbec of 4-5 years cellaring with a good value to price.

Petite Fleur, Malbec bland from Uco´s and a family history behind

Petite Fleur ,Malbec blend 2008, By Monteviejo Bodega & Viñedos, USD 19.

Nice and round malbec blend from Uco´s Valley. Short at the end though ,what makes it not as good as you might imagine. Good acid black more than red small wild fruits typical of Uco´s. Hints of spices and smoke. Not wide in palate and actually short aftertaste wich is kind of deceptive. This is not what you expect of a Uco´s malbec of 2 years old for 20 bucks. I´d say 84 points and not a good price value after all.

Pura Sangre 2005, From Lunlunta district a good boy

Pura Sangre, Malbec bland, By Domaine St Diego, USD 19.

Malbec 80% from Lunlunta district of Maipu Departament by Angel Mendoza. Nice and rich blend with fruitiness all around but softly entangled with almost no oak at all. Round and elegant.Spiciness in a very delecate way. Quite short regrettably. Probably to enjoy before 4 years cellar I guess. A 86 points red and an acceptable value though.

Intimo Family Reserve 2009 from Bodega Canale, an attractive northpatagonian

Intimo Family Reserve 2009, By Bodega Canale, USD 19

A blend Malbec based from Rio Negro´s High Valley showing great typicity and attrativeness.Nice vanilla from the start off with a beautiful mix of black and red wild berries and also ripe cooked quince and plum marmalade.Quite wide in middle palate with good aftertaste. Good acidity and alcohol in balance with tannins and fruitiness. I´d say a wine for 4-6 years cellar and a 90 point malbec based red. Good value.

Blush Rose 2010, Fron Northpatagonia a good sweet and traditional value

Blush Rosé 2010, By Bodega Canale, USD 7

Nice soft red blend turned into rose that gives off sweet cherries and raspberries ripe and soft.Not very complex though but not over sweet either. Nice company to many finger food and a easy to drink rose.Young to drink young (less than 2 years). 80 points with good price value.

Graffigna Late Harvest Malbec 2008, acceptable quality from San Juan Province

Graffigna Malbec Tardio 2008 (Late Harvest). By Graffigna Wines, San Juan. USD 13 (500 ml)Good soft and balanced sweet malbec from San Juan Province in Northwest Argentina (close to mendoza).Stronger sun and hot summer give rise to a mostly fruity malbec with low acidity and a good opportunity fora late harvest. Nice fuits like plum and black cherries compoted and slightly smoked. Very delicate and soft bodied.Young to enjoy very young before die. Acceptable value for this 83 points

Barrandica, Blend 2007, Very good effort from Tunuyan, High lands of Mendoza

Barrandica, Malbec 2007, By Barrandica Wineyards, Tunuyan District Mendoza, USD 10.

Very good blend of Cab Sau, Merlot and Malbec from the high lands of Mendoza. Strong backbone of ripe and sour black fruits with very nice lactic acidity. Quite typicity from a vineyard of high Mendoza.Great middle palate and an comfortable aftertaste. Very well priced. A 88 points wine for 10 bucks makes it a very good value (it´ll be a good value even for 15 USD ) and better than most of `the same level´ most exported Argentina´s reds (I won´t say wich ones, just look around the blog or even better taste them).

Tomero Malbec 2009, a chance from Vistalba District

Tomero, Malbec 2009, By Tomero Wines (Carlos Pulenta Winery), USD 10

Vistalba district of Lujan de Cuyo´s Departament in Mendoza. Nice roud and easy to drink malbec. Notes of strawberries with raspberries soft and sweet. Good backbone oftannins. Very soft smoke and chocolate don´t disturb the good fruits in it. Young to drink less han 4 years old.Not concentrated but straight. Not memorable but typical and original at the same time from where was born. I´d say a 86 points wine with a very good value component.

Compare the 2008 vintage tasted younger. Actually a better year than 09.

http://argentinawinesrevisited.blogspot.com/2010/08/tomero-malbec-2008-beauty-from-vistalba.html

Rutini Cabernet Saubignon & Malbec 2007, tradition and quality up for grabs

Rutini Cabernet Saubignon & Malbec 2007, By Rutini Wines , USD 20

Very attractive ensamble for a red that combines wide palate, nice mix of ripe red and black fruits, soft envelope of oak (like chocolate) and good aftertaste. Mostly grapes from Maipu Departament. Enjoyable and to remember. I´d say 89 points red to cellar its best for 4-6 years. Not surprised if some gets better by 8 years. Very good value no doubt.

Otello Malbec reserve 2006, from perdriel a good value

Otello, Malbec reserve 2006, By Sottano Winery, USD 7-8

Nice malbec from Perdriel District in Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Mendoza.You go through cooked black fruits like plum and quince marmalade. Hints of blackberries and black currant with a bit, just a little bit of smoke and chocolate . Soft and gentle all through the palate. A young to cellar mostly the short term (drink young before 5 years old) .I´d say a 85 points malbec worthwile the price no doubt (good value).

Colome Tannat 2009, From Cafayate Salta a strange but something red

Colome, Tannat 2009, By Bodega Colome (Hess Collection), USD 23

Interesting red from Cafayate Valley, Salta. A high altitud wineyard (5,400 ft, 1700 mt) with nice red deep typical of there with notes of purple. Inviting nose that goes quite attractive in the palate mostly red cooked fruits in harmony with appropiate chocolate and smoke. Harmonic all palate with nice aftertaste. I´d say a `young to enjoy young´ wine of 88 points with a good value component.

Benegas Finca Libertad, 2005 From High Mendoza River a rolling Cab based blend

Benegas Finca Libertad, By Bodegas Benegas, USD 25

A blend a Cabernet Sauvignon with some Franc and Merlot from High Mendoza River. Good blend with dominant Cab Sau descriptors like red and green bell peppers, sweet and ripe.Nice dark fruits no very sour but likeable. Soft vanilla and smoke from oak. Nice balance. Not very attractivemay be because not having malbec in it. A wine to cellar 5-8 years with improving complexity. I´d say a 89 points winewith a very good value component.

Enclave Sur, Sauvignon Balnc & Semillon Late Haverst 2010, wow !

Enclave Sur, Late Harvest Semillon & Sauvingnon Blanc 2010, By Enclave Sur, USD 10

Wonderfull wine from Rio Negro Valley (Choele Choel district). A blend of late harvested Sauvignon Blanc 70% and Semillon 30 %. Nice remembrances of sweet grapefruit with mango and a hint of white roses that give place to a round winein the palate. Nice alcohol and acidity give body and pleasant endurance. I´d say a wine for cellaring not more than 2 years anda 88 points late harvest with very god value component.

Colección Malbec 2007, a great Patagonian and a great value in one

Colección, Malbec 2007, By Bodega Nqn , USD 19 Terrific Patagonian Malbec from San Patricio´s Valley ,Neuquén, Patagonia. Quite different from Mendoza´s malbecs. Dark red deep and fairly brilliant, which admittedly is not common in Northpatagonian wines where dominates deep red opaque shades. Complex nose with strong red sour fruits that gives place to a wide palate full of black cherries, blackberries, ripe plum and a hint of violets and dark roses. Pinch of smoky stuff and more chocolate. Very soft vanilla. Good memories aftertaste with nice alcohol and acidity. A wine for 6-8 years cellar and a 91 points malbec with great value component. One (if not the most) great values from Patagonia considering its quality and price.

Terrazas, Reserva Malbec 2008, typicity from Lujan de Cuyo´s and nearby Mendoza

Terrazas, Reserva, Malbec 2008, By Terrazas de los Andes, Mendoza USD 15 Elegant and balanced malbec with typical components of Lujan de Cuyo´s Departament. Nice nose and it opens up ripe black plums and dried figs with soft red sour fruits. Soft chocolate and smoke. Nice passage all trough the palate with yummy aftertaste. I´d say a 2-4 years cellar better, but some may go better by 5-7 years (as I tasted them before).By the way ; To note: this doesn´t seem the better quality Reserve that I´ve tasted before with improving complexity after 7 yrs. It looks like a younger vinyard and a less complex wine at the end. A 89 points malbec with good value component .

Lamadrid Gran Reserva Malbec 2005, not what it´s been said though !

Lamadrid ,Gran Reserva, Malbec 2005, By Lamadrid Estate Wines, Mendoza , USD 20Vanishing malbec with nice purple and deep red to the eye and a rather nice nose of ripe fruits and chocolate but decieving in the palate; Intriguing initial palate but oxidated and acidic all through. Preserved cork must say.A disbalanced and not nice wine at all. Better 2-4 years before? Don´t have a clue but now 78 points and a bad value.

Riglos, Gran Malbec 2006, a beauty rich from Tupungato

Riglos, Gran Malbec 2006, By Finca Las Divas, Uco´s Valley, USD 30
Beautiful malbec from Tupungato´s valley in Mendoza. Great black and less red fruits typical from Uco´s. Blackcurrant and berries dominate. Nice vanilla and cocoa all over but not over the top. Quite interesting equilibrium with fairly long aftertaste. No edge of disbalance and attractive sweet fruits from malbec. I´d say a 91 points wine probably better by 6-8 years of cellar. Great value.

Angélica Zapata Alta, Cabernet Frank 2004, delikatessen from High Mendoza

Angelica Zapata, Alta, Cabernet Frank 2006, By Catena Zapata, Mendoza USD 30
Probably close to Catena Alta series sold internationally. Beautiful blend from high vineyards with red more than black fruits ripe and nicely sour with a huge middle palate and a balanced end. Actually all the palate is complete, nice and wide initial and middle with likeable end. Soft smoke and chocolate. I´d say a wine worth cellaring 6-8 years with improving deepness. I´ll go 90 points for this very good value.

Estepa, Mistica Malbec 2005, By Bodega Estepa, Rio Negro, nice typicity

Estepa, Mística, Malbec 2005, By Bodega Estepa, Rio Negro Valley, USD 30
Nice malbec from Fernandez Oro, Rio Negro with good typicity and attractiveness. Sour red fruits ripe and wide in palate dominate. Good chocolate and coffee envelope from oak. No very long end of palate though. Nice balance. I´d say a red for 4-6 years with increasing beauty. I´ll go 89 points and a good value for the price.

Trumpeter, Malbec & syrah 2008 good value from Tupungato Valley

Trumpeter, malbec syrah 2008, By Rutini Wines, Mendoza, USD 10
Fifty/fifty blend from Tupungato Valley, Mendoza. Interesting blend known to give quite attractive wines (say Infinitus malbec & syrah from Patagonia) . This case shows sweet and balanced spiciness with touch of black fuits softly sour and just a hint of smoke. I´d say an 86 points red to enjoy up to 4 years at most without loss. Good value.

A Lisa, Malbec 2009, rich and full Patagonia

A Lisa, Malbec 2009, By Bodega Noemia, Patagonia, USD 30
Impressive malbec from Northpatagonia (Rio Negro Valley). Full of ripe sweet fruit like compoted quince and plum with a touch of red sour small fruits. Adorable chocolate from middle palate to aftertaste. Soft vanilla. A little bit over the top for fruitiness to my palate. Probable best somewhere 4 to 6 years of proper cellar. (I still remember that 2004 A Lisa tasted 2009 and wonderfully aged to a 94 points) I´d say a 90 points malbec with very good price value.

Filus, Reserve Malbec 2005, beauty from Lunlunta Valley

Filus Reserve Malbec 2005, By Filus, USD 15
Beautiful Malbec from Lunlunta Valley, Maipú departament, Mendoza. Nicely aged with sweet red and black fruits mostly cherries and blackberries. Soft chocolate from oak and wide middle palate with short but not deceptive end of palate. I´d say a wine for less than 6 years cellar and a 89 points malbec with nice balance and typicity from Lunlunta. Very good value.

Marcus Gran Reserva, merlot 2006, From Patagonia a great one

Marcus Gran Reserva, Merlot 2006, By Bodega Canale,Patagonia, USD 30
Wonderful merlot with sour cherries and a mix of ripe raspberries and quince & plum marmalade
Wide palate, mostly the middle . It grows clearly after 40 mins opened. Chocolate and vanilla softly mixed. I´d say a 90 points merlot with great typicity, probably more complex and deep in 6-8 years cellar.

Angelica Zapata, Cabernet Sauvignon Alta 2005, Int´l Catena Alta, beautifull bottle

Angélica Zapata Alta, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, By Bodega Catena Zapata , Mendoza. USD 30
Great Cab from different terroirs of Mendoza. Balanced and complex. Spicy notes of alspice.
Pimiento (roasted red and green bell pepper) with a great middle palate of ripe red and black forrest fruits mostly raspberries and red currant. Soft vanilla and chocolate. A wine for 6-8 years with better prospect. I´d say a 91 points Cab with very good value for the price.

Pasionado 2003 By Andeluna Cellars, wow value & quality from Tupungato

Pasionado, Grand Reserve 2003, By Andeluna Cellars, USD 48

Beautiful blend, malbec based, from Tupungato (Uco´s Valley) , Mendoza

Nice dark fruit sweet and sour with gentle tannins but fine and straight at the same time. Wide palate with nice aftertaste lingering a dozen seconds. This bottle somehow weak as I know others. One of the most trusted and consistente reds in the country. I´ll go 92 points with this great value.

Salentein Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, wow from Uco´s Valley

Salentein Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, By Salentein Wines, USD 13.

Beautiful balanced Cab from Uco´s Valley Mendoza. Sweet pimiento (green and red bell peppers) roasted and yammy. Typical black fruits, sweet and sour. Round and likable with an edge of chocolate and leather. Very drinkable and smooth to sip over and over. I´d say a 90 points Cab to drink friendly after 4 year aged (probably up to 8-10 years with some old guy virtuosity) and a great value no doubt.

Salentein Chardonnay Reserve 2009, From Uco´s Valley and more

Salentien Chardonnay Reserve 2009, By Salentein Wines, USD 13

Great Chardonnay from Uco´s Valley, Mendoza. Equilibrated mix of fresh crispy ripe peach with hints of pear and green apple. Soft minerality in it. Balanced end with a pinch of oak mostly wet wood (may be from brett though).I´d say a wine for less than 4 years to get the best out. I´d say a 89 points chard and a very good value.

De Angeles, Malbec 2007, clap clap outstanding ovation malbec

De Angeles, Malbec Reserva 2007, By Bodega 1924 Viña de Angeles , USD 43

Outstanding Malbec from Vistalba District of Lujan de Cuyo Department in Mendoza. Strong and fine fruit mostly balanced red & black ones with beautiful alcohol and acidity. Strinking balance and equilibrium with delicate and pulished end. Soft oak all over in tiny cover. Long aftertaste but better middle palate with great palette. A 93 points malbec with great value component. A malbec to enjoy 6-8 years with joyfull life.

Miras, Malbec 2006, timid effort

Mirás, malbec 2006, By Marcelo Miras, USD 23

Basic malbec from Rio Negro´s Valley in Northpatagonia. Good red but weak and unmemorable.

Not deceptive but you wont remember it. Soft structure with nice fruit but laking the vivid

brightness of a memorable red. Probably better when less than 2 years old but clearly a bad value though. A 79 points malbec.

Monteviejo Malbec 2007, a juice to go through

Monteviejo, Malbec 2007, By Bodega Monteviejo (Michel Rolland), USD 20

Quite attractive malbec from Uco´s Valley,Mendoza. Nice balance of fresh and ripe black fruit typical of high Uco´s with strong acidity yet smooth like great malbecs. The 15% alcohol won´t annoy anyway. To enjoy 5-7 years plenty of virtue. I´d say a 90 points malbec with

very good value component.

Wunn, Chardonnay 2009, a california styled good effort

Wunn, Chardonnay 2009, By Bodegas Chacras del Sol, USD 10

Califonria styled chard from Rio Negro´s Valley Northpatagonia. Golden bright with striking

aromas of ripe peach and coconut. Hints of pineapple. Buttery and balanced with a wide palate

ending in a bitter finish. Some mineral middle palate too. Attractive and seductive with good value price. A 88 points chard with good value no doubt unless you hate CA style.

Paisajes de Tupungato 2005, even with brett & TCA a very nice red

Paisajes de Tupungato 2005, By Bodegas Flichman, USD 30

Very nice blend from Tupungato´s Valley in Mendoza. Mostly Cab Sau and Malbec with some Merlot.Right off the cup some TCA that gradually faded away giving place to a nice sweet compoted fruit with some leather and wet wood suggestive of Brett. It goes through the whole palate with a brief but nice aftertaste.Round and balanced. Probably better without Brett. I´d say 90 points blend with very good value component.A wine to cellar 5-7 years without loss.

Monteagrelo Malbec 2007, beauty balance for a young babe

Monteagrelo, Malbec 2007, By Bodega Bressia , USD 30

Beautifull Malbec from Agrelo Distric of Lujan de Cuyo Dpt, Mendoza. Soft mix of ripe plum juicy and honey with cherry and a coconut and chocolate envelope.Somehow short but good aftertaste. I´d say a malbec to enjoy up to 5 years old. I´l go 88 points with a good valuecomponent.

Terrazas Chardonnay Reserva 2007, wow value

Terrazas, Chardonnay Reserva 2007, By Bodega Terrazas, USD 13

Beautiful Chardonnay green from the first sight. Likable compound of green apple,peach and pineapple with nice soft tosty and buttery notes. I´d say a 90 points chard withgreat value component no doubt. Very attractive and balanced without overexpressing component.