Alto Valle de Rio Negro

Monday, April 11, 2011

Los Cardos Malbec 2009 from Doña Paula, a good under 10



Doña Paula, Los cardos, malbec 2009 By Doña Paula, USD 8



Lowest line red from this winery Ugarteche (Lujan de Cuyo) based in Mendoza. Nice fresh acid fruits mostly red plum and raspberries. Most like slightly cooked plum jam. Some boysenberries notes too. A pinch of other things like chocolate and smoke. Not complex neither persistent. Young to drink soon. Acceptable value for the price. Not highlighted as a usual Mendoza value. A 84 points malbec with acceptable value component.

Callia Alta shiraz & bonarda 2010. Not what it used to be




Callia Alta, shiraz & bonarda 2010, By Bodega Callia (Salentein Wines Family), USD 5



Fruity and vanilla driven red with a hollow palate. Hard to believe but deceptive in terms of nice promising nose with floral and fruity vanilla aroma followed by a thin and weak red.Some plummy and cherry edge sour and fresh. Vineyards located on San Juan (Tulum Valley). A 77 points red I wound´t buy it twice. This series was higher in quality years back (like 2003). Probably different vineyards ,who knows?

Astica, Merlot & Malbec by Trapiche Winery. To forget



Astica, malbec & Merlot blend 2010, By Trapiche, USD 4



At this cost level you may find quite wide inter year variability in quality. A shame or not this often happens.Thin palate of red fruits more like cheap merlot with only a hint of fresh black berries. Straight red with no overt nothing.I woudn´t go more than 75 points. A cheap red I´d drink if nothing else available including water. Great winery but extremely poor wine

Caballero de la Cepa, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 oak, acceptable even not a typical mendoza´s value



Caballero de la Cepa, Cabernet Sauvignon Oak 2009, By Finca Flichman, USD 9

 
Basic Cab with hardly any virtue other than barely drinkable. Some forrest red & black cherries mix balanced with a affordable peppery note.Good alcohol and enough acidity backup. A hint of smoke from oak contact somehow. Acceptable red but I wound´t look twice for it at the shelves. A 83 points barely worth the price to pay. It may stand alone for 4 years giving the tannins. Not a typical Mendoza´s value.

Ghirardelli, Sparkling Rose Nature, a fair price



Ghirardelli ,Sparkling Rose Nature, By Agrestis SA, USD 10 (75 dL)



Acceptable sparkling from Rio Negro. Pale red with nice ultrafine bubbles.Nose attack resemblant of red fruits.A timid shade of pears and melony notes giving fast place to a bitter and acidic backbone. Some may like it even I think its not easy neither friendly to drink. Its not complex anyway. I´d say a 84 points sparkling with fair price though not a typical argentina´s value.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Antucura 2004, Vistaflores Blend to keep it longing in the memory



Antucura 2004, cabernet sauvignon & Merlot blend, By Caviar Blue , USD 45



A single vineyard from Vistaflores, Tunuyan, Mendoza,blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Wonderful red with impressive tannins and complexity. Dark and ripe black plums and blackcherries long cooked with sour and sweet taste. Attractive chocolate and coffee edge give roundness. Soft eucaliptus hint. Slowly finishing aftertaste. Strong and brave backbone ready to evolve even better next 4 years. A 95 points blend and a great value too. A wine to remember and re enjoy in your memory. I haven´t tasted any Vistaflores better than this one.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Norton Bonarda 2010, you won´t be misleaded



Norton, Bonarda 2010, By Bodegas Norton, USD 4



An easy and light red although keeping the basics of a Mendoza´s Bonarda. Soft red cherries with little sour edge and a plummy note delicate and enough to taste it. Just lasting what the palate passage lasts. A peacefull moment with a light yet well grounded red to enjoy a Bonarda. Coudn´t avoid to mention any savory pasta or pizza dish alongside. A 82 points red with gentle and adequate price to keep the join at low cost.Two to four years old may be wellcome.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Las Perdices, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, great value & quality meeting part 3



Las Perdices, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, By Viña las Perdices (Bodega Juan Muñoz Lopez) USD 10



A beauty from Agrelo District in Lujan de Cuyo, Central Mendoza. All the virtues of a great value Mendoza gives. Nice black fruits wild and ripe with chocolate and a nice toach of pepper and spiciness to make it complex. Wide palate with a toach a red fruits in the middle typical of some vineyard altitudes (like 800-900 mts). To enjoy all the way from nose to aftertaste and vice versa. A 90 points red to cellar 4-6 years and get the better. Great value for sure to this meeting part 3

Tapiz Malbec 2008, great value & quality meeting part 2



Tapiz Malbec 2008, By Fincas Patagonicas, USD 10



Great Malbec blending different terroirs of central Mendoza. Beautifull mix of fresh ripe black fruits like blackcherries and plum with better envelope of chocolate dark and smooth. To enjoy from nose to aftertaste in whatever secuence you may pick up.
Balanced and gentle even well structured. A 90 points malbec with an unbeatable price/quality relation (like the other two of the series 'meeting´).Best after 4 years cellar to capture more complexity.

Vistalba Corte C 2006, great value & quality meeting part 1



Vistalba Corte C 2006, By Finca & Bodega Vistalba (Carlos Pulenta), USD 10



A great Mendoza´s value. Few wines around the world meet quality with terroir typicity at a 10 bucks level like this (same virtue for the last three posted: Las Perdices Cab Sav 2008, and Tapiz, malbec 2008). Elegant blend malbec based with velvety palate of ripe black fruits in a attractive balance with chocolate. Nice complexity and equilibrium with alcohol and acidity. A 90 points blend and a great value to enjoy the best in between 4-6 years age.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Calvulcura 2003 and Finca La Anita 2002 two contrasting values and two terroirs


(Tasted on July 2010)


Calvulcura, merlot & malbec 2003, USD 18



Nice blend from high Uco´s Valley ,Mendoza.
Probably close to plateau ending. Nice palette at the nose with red rose perfume and red berries. It covers the palate at the early and middle parts. Short aftertaste though. Nice young oaky stuff like vanilla and sweet cinnamon. May notice some plum jam too. I´l go 89 points with a very good value.






Finca La Anita, Malbec 2002, USD 30


Wonderful Malbec from Agrelo District of Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza. Beautiful fruit broad in the mouth with cherry like and raspberry too. Less plum and quince jam. Just soft smoke and choco envelope barely percived. Long lasting enyoyable. A delicate yet terroir driven malbec. I´woudn´t go less than 91 points for this very good value.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Mumm Domaine, a good son of San Rafael. The type of champenoise you call for more easily




Mumm, Domaine Sparkling Wine (NV), By Bodegas Mumm (Pernod Ricard), USD 15


Quite likable sparkling made of Chard and Pinot Noir from San Rafael Departament South Mendoza.Honney sweet aroma with nice peach and ripe apples. The palate is gentle and straight. Nice toasty edge to round up the complexity.Good aftertaste to enjoy.It doens´t have the green apple and acidity of many Champagnes. A sparkling of 90 points with a very good value. A good example of San Rafael´s quality sparkling wines.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Surcado Reserva Malbec 2007, wow value and quality




Surcado, Malbec 2007, By Lina M Gallardo (Bodega Herencias del Sur), Mendoza, USD 12



Absolutely great malbec for no money at all. I know the winemaker but the label doesn´t give much information at all. Great balance of black ripe fruits with a beautiful toast and chocolate surrounding. Boysenberries, blackcherries, less plum than usual all in a perfect acidity and alcohol edge. The beauty and balance are astonishing. A 93 points malbec to enjoy its vivid life for 6 years easily.






The winemaker is Gustavo Agostini, former chief winemaker at Bodega NQN. Sometime team partner in Salentein Wines and now SR chez at Sparklings in Moet Chandon Mendoza.


Durigutti Malbec 2008, a signature malbec with standard Mendoza´s Malbec beauty




Durigutti, Malbec 2008, By Pablo & Hector Durigutti, Mendoza 2008, USD 12



Good malbec with nice balance and all the stuff to enjoy easily. A signature wine with mendoza´s tipicity. Dark fruits ripe and sweet with a round chocolate. All in a polished edge of a nice alcohol and sourness. A wine of 89 points to enjoy before 4 years cellar with a very good value component. This type of Malbec made Argentinas´s Malbec a great value.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Doña Paula Estate, Malbec 2009, somehow a typical Mendoza´s malbec blend but I wound´t buy it twice





Doña Paula Estate, Malbec 2009, By Bodega Doña Paula, USD 14
The winery s located in Ugarteche District of Lujan de Cuyo Departament, central Mendoza. The vineyards are in Ugarteche and also higher in Uco Valley.
This malbec is juicy and sweet with ripe black fruit like cassis and blackberries. Some plum jam adds up even more sweetness. Nice chocolate and toast rounding the backbone. A good middle palate tone with adecauate finish even not long. I wound´t go more than 86 points with richness like now for less than 4 years cellar. Even though we talk about a typical and nice malbec I feel it a bit expensive for the standard. Well expressed but not attractive to my palate. I find hard to buy it twice.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Lassia, Pinot Noir 2009, stereotypical Patagonian at a gentle price.





Lassia, Pinot Noir 2009, By Bodega Patriti, San Patricio, Neuquen ; USD 9



Good son of Northpatagonia. Plenty of strong backbone tannins with sour fruit of boysenberries and mince jam perfume. Quite different from Mendoza´s standard of sweet round fruity style. The palate wont´ feel it harsh. Its attractiveness goes in discovering its layers and deepness. This Pinot goes 86 points for a young and ripe red but probably nicely mature after 4-6 years.Very good value too.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Don Nicanor Malbec 2009, a fast drinking malbec





Don Nicanor, malbec 2009, By Nieto Senetiner, USD 15



A malbec from Agrelo district of Lujan de Cuyo Departament, Mendoza.Striking purple shade.Aroma of violets and plum fresh and young. The palate is balanced with sweet tannins and filling well the initial part.Soft chocolate too. It fades away soon after a short middle palate.
The wine is nervous and fast expressive all at once. If this initial palate disappear with maturity the wine will turn flat and evanescent. So to enjoy young (kind of before 4 years) in a fast drink situation and I don´t know if worth it 15 bucks. I mean for 15 bucks you may find pretty complex malbecs around.
A 84 points malbec out of price level for 15. I remember previous vintages with similar struture and far more oaky which didn´t mean more attractive.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Numina 2007, high quality and value at a second line level




Numina 2007, By Salentein Wines, USD 25-30
A very good blend malbec (85%) based with a toach of merlot from Tunuyan, Uco valley, Mendoza. The blending of malbec with a splash of merlot is frecuently made to widen the palette of fruits and tannin toward a more sour and red flavor. This is the case here. Nice mix of fruits with a counterbalance of sourness to the more compoted and cooked quality of malbec fruits. Good chocolate and vanilla too. Very smooth and velvety with a nice persistence.Not as complex as 2005 vintage in terms of herbal and spicy notes. A 92 points red probably best after 6 years cellaring. A very good value too. 

The 2005 vintage was more delicious. Here the cellar factor may be the key.

Salentien Primus Merlot 2004, a supervalue





Salentein Primus, Merlot 2004, By Salentein Wines, USD 40-50 (overseas, in Argentina USD 100)



Great Merlot from Tunuyan, Uco Valley. Still not yet the best moment in maturation. The wine has strong and vivid tannins with a long persistence in memory once passed through the palate. Quite sour black fruits like boysenberries and plum. Many little black forrest berries like cassis and blackberries.A hint of allspice and mint.The chocolate and vanilla are smooth and delicate. No overexpression in any component. Just superbalanced.A wine to enjoy its best after 8 years of proper cellar. I´d say a 94 points merlot now in time. Lets see down the road. A supervalue.

I liked more the 2003 vintage probably because of both: the vintage richness and a longer cellar maturation. 

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Espiritu de Argentina, Malbec Gran Reserva 2006, From Rivadavia Dpt , an acceptable value





Espiritu de Argentina, Malbec 2008 (gran reserva), By Bodega Monte Real,USD 9



A Malbec from Rivadavia Departament, Mendoza.
I.P. Mendoza (Indicacion de Procedencia) means a legal certification of source (this case anywhere in Mendoza). A fair malbec with wide middle palate in red fruits like cherries well balanced in freshness and ripeness. Not complex neither delicate. Some vanilla and chocolate to enrich the medium boby tannins. A 85 points Malbec with a good value component at less than 10 bucks.


There is another wine named ´Espiritu de Argentina´ but from Tupungato (Uco valley) and sold at around 15 bucks. Not the one I´m tasting now.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Reserva del Fin del Mundo, malbec 2007, a creole in Patagonia





Reserva del Fin del Mundo, Malbec 2007, By Bodega del Fin del Mundo, USD 15



A malbec from San Patricio Valley, Neuquen Province, Northpatagonia.
Quite balanced malbec with a typical sour red cooked cherries and a wide middle palate. Not complex though. Not strong as usual but  rather delicate for a Patagonian. Light notes of chocolate and toast. A malbec of 88 points with good life for 4 years or so.It may get interesting terciary notes after 6 years old though. Good value but I´d buy it twice if 12 bucks price.So I feel it a little bit, just a little bit overpriced.

Trumpeter Reserve, Blend 2007, Beautifull delicatessen




Trumpeter Reserve, Blend 2007, By Bodega La Rural (Rutini Wines), USD 15



A blend of Tempranillo, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon (even share of each) from Uco Valley,Mendoza.
Wide palette in the palate that makes this red quite interesting and attractive. Ripe black fruits with a cooked quality of compote.From smooth peppery to quince and plum you get an interesting middle palate. Soft chocolate and a hint of vanilla too.It pays what it costs. A 89 points red with a type of tannins to evolve well for 4-6 years for better. A good value. I´d buy it twice easily to make friends or my self happy at a confortable reunion.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Los Leones, Malbec 2008, standing ovation for this 9 bucks bright malbec





Los leones, malbec 2008, By Salentein Wines, USD 9



A supervalue for 9 bucks from Tunuyan, Uco valley, Mendoza.
A must try for the value and quality given. Nice structure malbec with friendly and at the time straight tannins. You get adorable fruit mostly cooked cherries and plum and an edge of vanilla and chocolate quite completing the roundness. Just mildly complex enough to keep it in memory up to the next sip. A malbec to enjoy in its 2-4 years old age. A very good value,like you will take it home twice and trice too. A 86 points malbec.


This Holland winery in Mendoza delivers great values at every price level you may pick, lets say 4-5 USD (Finca Portillo), 8-9 USD (Los Leones) 10-14 USD (Salentein Reserve) and 40-100 USD (Primus, Numina). Recently they changed winemaker chief, so lets see what follows.

Lavaque , Colección Varietales, malbec 2009, a nice compromise for 4 bucks !!



Lavaque, Colección Varietales, malbec 2009, By Viñas de Altura S.A., USD 4




Nice Malbec from San Rafael Valley, South Mendoza. Alcoholic but fruity and with friendly tannins. Good typicity for Malbec with wide and soft middle palate mostly red cherries and plummy. A wine to enjoy young and freshy like within 2-3 years born. No oak whatsoever clearly expressed. A 82 points malbec with more than nice value price. Given the strong alcohol basement it will match pretty well with sweet and sour or spicy mixed food like thai or indian dishes.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Andeluna , Chardonnay 2010, a great value from Uco Valley




Andeluna Chardonnay 2010, By Andeluna Cellars, Uco Valley, Mendoza, USD 10




Beautifull Chard from Tupungato with a green and withe fruit driven backbone in nice soft balance with buttery and cocconut elements.You may even say its got more of a Sauvignon Blanc than a traditional Chard given the grapefruit edge in the initial palate.Medium body excelling a balance with white flowers and some dominant green apple ripe and nicely acid. Soft white peach too. The middle palate may even give some minty eucalyptus with peppery note very soft and delicate. This exotic note adds up attractiveness.
I´d say a 89 points Chard to enjoy best before 4 years old and a great value.

Marcus, Malbec 2010, a good Patagonian starting point for no money et all




Marcus, Malbec 2010, By Bodega Canale, Rio Negro, Patagonia, USD 6




Good Malbec from Rio Negro, Northpatagonia. A balanced mix of fruit fresh and sour with nce alcohol. Not concentrated but reasonable so for the price.Nice as a table wine with a honest structure and easy palate. A 82 points mabec with good ratio to price.A wine to enjoy before 2 years born with friends talking along and grasping only a bit of patagonian character. Not colorfully expressive but typical and friendly.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Fabricio Oberto, Malbec 2007, to...forget

 


Fabricio Oberto, Malbec 2007, By Bodegas Alta Esperanza, USD 10




A poor malbec from Catamarca Province with only a bunch of elements not integrated in a fine malbec. Nice oaky chocolate and vanilla but it feels like diluted and unstructured. If you go to Alta Esperanza Malbec in February the quality and price value are the opposite. An 79 points malbec to forget (not forgive). Context and a very personal taste may transform this malbec into acceptable. I wound´t buy it twice for sure.

Doña Paula, Seleccion de Bodega, Malbec 2006, a malbec to dicover but bad value price ratio




Doña Paula, Selección de Bodega, malbec 2006, By Viña Doña Paula, USD 40




A concentrated and potent malbec made of blending Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley Malbec vineyards. Sweet ripe red cherries with nice alcohol and acidity. Good vanilla and black plummy notes too . Minty or eucalytus scent usual in some Uco´s reds (not necessarily malbecs). Wide middle palate and a nice aftertaste. A malbec of 89 points. I feel it too expensive given the standard around.You may get much better complexity and elegance at that price level. A Malbec to cellar 6-8 years to discover better. I´d buy it again many others rather than this one. Sorry but not a great Mendoza´s value.

San Pedro de Yacochuya 2007, from cafayate and Rolland and to forget this time




San Pedro de Yacochuya 2007, By Yacochuya S.A., Cafayate Valley, Salta, USD 30




A blend malbec based from cafayate Valley (1,700 mts, 5,000 ft). Strange red with ripe grape aroma and palate. Sweet and gentle but it doesn´t taste fine or delicate, even more so given the 30 bucks.Some chocolate and vanilla from oak not very impressive.It tastes like must not mature wine. It barely reaches 75 points. Bad value . I tasted previous vintages and were quite different overall.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Intimo Malbec 2009, this time a better value and quality wine





Intimo, Malbec 2010, By Bodega Canale, Rio Negro, Patagonia, USD 10




You may find a good palette of nice flowers and sweet mature tannins in spite of the young age by vintage.Well cooked quince and red sour berries wih a beautiful vanilla at the beginning and chocolate at the end.Attractive balance only lacking some concentration typical of a Northpatagonian. However better global attrativeness than the 2008 & 2010 vintages. A 87 point malbec with good value component. A malbec to enjoy 4-6 years plenty of life.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Picada 15, Malbec 2009, what a northpatagonia malbec say




Picada 15, Malbec 2009, By Bodega Nqn, Neuquen, Northpatagonia, USD 6
Nice and potent (compared to Mendoza´s) Malbec from San Patricio Valley.  A hint of red roses aroma begins the show. Sweet red cherries with softly emerged chocolate and vanilla  and a clear acidity & alcohol make this red adorable..Short end although enough aftertaste to step forward another sip. I´d say a 86 points malbec with a very good value component to price. To enjoy less than 4 years young and delicate 

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Otello Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, an unappropiate winery answer to a single consumer






















Otello, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, By Bodega Sottano,USD 10
I guess it could have been a very good Cab from Perdriel District in Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza.
(agrelo,vistalba and perdriel are the best districts of Lujan de Cuyo for mendoza´s malbecs) I bought a six bottle case and all of them were corked. After a closer look the synthetic cork was the maximal source of anisole odor. Again after a while the red came up clearer and showed some interesting notes of black cherries and boysenberries with nice peppery and herbal notes.This spoilage halted any further evaluation. The point to mention is what the winery´s consumers relation guys told me: sorry. And on top of that they blamed on the dealer for the spoilage. Unbelivable. Unfortunately it´ll take some time to try again this winery´s bottles. The correct answer would have prevented this negative prospect.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Canale Classico, a table wine for good riddance




















Canale Classico, By Bodega Canale, Rio Negro, Patagonia, USD 3-4 (no vintage)
Nice red blend pinot noir & merlot based. Cherry red brilliant and freshy fruity aroma right off the cup. Good mouth feeling with enough acidity and alcohol. Good value for a table wine with typical Patagonian character. A 79 points red. Its a basic red, well done and balanced, also nice character in it.

Tierra de Luna, malbec 2010 By JF Lurton, a good Tunuyan boy






Tierra de Luna, malbec 2010, By JF Lurton, Tunuyan, Mendoza, USD 8




Good Tunuyan Malbec by a Uco Valley based French winery. Atractive mix of sour plum and cherries with sweet tannins. Good acidity and alcohol make it round and mouth filling. You enjoy every sip. Equilibrated all palate passage.No a great neither an unforgetable malbec A malbec with typicity for Tunuyan and gentle. I´d say a 85 points red with good value for the money payed. To enjoy before 4 years at its best.

Primus Malbec 2003, one of the top 10





Primus, malbec 2003, By Salentein Wines, USD 52
Astonishing Malbec from Uco Valley (Tunuyan),Mendoza. A high altitude vineyard (1,100 mts or 3,600 ft) gives this exceptional vintage. A Malbec ripe and showing all the virtues a high quality Malbec may give. Ripe cherries and jam of black plum. Almost perfect equlibrium of chocolate,tabacco with vanilla and all the fruit. It may get even better the next few years. I prefer this point in time, where fruit and maturity balance each other. I don´t enjoy more a terciary dominant wine. This is a 95 points malbec with unbeatable value for the price. A close to perfect Tunuyan Malbec and one of the best Argentina´s.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Calypso, Malbec 2009, an unbeatable value





Calypso, malbec 2009, By Monteviejo, USD 10
Great value malbec with all the virtue of Vistaflores, Tunuyan (Uco valley), Mendoza.
Close to perfect balance of fresh fruits with nice acidity and alcohol.Plum, blackberries, boysenberries altogether ripe and fresh. Quite attractive dark chocolate and vanilla. An inviting wine to enjoy 4-6 years plenty of yought. I wound´t go less than 93 points with this malbec. An unbeatable value for the price.


Re-tasted by the end of November 2011 with consistent values. Let air for half an hour to open up the virtues. Like few times in Argentina´s wines this one leaps 2-3 points ahead after a while open.

Diamandes, malbec Gran Reserva 2009, a good value for a high quality malbec





Diamandes, Malbec Gran Reserva 2007, By Bodega Diamandes, USD 35
Very good Malbec from Tunuyan, Uco Valley, Mendoza.
Atractive wine from the bordeaux shade first contact. Beautiful balance of fresh fruits mixed with dominant cooked plum and marked chocolate and vanilla from oak barriques. Strong alcohol percieved that goes a little akward to my palate. All in all good balance and a very good wine. I´d say a 91 points malbec which could be enjoyed 6-8 years of proper cellar. A good value.

Pura Sangre, 9 Lunas 2009, I don´t feel it worthy





Pura Sangre, 9 Lunas 2009, By Domaine St Diego, USD 30
Nice Malbec 80% & Cabernet Sauvignon 20% from Lunlunta district, Maipu Departament, Mendoza. Balanced fruit, mostly sour and sweet with a touch of itchy movement in the tong´s tip that bothers me a little bit. Nice chocolate and toast too. Not very attractive. I would´t go more than 85 points. I don´t feel its gonna get any better by cellaring. No good value. Not a bad wine but it doesn´t seduce me nor get I what I´d expected from this winery.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Saurus, Malbec 2008, a good and beauty Patagonian






Saurus, Malbec 2008, By Familia Shroeder, USD 9


Attractive Malbec from San Patricio Valley, Neuquen, Northpatagonia.
Sour red cherries and plum with quite evolving chocolate and hot alcohol. Not very complex rather than straight and potent. All virtues of a typical Northpatagonian Malbec. Not the delicate structure and softness of mendoza. The natural potency is what I feel the winery should keep expressed in a terroir wine (lets say any wine!). It looks like you may enjoy this malbec for
4-6 years with some increasing maturity and so forth more terciary notes. I´d say a 85 points malbec with very good value for the price. Good Patagonian.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Trapiche Malbec Oak Casc 2009, a typical Maipu value





Trapiche Malbec Oak Casc 2009, By Bodega Trapiche, USD 10


Nice and delicate Malbec from Maipu Departament in Central Mendoza. All the simplest thing together make a good and easy enjoyble malbec at hand. Ripe fruity notes mostly red cherries and black plum fresh and bright. Only hints of chocolate. No minty or spiciness found in more concentrated and high lands malbecs of mendoza. The ´primera zona´(Maipu & Lujan de Cuyo Dpts) gives this typical Malbecs with enjoyable balance and elegance in a very good value price. A 86 points Malbec to cellar less than 4 years for the best.
To learn more about the winery go to Argentina Wines: http://www.winesofargentina.org/