Mendoza

• Valle de Uco

Cheval des Andes is a joint project between Château Cheval Blanc, of Saint Emilion, Bordeaux and Terrazas de los Andes, of Argentina.  It is a blend of 60% Malbec and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, coffee and sandalwood.  Lovely texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis, plums, milk chocolate with some char.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is young and could use so more time in the cellar although it is drinking well today.  Hold for a few more and then drink for ten to fifteen after that.  Great on its own, it needs so

Malbec has become Argentina’s signature grape, and this South American country does very well with it. This value wine shows off how good Malbec can be at various price points, proof you don’t need to break the bank for a good bottle of wine. It offers huckleberry and blackberry, and there’s an earthiness to this wine, with solid acidity and oak aging that supports the fruit. The finish is a little thin, but when paired with food, as all good wines should be, that becomes less of an issue. ORIGIN: Mendoza, Argentina. ALCOHOL: 14.5%

This is an unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina.  It provides excellent value.  Screw capped.  Ruby/purple in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, and sandalwood.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with slight minty note especially on the finish.  This wine delivers a lighter, but present, style of Cab that would be great for Cookouts or other parties.  Drink over the next three to five years.  A good wine to pair with Burgers off the grill.  

This is a really great value for a nice, easy to drink Chardonnay.  Made with Organic grapes and coming in at 12.5% ABV.  Screw capped.  Pale gold in color with slight green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens with some air. Slightly viscous and slightly oily texture.  On the palate, this is more open with grapefruit notes.  Long finish with strong grapefruit notes.  Good acidity.  This drinks very well on its own and is also food friendly with lighter foods.  It worked with with stuffed grape leaves.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is an organic Kosher wine and before you start snickering, this is also really good!  Purple in color with slight magenta hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with boysenberries and plums.  Smooth texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, plums and boysenberries with slight underlying earthiness.  Long finish with an almost minty note.  This is very tasty on its own and will work well with slow cooked meats.  Brisket, anyone?  Drink over the next five years.  

This was my favorite of the Virgen lineup of wines recently tasted and seemed a step up from the 2020 Organic Malbec.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has sweet black cherries, some plums, some currants and a slight earthy note.  Nice  lush mouthfeel.  Firm tannins.  Great balance and energy.  On the palate, black cherries and plums with some depth.  Long finish.  Tremendous value.  It drinks great on its own and will work well with meats and fowl off the grill (and, veggies too).  Drink over the next three to five years.  

This was my favorite of the Gaia lineup tasted.  Purple in color, ruby at the edges, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, slight cherries, slighter cranberries with char.  Firm tannins.  Nice texture.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this is very concentrated.  Plums and dark cherries with some underlying char and earth.  Long finish.  Delicious wine.  Great value.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with roasted chicken or meats.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

Another great value from Domaine Bousquet made from organic grapes.  Carnet in color, purple at the core, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, coffee and smoke.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, cassis, black cherries with some depth.  Fresh and energetic.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and would work well with a steak off the grill.  Drink over the next five years.  

This is made from organic grapes in Argentina.  Ruby in color, flat, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black pepper and some char.  Mice mouthfeel.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru along with some plums and underlying char.  Long finish.  Overall, a very solid Cab and a terrific value.  It drinks well on its own and would be great with burgers or ribs off the grill.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

Cabernet Franc can be tricky to grow, making sure it is ripe enough to minimize the green flavors while still preserving the green pepper and tobacco notes that make this grape so delicious.