Mendoza

• Valle de Uco

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the best grapes of the original estate vineyard planted in the late 1990's by Jean Bousquet.  Purple in color, ruby at the rime, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight and takes about an hour to open.  Cassis, figs, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis, anise, slight tobacco.  Well balanced.  Long finish with firm tannins.  Made from organic grapes.  This is drinking well but will improve with good cellaring.  Wait a few years then drink over the next eight to twelve years.  A nice match with grilled steak or ribs. 

And now for something completely different...

I thought this was a step or two better than the 2019.  Either way, both are very nice values in Pinot Noir.  Very light ruby in color, clear and bright.  As an aside, I love Pinots that look so watery and wimpy and then, Boom.  Delicious.  The nose has cherries, slight cinnamon, Chervil.  Medium to full bodied.  Nice texture.  Light tannins.  On the palate, tart cherries and slight rhubarb.  This is still quite tight and just starting to open after 5 hours.  It could use a few years of cellaring or a six hour decant.  Drink over the next seven to ten years (probably more).  Nice on its own

A blend of 35% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc grown at 4,000 feet.  This is an organic wine with no additional sulfites added.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries.  Medium bodied.  Nice texture.  Little or no tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with a slight cough drop note which carries thru to the finish.  Also a slight root beer note at the finish.  This is an easy drinking wine that drinks well on its own and would be great with (veggie) Burgers.  Since this is made with no added sulfites, storage is critic

This is a sparkling wine made from 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay.  It utilized the Charmat method (trapping the bubbles in steel tanks) to make a lovely yet inexpensive sparkling wine.  Salmon pink in color with a steady stream of small bubbles.  The nose is nice with strawberries, rhubarb and slight cherries.  Full bodied with good acidity.  On the palate, this has tangy red fruit including cherries and strawberries.  Some depth.  Long finish.  At this price, a terrific value.  A nice wine for celebrations or for just enjoying.  Nice on its own, this is very food friendly and would go

An interesting Chardonnay from Argentina.  Grown at high altitude, and picked early, the label lists 75 calories in a 5 oz.

Another great value from this estate in Argentina.  Purple in color, magenta at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, char, dust and a slight Tootsie Roll™ note.  Lovely, chewy texture.  On the palate, cassis with some chocolate.  Light tannins.  Long finish with a slight mint note.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another five to eight years.  A nice wine to sit and drink on its own, but this will also work with food off the grill.  

Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, chocolate and fig.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, lovely plum fruit withy a bit of tobacco and slight spice.  Long, tannic finish.  This is drinking well but really could use another year or two in the cellar to integrate a bit.  The score should go up a point or two at that time.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with a burger or a pot of chili.  

A lovely blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, and 15% Cabernet Franc, the grapes were grown in selected old vineyards from the Uco Valley. The 2017 offers black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry notes, with back notes of pomegranate, tea leaf and rhubarb. The expressive fruit is mitigated by mellow acidity and tannic structure. Aged in French oak for 20 months, this wine is a reminder of the value and quality that Argentina as a whole delivers. ORIGIN: Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina. ALCOHOL: 14%

It’s safe to say Argentina’s signature red grape is Malbec. In the right hands Malbec can be a commanding wines, such as Trapiche’s offering of the 2018. This is a velvety smooth wine showcasing black cherry, huckleberry, boysenberry, red currant, and tannins that are mild, but noticeable. The judicious use of oak enhances the fruit, there are back notes of cedar, cocoa powder, and plum. This offers wonderful drinkability with slightly nuanced fruit, veering away from heavier, tannic and fruit forward wines.