Mendoza

• Valle de Uco

From Argentina.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, sour cherries and a bit of char.  With air a cherry candy note emerges.  On the palate, this has a lot of tannins (most unusual for a Pinot Noir).  Plenty of cherry fruit with some tarragon.  A bitter cherry note on the finish.  This is a unique take on Pinot most likely due to the soils but also the high altitude of the vineyards.  It should drink well for another five to seven years.  This will go well with Salmon or Tuna steaks off the grill.  

Screw capped.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is tight at first and took a couple of hours to open. Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has tart yellow grapefruits.  Slightly oily texture.  Long finish with just the slightest of bitter.  It drinks dry but has the mouthfeel that there will be some sweetness.  This works better with food at this point to balance the lovely acidity.  It would work well with swordfish or salmon off the grill.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

This is made from organic grapes in Argentina.  Screw capped.  Silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  Very reflective as it picks up the color of anything nearby.  The nose is initially tight, but with about an hour or air, opens nicely.  A bit of lemon/lime notes.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, much more open initially.  Concentrated.  The lemon/lime comes thru turning mostly lime on the finish.  Very refreshing.  Dry.  This was very popular and got better over two nights of tasting.  That said, it probably should be consumed over the next few years.  Nice on its own, this will work we

This is an organically grown, relatively inexpensive Malbec from Argentina.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries and baking spices.  With air, some black cherries.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit, some plums and a bit of char.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  This is a dry wine with just a perception of ripeness/sweetness. Good finish.  This will be a popular wine to serve at cookouts with burgers off the grill.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

This is a blend of 35% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc.  It is certified organic.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and slight char.  On the palate, medium to full bodied.  Raspberries and black raspberries.  Firm tannins.  Long finish.  This drinks easy with no bite.  Clean.  This drinks well now and should drink well for the next five to eight years.  Tasty on its own, this will work well with beef or pork dishes.   Really a tremendous value in organic wines.  

This is an inexpensive Malbec from Argentina that shows why they can be great value plays.  Purple in color with ruby at the rim.  The nose has dusty black cherries, slight black cherries and black pepper.  On the palate, this is medium to full bodied.  Firm, thick tannins.  The black cherries come out more on the palate.  This is straightforward and easy to drink.  It could probably use a year or so for the tannins to integrate more but if opening now, either decant ot let it breathe for a couple of hours.  This drinks well on its own but would work better with a bit of fat.  Either some b

Tasted at a natural wine tasting.  This is an interesting wine if not particularly something I wold want to drink again.  Purple/garnet/dark brown in color.  The nose is different.  Starting out with an earthy/musty note, it cleans up with air showing some red berries which in turn are followed by a sweet tart and bubble gum note.  Probably caused by carbonic maceration.  On the palate, this has a tingly quality that could be some trapped CO2.  It is very tannic for such a light bodied wine.  Black cherries and mushroom with an underlying damp earthiness.  Clipped on the finish.  This was s

A "natural" wine, whatever that means.  It is an unusual take on Chenin Blanc.  Tasted a wine store tasting, this was my second time getting an opportunity to try this and it seemed like it has improved (or this was a better bottle).  Lighter in color than a previous bottle, so perhaps the first bottle had been oxidized a bit.  Light gold, clear and bright.  The nose is different with cardamom, and orange pith.  On the palate, this has tart oranges.  Strong acidity.  12% Alc.  It finishes a bit salty which is different and probably makes it more food friendly.  It was priced at $12 on close

An Argentina blend that is 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Malbec, 19% Petit Verdot and 10% Tannat.  Purple/ruby in color.  This took some time to open and though not necessarily better on Day 2, it was different.  The nose is dust with cherries, plums and an herbal note (tarragon?).  On day 2, it went more to black and blue fruits.  The palate has black cherries and plums with underlying dry earth and baking spice.  On Day 2, again it picks up more plums but also blueberries.  Tannins really come out on Day 2.  This win should match well with grilled and roasted meats and other hearty foods. 

This is a joint venture between Rothschild and Catena to make a luxury wine.  Caro means expensive.  it is a blend of 50/50 Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with plums and black cherries.  Also some smoke.  On the palate, the black cherries predominate but also some plums over some charred wood.  It is ripe and a ever so faintly sweet which is probably just ripe fruit.  This will work with big meat dishes and certainly on its own.  Seems to be drinking well now if a bit young.  It should have the potential to mature nicely for a decade and