Valle de Uco

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

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%

I will admit that upon seeing the front label "Organic Kosher" (for Passover) from Argentina, I was a bit skeptical.  However, realizing it was made by Domaine Bousquet, my hopes were higher and sure enough, this is a very nice wine.  L'Chayim (to life)!  which is also what A La Vida means in Spanish.  Purple in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is light but nice with plums, cherries and slight pepper.  With air it become more pronounced.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, plums and some anise and ash on the finish.  A hint of sweetness.  Easily the best organic, koshe

An amazing value in sparkling wine!  This is a blend of 75% Pinot Noir and25% Chardonnay certified organic grapes from Argentina.  The Charmat method allows for the fermentation in stainless steel tanks to capture the carbonation.  Salmon pin/orange in color, clear and bright.  Lots of smaller bubbles.  The nose is very nice with strawberries, yeast (at the proofing stage), and minerals.  On the palate, this is crisp with light tannins.  Notes of fuji apples, strawberries and minerality.  Nice acidity.

This is another quality value from this Argentinian producer.  Made from a blend of organic grapes, it is 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir.  The Charmat method is utilized meaning that the bubbles are trapped in stainless steel tanks versus in the bottle.  While that does not have the tradition or "romance" of the Methode Champenois, to does allow for high quality wines at much more reasonable pricing.  And, this bottle is proof.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The wine is frothy on opening with lots of small bubbles.  On the nose, there are lemons, lemon peel, and minerals.  Good aci

This is an inexpensive Malbec that delivers way above its price point.  Grown at 3,000 feet in elevation, the concentration shows.  13.5% abv.  It was tight upon opening but with about thirty minutes of air, it showed very nicely.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at tfirst but opens to show black cherry fruit and baking spices.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is concentrated with black cherry fruit, baking spice and slight smoke.  A long finish.  This will benefit from a year or two in the cellar but if drinking now, open and let breathe f