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Tag Archives: Argentina wines

Bodega Tapiz ‘Zolo’ Malbec 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

13 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by caspernick in Wine

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$12, 2 stars, 86 points, Argentina, Argentina wines, Malbec, Mendoza


Disclaimer- this was served on a United flight (No one was hurt BTW).  For an airplane wine-  Dark and brooding in the glass.  Barely a nose due to cabin air and plastic cup but I’m getting black currants, plum tart.  At first I get plums, iodine and a dose of oak.  The mid palate shows off the rather dry tannins that balance out the acidity.  On the finish I sense mostly tannins, not much fruit.  Overall, an enjoyable airplane wine to go with my pasta and meatball.  86 points from me and I was able to find it for $12 which make it a 2 star wine in my opinion.  Salut….
Bodega Tapiz 'Zolo'

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Chakana Maipe Reserve Malbec 2012, Mendoza, Argentina

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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$13, 5 stars, 91 points, Argentina, Argentina wines, Malbec


Dark purple in the glass.  A nose of black cherry, black currants and plum.  A spice is there too, but I can’t pinpoint it.  On the palate, very juicy with plum jam, blackberry tort and cassis.  This is a very smooth wine that shows great fruit expression, silky tannins and a mild dose of acidity.  The mid palate has dark plums and the tannins start to dry the gums.  On the finish, another dose of plum and the final lashing of tannins with a taste of oak. 91 points is what I came up with but others only went 88. For $13, you cannot go wrong with this 5 star wine.  Salut….

Chakana Maipe Reserve Malbec

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Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2012

28 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by caspernick in Wine

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4 stars, 90 points, Argentina, Argentina wines, Malbec, Mendoza


Consistency is a very desirable trait in winemaking.  It gives me confidence in a winery and assures that I will be back for more, year in, year out.  Trivento is one of the best at this.  I have tasted several vintages of the Golden Reserve Malbec and love it every year.  The 2012 is drinking well now.  It started off with a dark purple hue in the glass.  A blossoming nose of plums and a hint of nutmeg welcomed me to taste the wine.  Blueberry compote came across on the initial palate and was followed up with more plums and a slight oak hint.  The wine is very ‘juicy’ with a crisp acidity that I really enjoyed.  Tannins were medium for me and made the wine easy to drink.  This vintage is approachable young and will certainly last another 5 years.  We ordered some Lamb Kebab sandwiches to go along, the match was perfect.  This wine will pair well with just about any meat, grilled or roasted.  I’m going with 90 points and 4 stars for this $20 effort from Argentina.  Ps. I bought several bottles and may go back for more, it’s just that good.  Salut….

trivento golden reserve malbec

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La Joya Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

28 Thursday Nov 2013

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$10, 4 stars, 88 points, Argentina wines, cabernet sauvignon


The label says that this is made by the Bisquertt Family Vineyard in the Colchagua valley, Argentina.  It tastes so different from other Cabs in the region, almost bordeaux-like with a sense of terroir and the old world components like cassis, clove and blueberry.  I thoroughly enjoyed it’s difference and character with some grilled beef and veggies.  The nose of this one had blue fruits and some lavender components.  The structure was built for short term enjoyment with easy tannins and basic acidity.  The price?  $10.  A steal if you have a hankering for something different.  88 points and 4 stars for sure.  This will please with grilled meats or by itself on a windy, chilly evening.  Salut….

IMG_0441

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Trapiche Malbec Oak Cask 2011

28 Thursday Nov 2013

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$10, 4 stars, 88 points, Argentina wines, Malbec


As the name implies, there’s lots of oak in this basic Malbec.  We drank it with charcoal grilled beef sweetbreads and it was a perfect match.  The charred edges of the food paired well with the oaky blueberry fruit and the tannins, although slight, agreed with the lightness of the dish.  The color of the wine was as expected and the nose was heavily oaked.  I’m all for the use of the wood as long as it is done deftly.  I knew what to expect with this one and was pleased.  Simple in structure, it was easy to drink and all the guests enjoyed it.  Reasonable at about $10, I would give this wine 88 points and 4 stars.  It was the juicy Malbec I was searching for the other night.  Salut….

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Zuccardi Serie A Malbec 2011

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by caspernick in Wine

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$20, 3 stars, 88 points, Argentina wines, Malbec


The second bottle ordered at our Argentinian dinner was this Malbec.  You can’t have Argie steaks without Malbec, they go hand in hand.  This one was the traditional inky purple as expected and gave off red fruits and fig compote on the nose.  The palate was different, more blackcurrants and cranberry with some mintiness mixed in.  I enjoyed this wine but have had better Malbecs and would look for more tannins and better acidity.  The big man himself gave it 90, I’m going with 88.  $20 at retail makes this a 3 star effort for me.  Salut….

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Trapiche Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by caspernick in Wine

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$15, 4 stars, 88 points, Argentina wines, cabernet sauvignon


This is not the cheap $8 version from this winery, we ordered it off the wine list at an Argentinian Steak House.  Paying about $35, I figure it should be about a $15 bottle.  Anyway, it was so good that we ordered a second bottle after giving a Malbec a try.  We started drinking this with the appetizers and it was great.  Bluish fruits and a dark cherry component mixed with the oak and gentle acidity made it very pleasing.  The wine is not complex, nor is it basic but it is very drinkable and we all enjoyed it.  The second bottle came with the Filet Mignons and was a great match.  Filet is low in fat and is very tender making it a good match for a slightly less tannic wine that is not as complex.   Overall, a good choice as evidenced by the group’s vote for more of the same.  I would give this 88 points and reckon it is a 4 star effort if it truly were $15.  Salut….

IMG_0429

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Tilia Malbec-Syrah 2012

18 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by caspernick in Wine

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$9, 3 stars, 85 points, Argentina wines, malbec-syrah


We tasted this wine next to it’s stablemate, the Tilia Merlot.  For me, Malbec is supposed to be very fruity, rich and sometimes jammy.  Syrah has a far greater flavor profile and draws a lot from the terroir where it is grown.  The combination of the two is somewhat bedazzling.  I can’t really enjoy the Malbec side, and the Syrah portion is not to my personal taste.  It does however offer up some decent fruit for the measly $9 price tag.

Darker purple than the Merlot, this wine had a more candied nose of red fruits.  On the palate, raspberry and earth with a touch of cafe’.  There was a slight sweetness to the wine, but nothing off-putting.  The tannic structure is decent as is the acidity.  I think I prefer my Malbec served straight up, no mixing.  Syrah is a wonderful grape by itself or in company with more traditional blends.  I  will look for the pure Malbec from this winery to see the difference, stay tuned.  85 points and 3 stars from me for this effort.  Salut….

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Tilia Merlot 2012

18 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by caspernick in Wine

≈ 1 Comment

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$9, 5 stars, 88 points, Argentina wines, merlot


Can you say QPR?  In essence, when taking cost into account this wine is a must try.  I paid $9 for it and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Reminiscent of right bank Bordeaux, the Merlot was round, fleshy and tasted of plums, chocolate and red berry.  A certain earthiness came though and the tannins were slight but present.  I found this wine to be a great basic wine with no faults and loads to offer.  We drank it pre-dinner and I reckon it would go well with pasta, steaks and pizza.  Not for cellaring, buy it by the dozen in case a party erupts, everyone will love it.  88 points and 5 stars from me for this Argentinian gem.  Salut….

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Alamos Malbec 2012

10 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by caspernick in Wine

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$12, 4 stars, 87 points, Argentina wines, Malbec


Cheap and cheerful for $12.  This is a must-have wine for everyday drinking.  It offers juicy Malbec flavors of plums, blackberry, vanilla and it does it all in an easy to drink style.  Slight tannins and juicy acidity give this a great party wine mouthfeel.  It handles pasta, burgers, steaks and just plain old pre-dinner drinking really well.  This winery is consistent and the wine can be found everywhere.  I am a fan and think it’s a  respectable 87 point wine worthy of 4 stars.  Salut….

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