Tag Archives: Argentina

Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2015, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

17 Thursday Aug 2017

Posted by in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


I have been a fan of Trivento for a while now and have reviewed several vintages of the Golden Reserve Malbec.  This one is particularly good and I am glad I bought a few bottles for the cellar.  I suggest you do too!  Almost inky in the glass, it is brooding and alluring.  On the nose I’m getting blackberry, sweet plums and a touch of cedar plank.  The palate is very much dominated by black fruits and a bold tannic attack.  The blackberry component really shines through on the midpalate with a core of tannins that grip the gums.  Acidity is present but the tannins are very fresh and dominate.  The finish is medium long with a jam component and some chocolate dust.  The ever present tannins do not taper off for a while.  This wine is young but drinkable now. It will last and develop for at least 15 years.  I’m thinking it needs a Portehouse steak with au gratin potatoes and a Caeser salad.  91 points and for $22, 5 stars.  Salut…

Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec

Puramun Reserva Malbec 2013, Uco Valley, Argentina

28 Wednesday Jun 2017

Posted by in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


A very purply purple, quite distinctive.  The nose is very fruity with plums, black berries and cedar shavings.  On the palate I get more black berries, but also some red currants and a vanilla bean component.  The mid palate has more of the black berries and some bracing acidity.  Tannins are very integrated and mild, when they appear on the tail end.  There is a slight bitterness to the wine that I find odd.  It’s not tannin related, which is unfortunately a distractor.  This wine is going to rock the Strip roast I am cooking in the smoker, along with some Artichokes and a tarragon mayo.  I am going with 88 points on this wine, which I paid $20 for.  A decent wine once past the bitterness.  It may just be me as it got 91-94 points from various pros.  It gets 2 stars from me unfortunately.  Salut….

paramount malbec

 

Bodegas El Porvenir de Cafayate ‘Amauta Absoluto’ Tannat 2016, Cafayate, Argentina

15 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


Pretty dark purple in the glass.  Nose of plum and blackberry, but it’s hard to coax the flavors as this particular bottle has been chilled.  The initial taste is more blackberry with some spice box.  The tannins are very subdued as is the acidity, which is atypical for this varietal.  I get tar and creosote on the mid palate, with some blackberry.  The finish is more black berries and some fig paste.  87 points for this $15 offering make it a 2 star wine.  Salut….

Proemio Malbec 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

30 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


A lighter shade of purple than I was expecting from an Argentinian Malbec.  On the nose I am getting blueberries and and fruit cake.  My initial taste is of blue fruits with very ripe mashed plums.  Strange, I know.  As the wine transitions to the mid palate I am getting a touch of tannins with a hint of dryness, some blueberry compote and a touch of spice box.  The finish has a flavor that I cannot even begin to describe, banana meets wet paper.  It is interesting, yet so unfamiliar.  I am not sure this wine is    what I was expecting.  It is a little disjointed, lacks a long term structure and is kinda meh.  86 points is all I can go, which is a shame as I am rocking a Porterhouse tonight that was begging for a hearty, tannic red full of bold flavors.  It got a monster 94 points from Ultimate Beverage Challenge, I’m just not seeing it, but for $11 it is a decent weekday quaffer.  3 stars only because the price is so good.  Salut….

proemio malbec

Riglos Gran Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Tupungato, Argentina

13 Saturday May 2017

Posted by in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Dark, brooding purple in the glass, no way to see through it. On the nose I get black currant, mint and vanilla. On the palate this wine is lush, full and tastes of black berries, vanilla bean and coffee. The mid palate is a seamless continuation with the introduction to some very fine grained tannins that leave the finish just a touch dry. This wine is really smooth, full bodied and delicious. Very well balanced if I might say so. A perfect match to any grilled meats, pasta. 91 points from me which is close to the 92 that the pro’s are going with.  I paid $25, but it normally retails for $35.  4 stars.  Yummy.  Salut….

Riglos Gran Cabernet Sauvignon, Tupungato, Argentina

Solo Contigo Affaire Reserva Malbec 2014, Mendoza, Argentina

24 Monday Apr 2017

Posted by in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


Dark purple in the glass, very dense.  The nose sports some really delicious aromas of blueberry, spice box and some oak.  I also get a whiff of twizzlers right at the end.

On the palate the blueberry theme continues, laced with a ton of tannins that leave the gums all dry.  The wine has some juicy acidity, which is needed considering the dryness I am encountering.  The blue fruits continue onto the finish, which is quite long.  A certain floral hint hits the mid palate that melds well with the berry component.  I am digging this wine and reckon it would really do well with Ribeye and roasted sweet potato rounds.  It begs for a fatty cut to offset the tannins, which are very tightly wound and help build the backbone of this wine.  I would drink till 2024.  90 points from me, but I just looked up my order and noticed it got 95 from Decanter, that’s a big score.  I paid $20, but it was on sale from $40.  3 stars for retail pricing but a 4 star effort for the sale price!  Salut….

solo continuo affaire reserve mallbec

Bodega Tapiz ‘Zolo’ Malbec 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

13 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,


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'

Chakana Maipe Reserve Malbec 2012, Mendoza, Argentina

13 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


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

Chakana Maipe Reserve Bonarda 2013, Mendoza, Argentina

18 Saturday Mar 2017

Posted by in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


I started drinking this with dinner before I took notes.   I was so impressed that I had to look to see if I had reviewed it already.  Not the case, so here goes.

Medium to dark purple in the glass bodes well for this Bonarda.  The variety is also known as Charbono in other circles.  The nose is beautiful, full and all about the cassis, dark plums and black cherry. The initial taste echoes the nose.  This wine is delicious.  Tar, cherry and cassis abound on the palate and carry through to the finish.  Tannins are gentle and balanced with a nice level of acidity.  This wine drinks great now and will continue to do so till 2022.  I paired it with stuffed peppers and a Turkey meatball pasta dish.  It worked well, but the real match is probably with a grilled lamb chop.  91 points from me but then again I love expanding my palate with off the beaten path varietals.  $16 and 5 stars from me.  Salut…

Maipe bonarda

Bodega Aniello ‘006’ Pinot Noir 2015, Rio Negro, Argentina

09 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,


When I see a wine on sale for $15 that got a 93 point rating then I am all in, especially a Pinot Noir. I bought this one without hesitation. My own notes are slightly different than the pros, could be bottle variation, age, or just my palate.

Very pale red and see through in the glass. Nose of pomegranate and cranberry. On the palate, much more body than I was expecting. Notes of strawberry coulis, violets and a touch of gaminess. The wine has some good acidity and freshness that I’m enjoying. The alcohol, at a reasonable 13.5% is somehow showing up on the finish. I plan on pairing this decent wine with some shrimp and grits… let’s see how that works. 89 points from me on this $15 offering make it a 3 star wine. Salut….

a niello pinot noir

Very pale and see through