Tag Archives: Mendoza

Pacheco Pereda Estirpe Organic Cabernet Franc 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

03 Friday Mar 2023

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Not quite opaque, this deep ruby Cabernet Franc has medium viscosity legs (14% ABV).  The nose has bright aromas- violets, black raspberry, bell pepper, vanilla, baking spices, black plums and an interesting purple twizzler note.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and crunchy tannins that are medium (+) in intensity.  A touch astringent- the mouthfeel leads to a medium-to-full body with flavors of black plum and raspberry, vanilla bean and oak spices.  The tannins really grip on the back end where they get a little more fine-grained.  On the initial push they were very raw and coarse.  This wine could use aerating methinks.  I like the finish, it’s pretty long in length and the florals that I got on the nose reappear alongside the dark red fruit and softening tannins.  I have been simmering a Port reduction sauce to go over some grilled Strip steaks, this wine is going to pair beautifully.  92 points from me for this $30 offering makes it a 5 star effort to drink till 2030.  Salut….

Phebus Torrontes 2021, Mendoza, Argentina

09 Monday Jan 2023

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Pale straw colored this aromatic grape has an intense nose.  Aromas of grape, orange zest, lemon, lime, florals and wet slate.  The palate is dry with cutting medium level acidity and a medium body.  Citrus driven with a hint of pith layered in floral notes make for a very delicious flavor profile.  The finish is quite long, concentrating on orange pith and lemon zest, the acidity doesn’t stop.  I like this wine- 90 points worth and for $14 it’s a 5 star porch-pounder that rings in at 12.5% ABV.  Get some in preparation for summer.  I would pair this with spice laden dishes, seafood or a crisp salad with grilled chicken.  Salut….

Mauricio Lorca Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Mendoza, Argentina

31 Monday Oct 2022

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Deep ruby/purple colored with a tinge of blue on the edges.  The nose gives me aromas of blueberry, açaí berry, plum, mint, candied black cherry and smoke.  Th palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins.  I get flavors of açaí, blueberry, charcoal, candied black cherry and plums from this medium to full bodied wine.  I also get some heat on the back end even though it only sports a 13.6% ABV.  The finish is short in duration and I get some charred oak notes along with the fading tannins and blueberry.  It’s a decent weekday wine that gets 87 points from me and for $11 it’s a decent value that gets 3 stars. Drink now with burgers, pizza or other family favorites.  Salut….

Dominio del Plata Susana Balbo Torrontes Late Harvest 2016, Mendoza, Argentina

16 Wednesday Mar 2022

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Torrontes is a very intriguing aromatic varietal that I really enjoy, so when I saw a Late Harvest (ie. sweet ) I could not resist.  It is medium lemon in color and has a watery sheen in the glass as expected for a 12% ABV wine.  The nose is incredible- pronounced aromas of honeysuckle, jasmine, lemon curd and rosewater.  The palate is sweet- full bodied and of medium (-) acidity.  The flavors are pronounced on the palate.  Florals, ripe citrus curd, rose and honeysuckle caress the mouth with a richness.  Served chilled, this wine is actually very refreshing and dare I say- easy to drink!  As a dessert wine I am thinking it would pair with poached stone fruit and vanilla ice cream.  For $30 it’s a great intro to something unique that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Ps.  I am drinking it as an aperitif.  Salut….

Carmelo Patti Gran Assemblage 2013, Mendoza, Argentina

27 Sunday Feb 2022

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The second red wine at the 25th Virtual tasting was from the same producer as the first bottle.  This one is a year younger and has been blended with Malbec, Merlot and Cab Franc.  A mix of new and used oak in the winemaking allowed us to compare flavors and aromas with a wine that relied mostly on used oak.

In the glass this blend is medium garnet, slightly less opaque than the Cab Sav we tasted previously.  Leather, tobacco, black currant, black cherry, blackberry and cassis aromas were quite evident on the nose.  The palate was dry, slightly tart with medium tannins, medium (-) acidity and light bodied.  Flavors of black currant, spice, leather, tobacco, blood/iron and orange marmalade but I did make a note that this wine was a touch ‘thin’.  Scoring it 91 points was a little off from the pros.  This $50 bottle gets 3 stars from me and only 14 marks on the tasting scale.  Drink now with lighter meat dishes.  Salut….

Carmelo Patti Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Mendoza, Argentina

27 Sunday Feb 2022

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The red wine portion of the 25th Virtual Wine Tasting was focussed on oak and it’s influence on wine.  I purchased this Cab Sav that the winemaker ages is used barrels as a baseline.  The single varietal coupled with old oak would give us a starting point to build from.  Here is what the group had to say:

Deep garnet with a touch of bricking on this 10 year old wine that was showing fine legs in the glass.  The nose had very obvious aromas of cherry Coke/Pepsi.  Black cherry, black raspberry, dark chocolate, leather, smoky, woodsy spice and bramble.  On the palate this wine was smooth with medium (-) acidity, medium body, very fine and well-integrated tannins with a decently long finish.  On the palate we got black cherry, dark chocolate, licorice, bramble, leather and what can only be described as ‘BandAid’ by one of the group.  I scored this wine 15 marks, and then later upped it to 17 once it had had a chance to breathe.  No further reports of that plastic component!  91 points for this very svelte $35 bottle gets it 4 stars in my book.  I would drink this wine all by itself- it’s at peak now.  Salut….

Matias Riccitelli Vineyard Selection Vinedo de Montana Cabernet Franc 2018,Mendoza, Argentina

04 Friday Feb 2022

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This Argentinian wine is deep, deep purple- like opaque and brooding in the glass.  The nose starts off with a vegetal note- green peppers, asparagus, grass.  I manage to coax blackberry, iodine, ripe blueberry and smoke with some vigorous swirling.  The palate is bone dry with pretty gritty tannins, medium acidity, full body and a mid length finish.  The fruit flavors start with black and blue berries and then some green veggies and black licorice, opposite order from the nose.  The oak influence is less noticeable on the palate but I still get a touch.  Iodine and an iron-like note kick in on the mid to back end.  This wine would pair beautifully with a juicy steak and some fried batatas.  It will cellar nicely till 2030 and gets 91 points from me.  The pros all went 94, which is stretch in my book.  At $40, it gets 4 stars.  Salut….

Parceleros Malbec 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

30 Tuesday Nov 2021

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Moxie and I went to a pre-theater dinner in downtown Philly.  The food was really good but the wine list was quite shabby, they offered 5 reds which retail in the stores for $12-18 per bottle and none got a rating over 86.  I was forced to choose one and settled on this Argentinian Malbec.  Here is my brief review:

Opaque, nose of crushed stone, plum, blackberry. Soft mouthfeel with lithe tannins, gentle acidity and medium intensity flavors.  Medium bodied with a medium length finish.  86 points.  Drink now.  $13 makes it a 3 star effort.  It was okay, just not great.  Salut….

Old Quarter Torrontes 2020, Mendoza, Argentina

10 Wednesday Feb 2021

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Medium shade of gold in the glass. On the nose it is floral and aromatic. Pineapple, papaya and pink grapefruit. On the palate – more papaya and some yellow guava. Lithe acidity makes for a rounded mouth-feel. The mid palate – more floral with honeysuckle, paperwhites and peach. It’s quite a complex set of flavors, but that’s what’s so nice about this varietal. It’s not your run-of-the-mill. The finish is smooth, fruity, and lacks the big bite from the acid, just enough juiciness. I’m looking forward to pairing this with my baked salmon and shallot sauce. 90 points and 5 stars for this $17 charmer. Drink until 2023. Salut….

Trivento Amado Sur Malbec – Bonarda – Syrah 2017, Mendoza, Argentina

11 Monday Jan 2021

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I harvested a Deer a few weeks ago and had the butcher make some Spicy Sausages. Having never tried them I was at a loss for a wine pairing until I came across this blend of Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah. I have had the Amado Sur before and this seemed the most likely candidate. Dark purple and totally opaque. On the nose I get candied strawberry and red licorice. The palate is a touch darker in the fruit department with black berries, dark cherry coulis and bitter plums. There is a whack of acidity to this wine but a medium serving of tannins. Perfect for my pairing, as Venison is very lean and we are pairing this with pasta and Vodka sauce, which is somewhat creamy. The mid palate is really juicy and I have quickly forgotten/forgiven that stlightly sweet nose profile which I really don’t care for. The finish ends abruptly but not before I get that bitter jab again. It’s an issue IMHO. Overall this is a decent weekday pop-n-pour and it serves my needs tonight. 87 points make this $14 wine a 3 star effort. Previous vintages that lacked the bitterness were better BTW. Drink till 2022. Salut….