Wines
of the Week: Great Buys from Argentina
If
you're a wine lover on a budget, then exploring wines from Argentina
could make you very happy. Vintage after vintage, there are
quality bottles at great prices. They do tend to be earthier
and less fruit forward than domestic offerings, but if you like
a drier style, then there's much to love. Here are three really
good values our panel tasted recently:
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Santa
Julia 2015 Mountain Blend
Winery:
Santa Julia
Grape(s): Malbec & Cab Franc
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Year:
2015
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
Dark berries and plums mingle with suggestions of vanilla
and flowers on the nose. Blueberry, dark cherry, and blackberry
flavors take shape on the palate, accented by earth, anise,
and violets. Plush tannins and a supple mouth-feel make
this a good wine to match up with chicken soft tacos.
Great buy!
Rating: 90 |
|
Trapiche
"Broquel" 2016 Malbec
Winery:
Trapiche
Grape(s): 100%
Malbec
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Year:
2016
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 10-15
Review:
A bouquet of violets, earth, and dark berries rises up
from a glass. The palate brings together ripe blueberry
and blackberry flavors, with earthy and floral tones.
Cocoa tannins frame a good balance of fruit and non-fruit
flavors, making this a wine to pair with you're favorite
Mexican dish.
Rating: 89 |
|
Alamos
2016 Malbec
Winery:
Alamos
Grape(s): 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Year:
2016
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 5-10
Review:
Aromatics of blueberries, blackberries, earth, and anise
greet the senses. Blackberry and black cherry flavors
along with highlights of toasty vanilla, floral earth,
and cocoa are carried by polished tannins on the palate.
Fairly supple and layered for a wine that's under $10,
making it a great value.
Rating: 89 |
By
Jason Barlow
Other
Related Links:
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
*Wines
rated with a "+" need
a bit more time to reach peak quality
but will
do so over the coming years
|