Tasting - Atlas Cumbres Torrentes

Name: Atlas Cumbres Torrentes
Variety: 100% Torrentes
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Yellow color with greenish nuances. Very intense aroma of fresh grapes, flower perfume and mature peaches. Fresh in the mouth. Light and easy to drink. Ideal with seafood, Thai and Chinese food.

My Review: This wine has a peach and honey aroma. Upon tasting, there was surprisingly less flavor than expected. It was mainly acidic and bland without much fruit flavor.


I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Weinert Carrascal

Name: Weinert Carrascal
Variety: 40% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2008
Price: $13.95

Winery Review: It t has a rustic blackberry, scorched earth and leather-scented bouquet with bunches of pressed flowers. The palate is well-balanced with crisp tannins, expressive black tarry fruit and a Bordeaux-like finish.

My Review: This wine had a very leathery, heavy oak aroma. It also had a burnt wood smell. Upon tasting, it had a very heavy burnt, oaky flavor and very high tannins with an acidic finish. The tannins and oak overpowered the wine and I got no fruit flavors and it seemed very unbalanced.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Santa Julia Malbec

Name: Santa Julia
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: The nose is full of mellow raspberry and cherry, while the palate is fleshy and round, with blackberry and a touch of raisin. Plump, not edgy, and ready to drink with coffee and mocha notes on the finish.

My Review: This Malbec had aromas of raspberry and blackberry with some smells of oak. After tasting, the fruit flavors of berries came through and had a light tannic finish. It was very smooth and easy to drink.

I did not  have food with this wine.

Tasting - Gougenheim Torrentes

Name: Gouguenheim
Variety: 100% Torrentes
Region: Chilecito, La Rioja
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $9.95

Winery Review: It has a light floral nose with touches of lemon peel and nectarine. The palate is crisp and taut, showing far more vivacity and fruit than the nose implied, finishing with a flourish of apricot and white peach.

My Review: This wine had a light floral nose with not much fruit aromas. Upon tasting, there was not much flavor and it was dry and acidic. It was also more thin bodied than expected.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Santa Julia Pinot Grigio

Name: Santa Julia
Variety: 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: Light and clean, which compared to other Argentine Pinot Grigios is not something to dismiss. Feels solid and punchy, with orange and mango flavors. Has nice overall clarity and balance, with citrusy finish.

My Review: This wine had a nice floral and orange, citrus aroma. After tasting, citrus flavors of orange and grapefruit were present to the finish. It had a light acidic finish that balanced the fruit.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Entrada Malbec

Name:Entrada Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $5.95

Winery Review: Firm and structured, this is a solid wine, laced with mineral acidity and tight tannins. It has a juicy, blackberry fruit component cutting through the texture.

My Review: This wine had a very grassy and woody aroma. Upon tasting, there were fruit and berry flavors with a slight acidic finish. Overall, a smooth wine that wasn't bad but was not great.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Maipe Malbec

Name: Maipe Malbec
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: Deep purple color with violet tints, complex plum, fig, strawberry, spices and floral aromas; rounded and velvety tannins, excellent length with a distinguished character. Excellent when paired with game, roasted red meats, pasta or pizza.

My Review: This wine had a spicy, woody aroma with not much fruit. After tasting, it was smooth on the front and mid palates but had a high tannic finish. I did not get much fruit flavor throughout the wine.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Postales Cabernet/Malbec

Name: Postales Cabernet/Malbec
Variety: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Malbec
Region: Patagonia
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $12.95

Winery Review: Intense red color with violet hues. Aromas of red fruits, ripe berries & plum. Gentle and pleasant on the mouth with soft tannins and a long balanced after taste.

My Review: This red had a strong floral aroma with not much fruit aromas. After tasting, the tannins were definitely softer than other reds and it had a slightly acidic finish. I also found this wine to be a bit bitter which I did not like.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - La Linda Viognier

Name: La Linda Viognier
Variety: 100% Viognier
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $11.95

Winery Review: Exotic, clear bright, almost gold in color. Well defined notes of orchid, musk and ripe apricot. It reveals an unctuous texture on the palate. Long aftertaste with piercing acidity.

My Review: This wine had a distinct musty smell with hints of ripe fruit. After tasting, there was a nice white peach flavor with an acidic finish. While there was some white peach flavor, the wine was still fairly thin which took away from the overall quality.

I did not have this wine with food.

 

Tasting - Postales Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Name: Postales Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Variety: 65% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon
Region: Patagonia
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $12.95

Winery Review: Intense, floral and fruity, with citrus notes and a mineral touch. Gentle, fruity, balanced and distinguished acidity. Delicious long finish.

My Review: This wine had a slightly acidic nose with not much fruity, citrus aroma. After tasting, I did not find much going on with this wine. It was very thin and lacked any prominent flavors. The finish was slightly acidic. Overall not my favorite wine.

I did not have this wine with food. 

Tasting - Maipe Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Maipe Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $8.95

Winery Review: Filled with notes of honeyed grapefruit, honeydew melon, and figs, it is a light to medium-bodied, fresh, lively Sauvignon Blanc that has significantly more character than one would expect in a $13 wine.

My Review: This wine definitely had a nice melon aroma  with some hints of floral smells coming through. After tasting, it was citrusy and floral on the front but finished with a nice acidic component.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: Neu Direction Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2010
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: This Cabernet Sauvignon shows very good purity of fruit and skillful winemaking. This wine is full of black-fruit aromas, depth and style. The palate pushes ripe plum and berry fruit along with chocolate, and the finish is chewy and correct in terms of tannins and structure.

My Review: The initial smell was one of tobacco and a charbroiled smoky aroma. It was quite strong and overpowered the fruit. Upon tasting, there was an earthy tone with slight hints of chocolate. It also had a very tannic finish which I did not enjoy.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Fetzer Malbec 2011

Name: Fetzer Malbec 2011
Variety: 100% Malbec
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2011
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Delicious Malbec is 100% from Mendoza, Argentina. It has a vibrant red color with violet tones. Subtle and delicious aromas with an intense mixture of red fruits, plum and cherry jam. On the palate it's juicy and has intense wood-like tannins that make it a rustic, yet versatile wine. Long finish.

My Review: This wine seemed lighter than the Garnacha. The tannins were present but not overpowering. I did not get a wood taste but I did get some of the fruit flavors coming through. Not my favorite but a better red wine than others.

I did not have this wine with food.

Tasting - Norton Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Name: Norton Sauvignon Blanc
Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2012
Price: $12.00

Winery Review: Aromas of pithy citrus and pineapple are decent but unrefined, while flavors of tangerine and pineapple are tropical, zesty and what they are. This is nothing more than a fresh, simple, citrusy white to sip on the patio.

My Review: This wine has a mild citrus smell as well as some flowery smells. After tasting, it was more full bodied than I expected for a white wine but hints of citrus came through. I did not taste the pineapple and tropical flavors.

I had this wine without food.

Tasting - Maipe Torrontes

Name: Maipe Torrontes
Variety: 100% Torrentes
Region: Mendoza
Country: Argentina
Year: 2013
Price: $7.95

Winery Review: Spring-like nose of fresh white peaches, pears, green apple, green melon and hints of jasmine and rose petals. On the palate, it has a beautiful structure and acidity along with fruit flavors and plenty of body.  Well balanced, this wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long finish. Best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a wonderful partner with smoked meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, seafood and a great partner for spicy food as well.

My Review: This wine had a very pungent flower smell, it smelled like a floral shop. This wine had hints of pear in the flavor and had a more acidic finish than the Pinot Grigio. It was also much drier than the Pinot Grigio which I did not like. 

I did not have this wine with food.