Wines of Argentina 2015 @Sam_WineTeacher

I love Mendoza! Picture if you will, the Okanagan Valley, but much, much bigger. The towering Andes mountains lie along the western border and a flat sloping plane stretches all the way east to the Atlantic Ocean over 1100 km away.

 

 

Argentina has a wine making tradition that goes back four hundred years. The land has it all, soil, climate, altitude and geography. Argentina is a blend of cultures, primarily European and Latin. This is a land of ‘alegría de la vida’ or joy of life. People here work to live and have a good time.

If you travel to Mendoza, it is much quicker to fly to Santiago, Chile at the western foot of the Andes than it is to fly from Buenos Aries. It’s just a short flight of about thirty minutes.

 

 

This is the land of Malbec and Torrontés. Malbecs have become very popular in recent years as so many people like big full-bodied reds that are flavourful and easy to drink. They are lower both in tannins and acid than most other reds and in this land they seldom have any problem ripening. Torrontés, Argentina’s signature white wine, is fruity, fresh and quite versatile with foods. As Wiki states, “Torrontés is a white Argentine wine grape variety, producing fresh, aromatic wines with moderate acidity, smooth texture and mouthfeel as well as distinctive peach and apricot aromas on the nose.” The bonus is that wines from Argentina tend to be very good value with prices ranging from under $8.00 to over $140 in BC liquor stores, though the majority of them are under $20. Buy a bottle and you will see that they over-deliver.

 

Malbecs are good anytime of the year. But I associate them mostly with summer and a selection of meats fresh off the grill. Argentinians love their ‘asado’; this is one culinary experience that isn’t for vegetarians.

I was at an afternoon trade tasting for Wines of Argentina recently. The event was well planned with lots of room to move around the tables. I was impressed that they had two end tables devoted to award winning wines. Once the initial crowds died down, I had no problem going through most of the two flights, which included a sparkling, whites and an array of reds.

There was also an evening session, titled “Dish ‘n’ Dazzle”, which was a chance for the public to join in and sample 80 of these delicious wines while sampling tasty morsels prepared by some of BC’s top chefs. The evening event featured a silent auction with funds going to the BC Hospitality Foundation. There was an impressive selection of wine-related items including wine gift packs, large format bottles, gift certificates and much more. The main fundraiser for the night was a raffle for a trip to Argentina.

 

 

Many of the wines listed below are ‘spec’ wines and will only be found at private stores. Here are a few brief notes on some wines you might like to try:
• Alamos Chardonnay $13.99 – this is a very popular wine and for good reason – oak, butterscotch, apple and stone fruit.
• Catena Zapata Chardonnay $20.59 – clean and elegant.
• Chayee Bourras Buhonarda Rosé – A social style Rosé made from Bonarda. A good match for ham.
• Dona Paula Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc – $11.30 – classic Sauvignon, tart and crisp with grapefruit notes on the backend. Delicious!
• Laborum Torrontés – rated 91 points pear, floral and nectarines. A great match for seafood, sushi, and spicy foods.
• Graffigna Centenario Reserve Torrontés – $11.90 – dry, good body, food friendly. A great alternative for those not fond of Chardonnay.
• Marcelo Pelleriti Sol Fa Sol Torrontés – tropical fruit, a good example of this grape.
• Mascot Opi Chardonnay $16.99 – nicely oaked
• La Vuelta Sauvignon Blanc – $11.99 more Sancerre in style for a Sauvignon Blanc.
• Zorzal Eggo Blanc de Cal Sauvignon Blanc – grassy, New Zealand in style
• Zorzal Eggo Filoso Pinot Noir $13.99 – ripe fruit, good Pinot character
• Zorzal Terroir Unico Pinot Noir $29.99 – elegant, classic Pinot Noir, earthy, good acidity. Rated 91 points

Brittany Lanigan, Territory Manager with Mondia Alliance Wines was there with an impressive line up including:
• Cuma Organic Torrents $12.49 – aromatic, floral, tropical with a hint of spice.
• Amaru High Vineyards Torrontés Rosé – good, clean and refreshing
• Don David Cabernet Sauvignon $12.99 – great value
• Amaru High Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
• Cuma Organic Malbec $11.19 – good value
• Don David Malbec $13.89 – very popular and very good

Two tables in the room were devoted to showcasing Wines of Argentina Award Winners. I wish there had been enough time to taste them all.

Trophy Winners
• Mascota Vineyards La Mascota Cabernet Franc 2013 – elegant, layered with a long finish
• El Esteco Serie Fincas Notables Tannat 2012
Gold Winners
• Pascual Toso Alta Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $34.79 – very smooth and elegant
• El Esteco Serie Fincas Notables Malbec 2012 – finesse, long finish
• Mascota Vineyards La Masota Malbec 2013
Silver Winners
• Piattelli Reserve Torrontés 2014 – excellent!
• El Esteco Serie Fincas Notables Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
• Viña Cobos Bramare Valle de Uco Malbec 2012 – rich layered nose, well balanced and good finish
• Viña Cobos Bramare Lujan de Cuyo Malbec 2012 $39.19 – firm tannins, good aging potential
• Viña Cobos Bramare Marchiori Vineyard Malbec 2011 – rich, luscious fruit bomb
Bronze Medal
• Pascual Toso Brut Nature NV – fruit forward, 100% Chardonnay, yummy
• Pasual Toso Chardonnay 2014
• Viña Cobos Felino Chardonnay2014 – impressive
• Masi Tupungato Passo Doble 2012
• Bodega Vistalba Corte C 2013
• Mascota Vineyards Opi Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 – firm tannins, good aging potential.
• Viña Cobos Bramare Lujan de Cuyo Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
• Viña Cobos Felino Malbec $17.39
Regional Trophy – Valles de Mendoza
• Finca Decero Mini Ediciones Petit Verdot – very impressive, elegant
• Remolinos Vineyard 2012
Regional Trophy – Valles del Norte
• El Esteco Serie Fincas Notables Tannat 2012 – elegant and harmonious with a long finish.

If a trip to Argentina is out of the question, do the next best thing and on a sunny day, buy a variety of good quality meats – chicken, sausages, beef, some tasty Argentinian wines, red, white and rosé, invite some friends over, make a salad and fire up the grill. Mendoza of the mind!

Wines of Argentina Consumer Tastings

Thursday August 13th and Friday August 14th 2015

2:30 – 6:30 pm

BCLDB 39th & Cambie Signature Liquor Store

5555 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Plus free tastings throughout August at participating BCLDB Stores

Featured pic courtesy of Wines of Argentina Canada