Amalaya 2010

16.5 / 20

Producer: Bodegas Amalaya

Region:Salta

Country:Argentina

A blend of Malbec - what else? - Syrah , Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat, this argentinian red has an inviting, intense bouquet - very fruit-forward with notes of vanilla and a subtle spice background. Although it starts off very Malbec like, I think the Syrah eventually finds its way to the foreground, with some very nice notes of blackberries.

Very open, round and inviting in the palate, silky, smooth tannins leveraging the intensity of the fruit and vanilla notes. Controlled acidity, good structure and decent finish, this is a very well made wine that is ready to be enjoyed.

Specially enjoyed those blackberries both in the nose and in the palate - the Syrah / Malbec blend came along very well.

Saurus Barrel Fermented Malbec 2008

15.5 / 20

Producer: Bodega Familia Schroeder

Region: Patagonia

Country: Argentina

I had some good expectations about this, since the other wines I've tasted from this producer from Patagonia had been very enjoyable - I really liked their Select Malbec, for instance.

This particular brand of wines is fermented in the oak barrels (as opposed to aging there after fermentation). I think the goal is to produce a more elegant, constrained Malbec, but overall I felt a little disappointed with it.

The nose felt subdued, hidden, hints of sweet red fruit noticeable in the background, uderneath some unfocused toast notes.

Average structure in the mouth, a good deal of acidity but the flavors also feel hidden, without much expression. The tannins here are still very much to the foreground, maybe overshadowing the rest of the taste. Time gives it more grace in the palate, giving it some more presence, backed by juicy, red fruits.

Could probably benefit from some cellaring or a longer decantation.

Trapiche Roble Malbec 2009

15.5 / 20

Producer: Bodegas Trapiche

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Ruby colored, this argentinian Malbec starts in a slightly muddled way, difuse in the nose, with some coffee and toast and an almost animal overtone. As it opens and breathes, red berries appear in the nose, although the main feel keeps on being the oaky/toast notes.

The first impact on the mouth is of a high acidity which, coupled with the average body, is not very appealing. Thankfully, as it opens and lingers in the glass, a good deal of red fruit appears in the palate as well, balancing the harder oak notes and masking the high acidity. Tamed and balanced tannins round up a taste that finishes with a nice persistence, mixing acid red berries and vanilla.

This benefits a lot from being paired with food, as it feels much more integrated. Also, decant it for an hour or so. Alternatively, let it rest on the cellar for some years before tasting.

Tasted on 2012-05-02

Yacochuya 2000

18.0 / 20

Producer: San Pedro de Yacochuya

Region: Salta

Country: Argentina

A Malbec from Argentina made by Michel Rolland and highly praised by Robert Parker, this could easily be one of those wines that fail to meet expectations.

But fortunately, this is a very rewarding, deep and imposing wine that is a pleasure to all senses. Strong in the nose, with nicely tuned coffee and toast notes, a hint of spices and still showing, after 10 years in the bottle, evident notes of of opulent dark plums.

This is still a dense, layered and complex wine, supported by still lively and hard tannins and a fresh acidity. This is perfectly balanced by the spices present in the body that, along with some leather notes and some plums, make an outstanding, full and fulfilling taste, that somehow comes across as elegant. Very long finish.

Given the acidity and the tannins the wine still shows, I'm quite sure this will last for some years.

Tasted on 2012-01-21

Saurus Pinot Noir 2007

15.0 / 20

Producer: Bodega Familia Schroeder

Region: Patagonia

Country: Argentina

A Pinot Noir varietal from the base brand for this producer from Patagonia, this is a pleasurable, honest wine.

Brilliant red in the glass, the nose, not very complex, has lots of red wild fruits combined with a floral scent.

Good acidity in the palate, with balanced tannins that give it some structure, although this is a light bodied wine. The focus is again on red wild fruits, pervading the taste all the way to the medium length finish.

For its price range, this is, in my view, a good, honest Pinot Noir.

Tasted on 2011-10-13

Saurus Sauvignon Blanc 2008

14.5 / 20

Producer: Bodega Familia Schroeder

Region: Patagonia

Country: Argentina

This is another argentinian wine from Patagonia, again from Bodega Familia Schroeder. This particular wine belongs to the base brand of the Bodega, focusing on simpler, day to day wines.

Light yellow, nose brings to mind cut grass along with some citrus notes - limes, mainly. Some yellow fruit appears later on but in a faint, discreet way.

Tasting it, one finds a soft-bodied wine, with controlled acidity and some discreet fruit notes. Ends with a brief persistence, showing some faint citrus notes.

Overall, I felt that this bottle was a bit tired. I would try to focus on more recent vintages, where the acidity and the fruit would be a bit more upfront.

Tasted on 2011-07-21

Saurus Patagonia Select Malbec 2006

17.0 / 20

Producer: Bodega Familia Schroeder

Region: Patagonia

Country: Argentina

This is an impressive Malbec from the Bodegas Familia Schroeder in Patagonia. I tasted their Select Chardonnay a while ago and was very well impressed, but this Malbec easily tops that.

Really dark colored, the bouquet is intense and strong, showing lots of red wild berries, nice oaky notes, spices and a hint of flowers. Very impressive yet balanced.

In the mouth, quite an impressive structure, layered and still showing a lot of youth. Good, fresh acidity combined with dry tannins and some intense wild berries notes make up a really top taste. Oak is seamlessly joined with the whole set, adding yet some more layers to this. Finishes long with a dry and spiced aftertaste that lingers for a long time.

Very impressive and a great price/quality ratio.

Tasted on 2011-07-13

Saurus Patagonia Select Chardonnay 2008

16.0 / 20

Producer: Bodega Familia Schroeder

Region: Patagonia

Country: Argentina

I wasn't aware there was commercial wine production in Patagonia, since all argentinian wine seems to come from Mendoza. But here it is, a bodega from Patagonia with an impressive number of brands and varietals (including some sparkling wines).

This is one of their chardonnays, a departure from the heavier, creamier style usually associated with the new world whites. The aromas are fresh, showing sweet pineapples and some citrus impressions towards the back.

The mouth feels structured enough, but it is a fruit driven wine (pineapple again). Although there are some hints of the oak that was used to age 40% of this wine, it is really fresh and shows some great acidity - because the vines are so much to the south, maybe?

Good enough to make me hunt some others. The Pinot Noir might be interesting.

Tasted on 2011-01-25

Trapiche Syrah 2008

15.0 / 20

Producer: Bodegas Trapiche

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Bodegas Trapiche offer an impressive amount of brands and varietals from Argentina. This Syrah is part of their Trapiche Varietals series, which is, according to their website, the largest offer of varietals in Argentina.

Purple coloured, the bouquet is warm and sweet, with loads of sweet red plums and some jam in the background.

In the mouth, it's a round, medium-body wine. Full of red sweet plums, balanced by some nice acidity, it's a nice, simple, easy to drink wine.

For the price tag (around 9€), I think it should offer something more, at least comparing to some similarly priced Malbecs I've tasted. But I wouldn't mind tasting the other 11 varietals the producer offers.

Tasted on 2011-01-14

Famiglia Bianchi Malbec 2006

16.0 / 20

Producer: Famiglia Bianchi

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

Good malbec from Argentina (where else?), this wine, ruby coloured, has an intense berries and cherries aroma, helped along by some strong vanilla notes and other spices. Intense and bold, as one might expect from a New World wine, but still managing to keep some elegance and finesse.

Full-bodied in the mouth, the center stage belongs to ripe, sweet red fruit (cherries and berries again). Always backed by a very good structure and some cocoa/chocolate impressions in the palate. Long persistence, a really nice example of an intense, full-bodied and very interesting new world wine.

Tasted on 2010-12-11

Crios Syrah +Bonarda 2008

16.0 / 20

Producer: Dominio Del Plata

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

An unknown grape type (for me), Bonarda is apparently the second most widely planted grape in Argentina (lost first place recently to Malbec).

Showing a dark red / purple color, the nose brings to mind red, acid plums backed up by some spices coming from the oak, in an intense and pleasing combination.

With some tannins still very much in the foreground, making the wine somewhat astringent, and a beautiful acidity accompanying the whole taste, the wine is definitely marked by the oak, but provides a finely tuned, ready to drink and pleasant taste. Finale is long and scented finishing up a good taste.

Tasted on 2010-10-17

Crios Malbec 2008

16.0 / 20

Producer: Dominio Del Plata

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

A full blown New World wine, this Malbec from Argentina starts with an intense red fruit (cherries) aroma backed up by a toasty, smoky, woody impression. Further back, I think I can still sense some chocolate or cocoa notes. Still, an unashamedly fruit driven, intense bouquet.

The taste carries on the intense fruit approach, showing some fine, well balanced tannins, a hint of spices and toast in the background, in a complex and structured whole. It shows an average persistence, with the cherries still lingering for some time in the back of the mouth.

It's a good, solid Malbec with a good price/quality ratio that makes it worthwhile to track down.

Tasted on 2010-08-30

Dos ochos Viognier 2008

15.0 / 20

Producer: Dos ochos

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

The Viogniers I had tasted before this wine tended to be structured, complex, staged in oak, the kind of white you drink on winter nights.

So, this Viognier from Argentina surprised me, since it seems to be much more fruit-forward. The aromas reminded of sweet fruit - lots of apples and pears - first and then grass and other vegetable notes.

In the mouth, it appears as a delicate, slim bodied wine.

It has a very fruity - green apples again, mildly sweet taste balanced by a nice acidity and the finish is medium, the apples persisting in the mouth for a decent amount of time.

Maybe due to my preconceptions and my previous experiences with Viognier, I felt the wine lacked some structure and complexity, going for a more fruit-based approach that failed to engage me - although it is not, by all means, a badly produced wine.

Tasted on 2010-08-02

Don Arturo Malbec Roble Proprietor's Selection 2003

16.0 / 20

Producer: Cavas de Don Arturo

Region: Mendoza

Country: Argentina

A seven year old Malbec from Argentina, this wine bouquet is composed at first by vanilla and some toasted, smoky notes. Later on, it opens up to some discreet and elegant red berries. But mostly, the aromas tend towards the spicey, oaked end of the spectrum. The taste is elegant and smooth. The whole set is well balanced and supported by some decent acidity, although it has already lost some of the fruit notes. Those notes appear only in the nice, long finish, along with some chocolate impressions. It certainly develops new complexities and subtleties after some time in the glass, changing again when enjoyed during the meal. A good Malbec that maybe lost some points by being drunk this late - I have a feeling this would be a great wine two years ago. I would certainly love to try a later vintage.

Tasted on 2010-07-24