2020 Zuccardi Poligonos Paraje Altamira Malbec: A Delicious Mountain Wine

A Malbec with a sense of place, from grapes in mountain vineyards, and aged in concrete. And produced by a winery which is one of my favorites in Argentina. 

Bodega Zuccardi Valle De Uco extends back over 60 years in Argentina, when, in 1963, Alberto “Tito” Zuccardi planted his family's first vineyard. He was an engineer and had developed a new irrigation system, to help combat some of the desert conditions in the Mendoza region. A passion for viticulture then enveloped him, and the project grew and grew. It become a family business, and his son,  José Alberto took over in 1985. And then, in 1999, Jose's son, Sebastián, also got involved in the family business. 

Their vineyards are primarily in the mountainous region of the Uco Valley, and their Polígonos brand is considered to be "the expression of those villages of the Valley." And more specifically, Paraje Altamira is located on the plain south of the source of the Tunuyán River, at an altitude of 1050-1150 meters. It has a cool temperate climate, and its soils possess many stones and granite gravel, covered with calcareous material.

The 2020 Zuccardi Poligonos Paraje Altamira Malbec ($30-$35) is produced from 100% Malbec, and was fermented with native yeasts in concrete vessels. It was then aged in concrete (although the length of time isn't provided), and possesses a 14% ABV. The wine, which is fresh and bright, possesses a rich purple color, and a nose of black fruits and hints of herbs. On the palate, the fruit dominates, with flavors of ripe plum, black cherry and blueberry, but is supported by mineral notes (a stony element) and a subtle herbal accent. It's medium-bodied, with restrained tannins and good acidity. The finish is long and satisfying, and this is an excellent wine with a hearty meal. I drank the wine with some steak tips, and it was a delightful pairing. 

A complex and intriguing wine, the lack of oak helps you better understand the terroir, how the Malbec of his particular region differs from Malbec from other areas. Those who already enjoy Malbec will be thrilled by this wine, and others, who may not know much about Malbec, will also be thrilled by its taste. Highly recommended.   

Gascon Winery: Malbec To Give People Joy

Nesti Bajda (pictured above), the winemaker at the Don Miguel Gascón winery in Mendoza, Argentina, told me that in the end, he makes wines to give people joy. Nesti also loves to cook, and his motivation is the same, to give people joy. No one can argue that is not a worthy motivation. Maybe more winemakers need to understand that should be their basic rationale.

Earlier this week, I was invited to dine with Nesti at Stephi's on Tremont, as well as to taste three of his wines. The Don Miguel Gascón winery dates back to 1884, founded by Don Miguel Escorihuela Gascón, and it may have been the first winery, during the 1940s, to produce Argentina's first 100% Malbec wine. Change came to the winery in 1993, when a group of investors, led by the famed Nicolas Catena, purchased the winery and currently Ernesto Catena is the winery president. With Ernesto at the helm, one can feel confident that justice will be done to these wines.  

The winery is the only one still located in the city of Mendoza and their focus is on Malbec, the signature grape of Argentina. They own a couple vineyards, one being Biodynamic, and with these vineyards they generally focus on higher end wines and experimentation. In addition, they purchase grapes from over 150 vineyards, most which are small, about twenty acres or less. Their goal with their wines is to show what Argentina is like, to capture the essence of Malbec.

Nesti Bajda, of Slovenian ancestry, was born and raised in Mendoza. He originally studied accountacy but soon learned that he hated paperwork so knew he had to find another career. Thus, he decided to try agricultural school and ended up volunteering at the school's vineyards, where he discovered his true passion. Nesti mentioned that his father and grandfather were both coopers, barrel makers, so he likes to say that "they made barrels and now he fills them." In 2003, Nesti began working at Don Miguel Gascón, and has even helped to plant vineyards at Alma Negra. Though he has been heavily involved in advanced technology to assist vineyard growth and wine making, his desire remains simple, to make wine that brings joy.

About 70% of the winery's production is sold within Argentina, and only a few of their wines are exported, being distributed in Massachusetts by Martignetti Companies. Nesti wants their wines to reflect tradition and history and noted that 2011 was the best vintage he has seen at the winery. The weather in 2011 was just perfect for their grapes. The result was that the wines of 2011 possess a "beautiful natural acidity" which is not common in Argentina, making them even better food wines than usual.

I got to taste three of their Malbec based wines and all of them paired well with my delicious lunch of Smokey Bacon Macaroni & Cheese.

The 2011 Colosal ($15) is a blend of 61% Malbec, 16% Bonarda, 13% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The name translates as "Colossal" and reflects the history of the winery as this was similar to a high quality blend they made in the late 1800s. Back then, wine was sold in barrels, each possessing a large label that depicted a huge, mustached man who held a barrel under each arm. It has only been in the last twenty years or so that Argentina wineries started commonly making single varietals. The majority of this wine was aged for fifteen months in a combination of French and American oak, and it has an alcohol content of 14.1%.

The Colosal has a dark red color with a pleasing aroma of dark fruit and spice. On the palate, it is full bodied, with smooth tannins, and presents an elegant balance. Delicious plum, black cherry and spice notes dominate the taste and it offers good complexity for the price. The Malbec plays the starring role and the international grapes support the Malbec without trying to steal the show. An excellent value wine, this should appeal to many wine lovers.

The basic 2011 Malbec ($15) is produced from 100% Malbec, sees only a touch of oak for some added complexity and has an alcohol content of 13.9%. This is an introductory Malbec, created to show the "true" Malbec, the typical flavor profile. It is inky dark with an intense aroma of black fruit, violets and deep spice. On the palate, it was a simple but smooth and delicious wine, with tasty flavors of plum and blackberries, with a spicy backbone. An easy drinking wine that also offers a good value.

The 2010 Malbec Reserva ($25) usually is a blend of mostly Malbec, with small percentages of Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc, but for this vintage it is mostly Malbec with about 4%-5% Petite Verdot and no Cabernet Franc. The grapes are sourced from the same vineyards as the basic Malbec but they selected the best grapes for the Reserva. It was aged for 15 months in a combination of French and American oak and has an alcohol content of 14.26%. The wine is more complex than the basic Malbec, though containing a fairly similar flavor profile. The taste is also deeper, richer and spicier though still maintaining a delightful elegance. Unlike the basic Malbec, you will also find some chocolate notes, especially on the finish. This is a wine that shows the potential of Malbec, indicating its potential complexity and showcasing the skills of the winemaker. Highly recommended.

I think Nesti succeeded in making three wines which will bring you joy.

The Wines of Argentina: Twelve Things You Should Know

Since my return from Argentina, I have had time to reflect upon my experiences, to consider the wine industry of Argentina. Though the trip was sponsored by Winebow, a wine importer and distributor who represents several producers in Argentina, we visited more than just Winebow clients.  In fact, about half the wineries we visited were not Winebow clients, thus giving us a more balanced view of the region. In addition, I have done some additional independent research and reading into the wines of Argentina.

My time in the Mendoza province of Argentina was exciting, fun, compelling, educational and delicious. My understanding of this wine region has also been expanded and enhanced.  I have already written a couple posts about my travel experiences in Argentina, and you can look to even more in the future.  Now, I want to present a list of Twelve Things You Should Know about the wines of Argentina, to give you a foundation to understanding this region. When many people think of Argentina, then generally only think of inexpensive wines, and usually Malbec.  But the Argentina wine industry is far more complex than that, and worthy of your attention. 

Argentina already stands high in a few international wine categories. It is the world's 5th largest wine producer, the 7th largest wine exporter, and the 8th largest wine consumer.  There are over 1300 wineries in Argentina, though only about 400 currently export wine.  Interestingly, only about 3.5% of the land in Argentina is under cultivation, much of the rest being cities, mountains and such. The province of Mendoza is their most important wine region, producing about 70% of the wine in the country. Wine is the main agricultural product in Mendoza with olive oil occupying second place.

1) Argentina has a young wine industry.
Despite the fact that grapes were first planted in Argentina by the Spanish during the 16th century, their modern wine industry is still relatively new, only around twenty years old. They have certainly come far in this short time span, but also have much room for growth and plenty of potential.  There is still a youthful exuberance to be found in Argentina, an optimistic view of the future. They are not bound by hundreds of years of tradition, and thus have a fresh outlook on wine making. Yet they still have historical roots as many Italian and Spanish immigrants helped to develop the wine industry. For example, about 50% of the population of Mendoza is of Italian descent.  It is a combination of the Old and New World, which is often reflected in their wines.

2) Malbec is King.
Malbec is the signature red grape of Argentina, and the grape which has brought much fame to the region. Known by numerous other names, such as Auxerrois, Côt Noir and Pressac, Malbec was first introduced into Argentina in the mid-19th century, prior to phyollexera. The cuttings came from the Bordeaux region of France, not Cahors, the French region most known for its Malbec.  Argentina possesses plenty of old vines of Malbec, including some over 100 years old. It is currently their most planted grape, and there are about 22 recognized clones of Malbec. In 2010, Malbec constituted about 40% of Argentina’s wine exports though exports to the U.S. were about 60% Malbec.

Malbec can often be characterized as having an intense dark color, aromas and flavors of cherry, plum and strawberry, and soft tannins. But Malbec is not a singular grape, and can express itself in many different profiles, especially due to terroir.  Malbec has the potential to age well, and pairs well with meats, pastas, pizza, and other foods.  Until the early 1990s, Argentina mainly used Malbec as a blending grape, but then they began creating single varietal wines, discovering its great potential. Numerous low cost Malbec wines started to get exported and wine consumers embraced them, helping to put Argentina on the international wine map. In the future, Malbec will remain the signature grape of Argentina but you will see more and more different expressions of that grape.

3) Torrontes is Queen.
Though Pedro Giménez is the most widely planted white grape in Argentina, it is Torrontes which is their signature white grape. You should know that plantings of Pedro Giménez are declining, it is a different grape than the Spanish Pedro Ximénez, and that it doesn't make wines of much note.  No one knows exactly when Torrontes came to Argentina, and there are a couple possible origin stories.  Some believe it was an old Spanish grape, which no longer exists in Spain, while others think it may be a mutation from raisins which had been planted by Spanish colonists. Some evidence exists that Torrontes is a cross between the Muscat of Alexandria and Criolla Chica grapes. 

There are three types of Torrontes, each a distinct variety, including Torrontes Riojano, Torrontes Mendocino and Torrontes Sanjuanino. The Riojano variety makes the best wines, and most of the Torrontes in Argentina consists of this variety. Torrontes might remind you of Viognier, but it is more floral, closer to Muscat in nature and often has flavors of apricots and peaches. Torrontes grown in the Cafayate Valley is often considered the most prestigious. Torrontés pairs well with seafood, as well as spicy Asian cusine. I gained a new appreciation for Torrontes while in Mendoza.

4) Bonarda is the Prince.
Argentina is not relying solely on Malbec to carry its wine industry.  The Bonarda is another red grape which is gaining attention, and rightfully so. It is not the same grape as the Italian Bonarda, but is actually related to the French Corbeau, known in California as Charbono. It is a late ripening, high-yielding grape which can be difficult to grow. To produce high quality Bonarda requires effective vineyard management, especially to reduce yields. Currently, many Argentina wineries are producing only inexpensive, entry level Bonarda wines, but there is increasing interest in terroir, higher-end and aged Bonarda. It is a grape to watch, and seems to occupy a similar position to Malbec in the early 1990s.

5) Forget Malbec.
If Malbec is King, then why am I telling you to forget about it now?  I discussed this issue previously, and it was only reinforced by my visits to the wineries in Argentina. As Jose Zuccardi stated, "Malbec should express place, not the grape.” Wineries have started to concentrate on terroir, a sense of place, in producing their Malbecs. They have found that Malbec presents many different expressions dependent upon the terroir. Some wineries, like Altos Las Hormigas, feel the soil is the most important element of Malbec terroir while others, like Bodega Catena Zapata, feel that altitude is the key. Experimentation and research continue into this issue, and it is the future of the wines of Argentina.

Though you will continue to find inexpensive Malbec wines, you will begin to see more and more higher-end Malbecs, those indicative of terroir. This will lead to a greater variety of Malbecs, so that such wines will not seem one-dimensional. It is also thought that this will make wine much less of a generic commodity and more of a specialityh item. And as Malbec becomes more terroir driven, so Argentina will do the same with their other grapes, from Torrontes to Bonarda, from Chardonnay to Syrah. This is an important step forward for their wine industry.

6) Argentina is embracing science.
Science, technology and innovation are all very important to the Argentina wine industry. The wineries are availing themselves of every opportunity to improve quality and diversity. For example, a number of wineries in Argentina have hired the consultant Pedro Parra to examine and advise on their terroir.  Parra (which is coincidentally is the Spanish word for "grapevine") is a Chilean soil scientist and self-proclaimed terroir specialist. His name came up often during my visits to the wineries of Argentina.  Some wineries, such as Familia Zuccardi, are experimenting with a wide variety of grapes, to see which other ones might thrive in Argentina.  For example, Zuccardi is testing over 30 different grapes, such as Greco, Petit Manseng, Caladoc, Nero d'Avola, Ancellota and Sauvignon Gris. In addition, innovation in irrigation, canopy management, and much more also exist in Argentina. It is an exciting time in this wine region. 

7) Wine is made first for Argentina.
First and foremost, much of the wine in Argentina is produced to be drank in Argentina. In addition, 80% of the wine they drink is red. That should be expected due to the prevalence of the asado, the Argentinian barbecue, presenting a diverse selection of grilled meats.  Only about 27% of their wine is exported, with the U.S. being their primary market by a wide margin.  Though Argentina started some wine exporting around 1981, after some economic problems, their exports began to accelerate in the early 1990s. It is very likely that their wine exports will continue to increase each year.

If you visit wine stores in Argentina, you will find many of them carry only wines from Argentina. There are high duty costs for imported wines, which contributes to the sparcity of them in Argentina wine stores.  Thus, Argentinians have few options available to them besides drinking their own wines.  Jose Zuccardi feels that this strong Argentinian consumption is a good thing.  He stated, “Brands need roots in their own market.”  Those countries while rely primarily on exports, and which don't have a strong tradition of consuming their own wine, will have difficulty in the market.  

8) Wine is food.
Argentina has a very European view of wine, seeing it as food and not alcohol.  Even the President of Argentina once said that wine was an integral part of the food and culture of Argentina. Such a view is very different from what is apparently happening in the U.S., where there is a growing movement to divorce wine from food. In Argentina, wine is a natural element of their lifestyle, relished at each meal, not something to fear or require extensive regulation. As such, their wines are usually designed to be best accompanied by food. I believe this Argentinian viewpoint is a healthy one, and helps to promote a strong wine culture.

9) Irrigation is essential.
Mendoza is often characterized as a high-altitude desert oasis, and it only has approximately 200ml of rain annually, about 8 inches. Yet grapes basically need 700-800ml of water so irrigation is essential to the vineyards in Argentina. The Incas understood this need for irrigation for their own agriculture, and created thousands of kilometers of irrigation canals, probably more than any other ancient civilization.  There are four rivers in Mendoza which are used for irrigation, the water originating from melted snow and ice in the Andes Mountains.  In addition, there is an underground river which also can be used for irrigation.  But land in Argentina usually does not come with water rights, and a separate government license needs to be obtained for its use.

10) Hail is a significant peril.
Hail, especially in the Mendoza region, is a constant worry, an annual threat, and can be extremely destructive.  As hail can sometimes be as large as a fist, it can potentially destroy entire vineyards.  As one defensive measure, numerous wineries cover their vines with a variety of different nets.  The problem is that these nets have a negative side effect, decreasing the amount of sunlight that reaches the grapes by about 7-13%. So, some wineries won't use nets, accepting the peril of hail, to maintain their sunlight. Though hail is a danger to other grape regions around the world, Argentina has one of the most significant problems.

11) Altitude is important.
The average vineyard in Argentina is located at over 900 meters above sea level, a unique element to this wine region.  You'll even find vineyards as high up as 3,000 meters above sea level. This has been a fascinating learning experience for the wineries of Argentina, and they have discovered that changes in altitude result in a change in terroir.  It was known that higher altitudes provide a cooler climate, but much more has been learned too.  The famed Nicolas Catena, who has been a pioneer in high altitude vineyards, has done much research into this matter and believes that the most important climatic factor of altitude is sunlight density.  Sunlight density increases with altitude and this has a significant effect on taste, decreases pyrazines, and changes the aromatics from floral to fruit. More study will continue in this area, and the wines of Argentina will only continue to improve.

12) Argentina does not want to be Australia.
Discussions of the crisis of the Australian wine industry arose a number of times while touring the wineries of Argentina. Argentina wineries were clear that they wanted to avoid the problems that have assailed the Australian wine industry. They don't want Malbec to end up in the same situation as Australian Shiraz, extremely popular at one point and then shunned by many. They also do not want to glut the market with their wines, which certainly did not help the Australians.  Thus, avoiding those issues have factored into their decisions, from moving to more terroir driven Malbecs to having a solid base of wine consumers in Argentina. It is good to see that Argentina is willing to learn from the examples of others, and they seem poised to avoid the Australian issues.

I am looking forward to the development of the wine industry of Argentina. They already produce some excellent wines, and they seem on track to continue making even better wines in the future. Wine lovers should keep Argentina on their radar, and explore the new wines coming from this region. You will continue to find many value wines, but you will also find more complex, high quality wines which will excite your palate.

Argentina is just getting started.

Altos Las Hormigas: Malbec Is Unimportant?

The winemaker from Altos las Hormigas, which specializes in wines made from Malbec, told me that the grape was unimportant.  Why would he say that?  Isn't he denigrating the very grape that his winery relies upon?

Malbec, which is also known as Auxerrois, Côt Noir and Pressac, was first introduced into Argentina in the mid-19th century.  But, in 1995, few wineries were doing anything with Malbec, except using it as a blending grape, as they were concentrating on international varieties. It was at this time that two pioneering Italians chose to explore the potential of Argentina and believed they had found an excellent place to produce wine.  Others followed in their wake so that, presently, Malbec is the most planted red grape in Argentina and many wineries are making Malbec wines.

Back in 1995, Alberto Antonini, a Tuscan winemaker and former head winemaker at Antinori, and Antonio Morescalchi, a young entrepreneur, bought 216 hectares of land, and primarily planted it with Malbec. For the last 15 years, they have produced Malbec and Bonarda wines, generally inexpensive wines.  But now they feel they are ready to take it to the next level, which includes the belief that the grape is no longer important.

Last month, I was invited to a luncheon at Abe & Louie's, to meet Alberto and Antonio, as well as to taste their new wines.  I also had the opportunity later that evening to speak with Alberto and Antonio again at a small reception at the Elephant Walk.  It was a very informative day, and I was impressed with their ideas and wines.  Both Alberto and Antonio were clearly passionate individuals, devoted to producing the best wines possible and Alberto was clearly a lover of Malbec. As the U.S. accounts for about 50% of their market, it was important to Alberto and Antonio to present their wines to members of the Boston area wine industry.

We did not start with Malbec though.  Our first wine at lunch, with a Boca Chopped Salad topped by a Dijon Vinaigrette, was the 2009 Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda (about $10).  I have long been a fan of Bonarda, feeling it is an underappreciated grape which often produces good value wines around $10.  Hormigas started producing Bonarda in 2003, and is still learning and experimenting with it.  Bonarda requires a long growing season and needs sufficient sun to ripen properly so Mendoza has a very good climate for the grape. But due to its climate, it is much tougher to grow Bonarda in Italy.  I do know that I have much preferred the Bonards I have tasted from Argentina over those from Italy.  The Italian ones seemed much more rustic, with less fruit flavors, and just didn't impress.

This Bonarda wine sees no oak and has an alcohol content of 13.9%.  I enjoyed this wine, finding that it had excellent red fruit flavors, low tannins, some underlying spice and plenty of character for this price point.  It was easy drinking and would pair well with many different casual dishes, from burgers to pasta.  A great every day wine, this will appeal to most wine lovers. 

For the rest of the lunch, we would have three different Malbec wines, tasting the results of the winery's new endeavors. They see the winery as a laboratory and after fifteen years of experimentation, the winery has decided that Malbec is no longer important.  What they mean is that they will no longer focus on the grape, Malbec, but instead will now concentrate on terroir, a sense of place.  This is a more European attitude, and it is not surprising based on the fact the two founders are Italian.  They felt they needed the last fifteen years to understand the terroir of Mendoza, to most appreciate where Malbec grows best.

They consulted with Pedro Parra, a Chilean scientist who is the only terroir and soil specialist in South America, and discovered that soil profile and microzoning were the most important elements in producing excellent Malbec wines.  Altitude, vine age, canopy management and such were found to be of far lesser importance. So, the winery has been seeking out the best soils and microzones which can impart terroir and produce top notch, age-worthy wines.  Most of these areas have been found in ancient river beds, known as alluvial terraces.   

The winery sees Malbec as an indigenous Argentina grape as its expression is very different in France, due to their different soils, climates, etc. In addition to their concern about terroir, Hormigas is also moving towards organic farming as they feel it is better farming.  All of their grapes are hand-picked and they produce wines which are intended to be paired with food, especially their higher-end wines. Thus their wines need tannins and acids, though in balance.  

With my entree of a tender New York Sirloin and a side of Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes, we had two of their new terroir driven Malbecs, including the 2009 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Valle de Uco Terroir (about $15) and 2006 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Vistaflores (about $80).  The sirloin was quite good, and a perfect accompaniement to the Malbecs. These Malbecs definitely benefit from being paired with food, especially a hearty steak. I also loved the taste of the potatoes, with that prominent sharp flavor of blue cheese which also accented well the sirloin. 

The Terroir, with a dark purple color, had an appealing spicy and floral, violets, nose.  On the palate there were flavors of black cherry, raspberry and spice, including hints of vanilla.  It had some complexity, moderate tannins, and a lengthy and satisfying finish. This is a very good value wine, as you get plenty of complexity and character for the price point.  It is a couple steps above the usual Malbecs you find from Argentina.

The king of the tasting was the single-vineyard Vistaflores, from a 2 hectare site, which spent 36 months in the barrel.  The winemaker feels that it could have easily remained longer in the barrel, and will keep the next vintage of Vistaflores in the barrel for 48 months. 2006 is considered the best vintage in the last ten years, and they won't make the Vistaflores every year.  In some respects, the Vistaflores had a similar flavor profile to the Terroir but ramped up several degrees.  There was more complexity in the wine, with more blackfruit flavors, additional spice notes and even a touch of minerality.  Great structure, well balanced, and with a very lengthy finish.

A very impressive wine, and this may be the best high-end Malbec I have ever had.  It is worth the high price and Hormigas is working on producing other single vineyard wines.  If this is the result of all of their experimentation, then I consider it a big success and look forward to seeing more top notch wines from this winery. 

We ended the meal with a Selection of Cheeses, paired with the 2008 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Valle de Uco Reserva (about $22). It was aged in small French barrels for 15-18 months, and can age for ten years or more. It too was similar to the Terroir, but its quality was even better.  It also had a touch more earthiness to the taste, which appealed to me. Another wine I would recommend.

I deeply respect the concept of Altos Las Hormigas, their desire to concentrate on terroir rather than the grape.  They have taken the time and effort to discover what best produces Malbec, and their studies and experimentation continue. They were pioneers fifteen years ago, producing Malbec wines, and are pioneers once again, introducing more terroir driven wines to the region.  Malbec from Argentina has long been seen as a relatively simple and inexpensive wine, yet it is clear it can also produce complex, high-end wines too.

As Altos Las Hormigas says, forget the Malbec grape and instead, concentrate on the terroir.

Reviews of Wines of Argentina

The following is a compilation of old reviews I have done on the wines of Argentina.

2004 Alamos Bonarda: This was an interesting wine, with more dark fruits on the palate with a more rustic and tannic finish. It did remind me of some Chiantis. It was smooth until the finish though the finish was not such an abrupt departure. I did like it, and for only $9, this would be a Drink & Buy for me.

2004 Las Moras, Bonarda: This is a light wine, with a smooth taste, some cherry and vanilla flavors and a smoother finish than the other Bonarda I had. It is an excellent wine, enjoyed by everyone who had some with me and at $9 is a great value. A nice tasting wine that possesses its own distinctive flavor. Drink and Buy.

2005 Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda: This Bonarda ($10) is from Altos Las Hormigas. It was somewhere between the Alamos and the Las Moras. It had more tannins and rustic flavor than the Las Moras but not as much as the Alamos. It had some nice fruit flavors without overwhelming you in the typical fruit bomb. It is an easy drinking wine and does remind me a bit of a Chianti, yet with its own distinctiveness. I would Drink & Buy this wine.

2002 Bodega Jacques & Francois Lurton Bonarda, Mendoza: For only $6, this is an intriguing wine. It is smooth with a bit of a tart finish. It has spice on the palate as well as some dark fruits, like maybe plum. With a touch of earthiness. For the money, this is a surprisingly complex wine. A Drink & Buy.

2004 Crios de Susana Balbo, 50% Syrah/50% Bonarda: This was a good wine ($15) but primarily reminded me of a Syrah. It was smooth and spicy, but seemed to lack the distinct flavor of the Bonarda. It is like the Bonarda got overpowered by the Syrah. It is still a tasty wine and a decent value. It does have some complexity to it and it is more than one-dimensional. But, it is not a good showcase of Bonarda. Drink and Buy.

2004 Tikal Patriota: This wine ($25) is a blend of 60% Bonarda with 40% Malbec, combining the two major grapes of Argentina. This is a big, bold wine. Lots of fruit upfront, more black cherry, blackberry. But, it gets more rustic and spicy on the finish. The tannins are relatively mild and there is nice level of complexity. This was an intriguing wine that seems to showcase both varietals quite well. A definite Drink & Buy.

2003 La Posta del Vinatero, Estela Armando Vineyard: This was a dark and smokier wine ($17) than many of the other fruit-driven Bonardas. It even had some spice and reminded me more of a Syrah rather than a Bonarda. It had a decent finish but overall did not excite me. I think it was overpriced for what you got so would only be a Drink and Not a Buy.

2005 Kaiken Auriello Montes, Cabernet Sauvignon: An excellent Cabernet, especially for the price ($15). Alot of spice and leather with subdued fruit flavors. A long finish. Not like a typical California Cabernet.

2004 Norton Vineyard "Privada": A blend ($20) of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A very good blend with alot of complexity. Taste of fruit and spice. Very smooth. Nice finish.

2002 Bodegas Caro Malbec/Cabernet: This expensive blend ($50) was a superb wine, with a smooth finish, lots of complexity, a real lushness with lots of structure. It was not overly tannic. A definite Drink and Buy for a special occasion.