Winestreet Does Chile & Argentina
Kozlak's, North Oaks, MN
Tasted Thursday, April 17, 2008 by Siggy with 1,608 views
Introduction
Winestreet hosted a big tasting featuring low-priced wines from Chile and Argentina. At $10, it was a great deal, and a chance to taste through a wide variety of both Cab-based blends and varietal Malbecs. I took my dad to this tasting, as we both have been interested in learning more about wines from these regions, especially Argentinian Malbecs. As my (harsh) notes indicate, many of the wines were simple and forgettable, and not worth pursuing even as QPR drinkers, IMHO. But there were a few gems -- I loved the 06 Achaval Ferrer Malbec, which is a great value at $22. There were some interesting whites and a very tasty Rose as well. If you find even one or two gems at a tasting like this, it's worth your time, and that was definitely true here.
2006 Achával-Ferrer Malbec Mendoza 90 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
Dark crimson color. Slightly reductive, horsey/funky nose at first. Structured dark fruit, earth, and smoke. Showing some youthful oak. Ageworthy and complex. Excellent stuff and a terrific QPR. My WOTN.
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2005 Bodega Norton Malbec Reserve 75 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
Strawberry nose. Light, sweet red fruit. Herbal. Green and underripe.
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2007 Bodega Norton Malbec 80 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
Vinified with no oak. Light plummy red fruit and spice. A touch green.
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2006 Pascual Toso Malbec 82 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
Oaky nose. The palate shows dusty, medium red fruit and an herbal, slightly underripe finish.
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2006 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 85 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
High-toned, bright blueberry fruit on the nose. The palate is soft and jammy, showing smoky strawberry/plummy fruit. Good stuff.
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2006 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon 82 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Good nose. Sweet, plummy, soft fruit and light spice. Vegetal finish.
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2006 Santa Ema Cabernet Sauvignon 85 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley
Woody nose. The palate shows slightly dusty red fruit and smoke. Light to medium body. Good.
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2006 Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 75 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Oaky nose. Green, vegetal, and underripe.
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2006 Pascual Toso Cabernet Sauvignon 85 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, Maipú
Better ripeness here. Bright red fruit and smoke, with some underlying structure. Good.
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2006 Montes Alpha Pinot Noir 82 Points
Chile, San Antonio Valley, Leyda Valley
Decent nose. Simple light strawberry fruit. Green and thin on the midpalate and finish.
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2005 Montes Alpha Syrah 80 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Decent nose of peppery dark fruit. Soft dark blackberry fruit on the attack. Green and thin on the midpalate and finish.
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2006 Santa Ema Merlot Reserva 75 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley
Sweet, confected flavors of blueberries and chocolate. The palate shows soft cotton candy/sugar flavors, along with chocolate and some dark fruit. Not for me.
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2005 Bodega Norton Privada Mendoza 70 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
The nose is a caricature of jammy New World Merlot. The palate is candied yet also shrill and bitter, with a hot, burning, unpleasant finish. No.
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2005 Primus The Blend 80 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Apalta
Sweet Merlot nose. Plump, slightly earthy raspberry fruit. A touch vegetal.
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2006 Bodega Norton Torrontés 85 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
The nose is interestingly perfumy/floral. Full-bodied, slightly oily in the mouth. Very Viognier-like. A little strange, but tasty.
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2007 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 87 Points
Chile, Casablanca Valley
Big pink grapefruit flavors on the nose and palate. Zesty citrus flavors. Good fruit. New Zealand-like. Great QPR at $8-9.
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2006 Montes Sauvignon Blanc Limited Selection Leyda Valley 85 Points
Chile, San Antonio Valley, Leyda Valley
Lightly sweet and grassy. A nice, zesty, citrusy Sauvignon Blanc.
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2007 Montes Syrah Cherub 89 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Wow. Nice nose of fresh watermelon/strawberry fruit. Crisp and easy-drinking, with nice supporting minerality. A dead ringer for a good Rhone rosé. Excellent.
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2005 Cousiño-Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Antiguas Reservas 85 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley
Nice nose. Coffee/chocolate and ripe dark fruit. Good concentration. The finish is a touch green.
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2005 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Marqués de Casa Concha 85 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley
Soft blackberry fruit, smoke, and earth. A touch oaky. Soft. Good.
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2006 Bodegas Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon Famiglia Bianchi 87 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, San Rafael
Nice nose. Dark fruit, licorice, smoke, and earth/leather. Interesting touch of earthy funk. Quite complex. Ripe tannins.
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2007 Bodegas Bianchi Bonarda Elsa 75 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, San Rafael
Vinified with no oak. Nondescript nose. Dark fruit; soft in the mouth. Clunky and heavy.
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2005 Concha y Toro Carménère Casillero del Diablo Reserva 75 Points
Chile, Central Valley
Vinified with no oak. Nondescript red fruit. Heady and heavy.
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2006 Bodegas Bianchi Malbec Famiglia Bianchi 85 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, San Rafael
Bright dark fruit with a slight grassy flavor. Smoky/campfire flavors on the midpalate. Decent length. The finish is slightly austere.
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2006 Piattelli Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve 75 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Tupungato
Oaky nose. Herbal and green.
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2006 Piattelli Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Premium 75 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Tupungato
Herbaceous dark fruit. Nondescript.
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2006 Piattelli Vineyards Malbec Grand Reserve Lujan de Cuyo 75 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo
Dark fruit and horsey flavors. Astringent.
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2006 Piattelli Vineyards Malbec Premium 75 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo
Green, weedy, and nondescript.
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2003 Piattelli Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 13 Months 80 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco
Dark fruit and smoke/vanilla. CaliCab-like. Very oaky.
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2005 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 86 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto
Plush, almost buttery texture. Smoky dark fruit. A touch heavy. Showing plenty of oak. Good concentration.
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2004 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva 85 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto
Sweet cherry/blueberry fruit, slathered in lots of oak/vanilla. CaliCab-like. Good concentration; a bit heavy.
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2004 Montes Alpha M 87 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Big, intense dark fruit and black licorice. Coffee/oak/vanilla flavors on the midpalate and finish. CaliCab-like. Good, albeit a bit blocky and clumsy.
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2005 Achával-Ferrer Quimera 88 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo
Great nose. Soft, plummy, jammy dark fruit. Plenty of oak that still needs time to integrate.
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