As the Weekend Wine Warrior, I tend to stay in my comfort zone: Napa Cab, Oregon Pinot Noir, French Bordeaux, Super Tuscans. This week, I had an opportunity to expand my horizons with the New World phenom – Argentina. In fact, Argentina is the fifth largest wine producing country, and it is quickly growing its international presence, with exports up 40% the past year.

The Wines of Argentina Grand Tasting was the venue for the epiphany. On the agenda were some new varietals and blends, as well as favorites with the Argentine twist. Namely, there were two varietals to highlight: Torrontes is the signature white varietal, indigenous to Argentina, and Malbec is Argentina’s signature red varietal.

This marked my first sip of Torrontes. The wine is exceptionally aromatic, with floral scents like rose and jasmine. It was crisp with a hint of spice leading to suggested pairings of chicken or fish that are seasoned with spice.

Malbec reigned supreme as the most popular red at the tasting. There were two that stood out for their wonderful flavors and outstanding value.

Bodegas Terrazas de los Andes, Malbec Mendoza Reserva One of my favorite Malbecs, and a great deal, was the Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec for around $16. Although not the exclusive Aficado label (~$45), the Reserva was almost as complex and tasty as its big brother. The wine was smooth and soft over the palate, with rich berry flavors. It has balanced tannins, attacking with a hint of spice, and finishing with a touch of oak. Price Range: $13 - $20

Alta Vista Malbec Mendoza Las Compuertas Grande Reserve Second, Alta Vista also offers the exceptional Malbec Las Compuertas Grande Reserve for approximately $20 a bottle. Garnet red in color, the wine has smoke and toast on the attack, and full plum and currant fruits. The Alta Vista offers a rich taste, finishing with hints of cocoa and coffee, which are two of the primary aromas. Price Range: $15 - $20

Bodegas Terrazas de los Andes, Malbec Mendoza Reserva On the high end, I enjoyed the ACrux Blend from O. Fournier. This wine, which retails for approximately $45, received 91 points from Wine Spectator. The wine was full-bodied and big. It had been decanted, which brought out an inviting nose with aromas that ranged from blackberry to coffee and cocoa. Flavors were similarly dark and rich. Price Range: $25 - $40

For more information on the Wines of Argentina, please click on http://www.winesofargentina.org/eng/index.htm.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 10th, 2005 at 9:19 pm and is filed under Wine Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.