Wine on the Radio - September 14, 2004

Argentina Overview                    Recommendations

How good is your imagination?   Let's take a mental journey.  

Picture majestic snow capped mountains framing the sky.   Miles of vineyards snake their way through the foothills under a brilliant sun.   Smell the charcoal grilling beef and watch the light reflect a ruby red glass of wine on the table.  

The day is hot, dry and quiet in the provincial town.   The night electric and musical in the thriving city.  

This is Argentina.  

Argentineans love wine.   It's a part of every day life, especially in the café's ringing the plazas.   The heart of the wine country is provincial Mendoza in the shadow of the Andes.  

Around Mendoza , and farther to the north in San Juan, there is a huge variety of wine grapes and styles but none more celebrated that Malbec.   Around the world, Malbec is known as a blending grape but not here.   It's as Argentine as the tango.  

Malbec is a wine like the nights in Buenos Aires - soft but with underlying passion and energy.

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Some Wines from Argentina - Our Picks and Recommendations . . . All Prices Approximate

 

Trapiche 2002 Estate Malbec $9
Argentina, South America
Winemaker's Notes
In temperate regions, Malbec benefits from constant sun, which ripens the tannins and gives the wine an intense color

 

Trapiche 2000 Oak Cask Malbec $8
Argentina, South America
Winemaker's Notes
Dark plum red; aromas of red plums and cherries with a touch of oak; fleshy and finishing with soft, ripe tannins and red fruits

 

Alamos 2002 Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon $10
Argentina, South America
Winemaker's Notes
From the vineyard to the winery, Alamos Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon is made to emphasize varietal fruit character. The results of this careful handling is a wine with a deep nose, intense reddish-purple color and a concentrated nose of plum and blackberry fruit, laced with essence of hazelnut and nuances of cedar, cigar box and chocolate

 

Alamos 2002 Mendoza Malbec $10
Argentina, South America
Winemaker's Notes
From the vineyard to the winery, Alamos Ridge Malbec is made to emphasize varietal fruit character

 

Bodega Norton 2000 Malbec Reserve $15
Argentina, South America
Winemaker's Notes
Intense red color with purple hue. This wine shows complex aromas of ripe plum

 

Catena 2002 Chardonnay $18
Argentina, South America
Winemaker's Notes
The Catena Chardonnay (from the Agrelo Vineyard) has a golden yellow color with pronounced green reflections. It boasts concentrated aromas of ripe tropical and citrus fruits with light notes of vanilla and toast

 

2000 Catena Cabernet Sauvignon "Agrelo Vineyards" Mendoza $18
WA 90 points, A highly aromatic, blackberry-dominated wine

 

2001 Catena Malbec "Lunlunta Vineyards" Mendoza $20
WS 88 points, Lovely raspberry, plum and blackberry fruit, with hints of vanilla

 

Catena 2001 Malbec $22
Argentina, South America
Winemaker's Notes
Delicious stuff, this old vine Malbec bursts with intense, peppery fruit

 

2001 Susana Balbo Malbec Mendoza $12
WS 88 points, With a tasty mix of red and blackberry fruit, this medium-weight Malbec also offers chocolate and sweet spice notes