Recently, our friends at Vineyard Brands sent us samples from three Argentine producers whose wines they have introduced into the U.S. market. All eight of these proved to be some of the most enjoyable selections we’ve tried from South America in some time, and we would recommend any and all of them. Included here with our notes are links to pages giving background information on each of these wineries.  Click label images to enlarge.

Altos de San Isidro from the very northern Cafayate:

2011 Altos de San Isidro Torrontes Cafayate, 13.5% alc., $16 SRP: Clean medium color, with the typical orange blossom and honeysuckle nose, though perhaps not as effusive as with some models; still, it’s very pretty and follows through on the palate in a restrained manner, with a core of ripe red and green apple flavors and a note of mineral underneath it all. Medium-full bodied, rich and almost oily, not unlike Gewurztraminer in that regard; ripe, but not excessively so. Enough acidity to work well with food, and nice length on the finish; a pleasure to sip on while playing the old 12-string. 8 hour cold maceration and the cool temperature fermentation at 22° C.; no malolactic fermentation, no oak aging. Find this wine

2009 Altos de San Isidro Reserve Malbec Cafayate, 13.5% alc., $20 SRP: Clean dark garnet color; toast and coffee notes complement, rather than dominate the rich black currant and berry flavors and aromas, all with nice earthy undertones. Rich, ripe and full bodied, with ample structure for at least a few years in the cellar, but you can certainly pull a cork tonight and enjoy this with some good gaucho free range beef. 4 day cold maceration and then cool temperature fermentation at 24° C. Extensive cap management during the first 6 days to ensure soft tannin extraction. 12 months in French oak, 50% new. Find this wine

2009 Altos de San Isidro Reserve Barbera Cafayate, 14% alc., $18 SRP: Clean, deep, dark color; toasty oak over pretty black currant and berry flavors, with a note of chocolate and a solid earthy anchor. Full bodied, yet somewhat sleek, with structure for three to five years of improvement and satisfying length on the finish. A nice version of a variety that doesn’t get the play that it should outside of the Piedmont, rich and ripe, but not excessively so. 2 day cold maceration and then medium temperature fermentation at 28° C. Light cap management to ensure supple texture. 10 months in French oak, 30% new. Find this wine

TintoNegro from the Primera Zona (Lujan de Cuyo/Maipu)

2010 TintoNegro Mendoza Malbec, 14% alc., $10 SRP: Clean dark color, with a pretty perfumed, almost floral nose of sweet oak over red and black currant and berry; flavors echo and expand with notes of coffee and toast. Full bodied without being heavy, structured for some years in the cellar and offering nice length on the finish. Very good now, better in 3-5 years; great QPR! Two day cold maceration and 10 day fermentation. Extensive cap management during the first 5 days of fermentation – 2 delestages and 3 pumping overs per day. Cool fermentation with maximum temperature of 26° C. 6 months in French and American oak, 10% new. Find this wine

2010 TintoNegro Uco Valley Reserve Malbec, 14% alc., $17 SRP: Clean, dark color, with coffee-dominated black fruit aromatics; all coffee, toast and black currants and berries in the mouth. Ripe, but not over the top, with some earth underneath it all. Full bodied, with good length and structured to go at least five years in the cellar. Less “perfumed” than the regular Malbec, but a bit deeper. Six to eight day cold maceration with extensive cap management for intense aromatics and stony minerality. 14 – 16 day fermentation. Cool fermentation with maximum temperature of 23° C. 9 months in French oak, 10% new. Find this wine

2010 TintoNegro Co-Ferment Malbec, 14% alc., $20 SRP: Clean dark color, with a kiss of sweet oak and a hint of balsa wood over black fruit on the nose; flavors echo, with the fruit fleshing out to show black currant and berry qualities, underscored with a shovelful of earth. Sleek, full bodied and well-mannered, but by no means a weak sister. Good structure and length, and while I like it, it may be my least favorite of the three from TintoNegro, despite the fact that it’s the priciest. Whatever the case, it’s a solid effort and worth uncorking and enjoying with any good free range grilled red meat. Malbec co-fermented with 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Eight day cold maceration with extensive cap management for integration of varietals. 18 day fermentation. Cool fermentation with maximum temperature of 20° C. 12 months in French oak, 30% new. Find this wine

Angulo Innocenti out of the southern tip of Uco Valley, La Consulta:

2010 Angulo Innocenti Malbec La Consulta – Uco Valley, 85 % Malbec – 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, $20 SRP: Deep, dark color, purple pink at the rim; flavors and aromas of black currant, plum and berry shaded with notes of toast and mocha. Rich and intense, fairly ripe and yet earthy at the same time; full bodied and well structured, offering excellent potential for five years or more of aging. Fermented in stainless steel tanks at 27°C; a 2 lot blend, one with 5 days of cold maceration, and the other with 10 days of post fermentation maceration. Spontaneous malolactic in barrels; 50% of the wine aged for 8 months in barrel. Find this wine

2010 Angulo Innocenti Cabernet Sauvignon La Consulta – Uco Valley, $20 SRP: Clean, dark color; earthy black currant and blackberry flavors and aromas shaded with mocha and subtle herbaceous notes. Full bodied, with a smooth texture that belies solid structure that should take it five years down the road and beyond, but quite enjoyable already and harmonious at this stage.100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermented in stainless steel tanks at 27°C; a 2 lot blend, one with 5 days of cold maceration, and the other with 10 days of post fermentation maceration. Spontaneous malolactic in barrels; 50% of the wine aged for 8 months in barrel. Find this wine

Reporting from Day-twah,

geo t.

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