Argentina Versus Chile Wine Tasting at Wine Watch

“There is truth in wine, but you never see it listed in the ingredients on the label”
― Josh Stern

I guess wine is considered to be above the law when it comes to the FDA and other organizations that regulate what we consume.  Even though most wines are made with very little other than the grapes themselves, there is no way to know based on the label, it is one of the only products that you consume that does not have a list of ingredients- even bottled water is required to have a list of ingredients today.

The best wines today are made with either: sustainable, organic or biodynamic practices and this is not only to make better wines but to maintain better vineyard health.  Just like it is bad for us humans to take antibiotics every time we have a little sniffle or cough, the vineyards are healthier and will live longer more productive lives if they are maintained with natural principles.

Like one of the top wines from Chile we will be showing at our Chile versus Argentina wine tasting on Friday, August 17th which is made from a vineyard planted in 1890!  There are very few places where you can find old vines like this, especially ones that are planted on their own rootstock!  This wine from Neyen winery is one of the best wines that I have tasted from Chile and is on par with some of the best wines that you will find from anywhere in the world today.  This is only one of the thirty + wines that we will be showcasing this evening.

These two countries are making some of the best wines in the world, especially when it comes to Bordeaux varietals.  It is hard to beat Chile and Argentina when it comes to value and each country has its own specialty that is unique in the world of wine in terms of grape varietals and there will be a lot of Carmenere and Malbec on the table this evening.  It is hard to find wines that are over $100 a bottle from either country and you can still find many of the top wineries top wines at under $50 per bottle like the Diamandes Grand Reserve and the Grand Vin from Cuvelier de Los Andes both of these wines are Most Excellent and are a part of the Clos de los Siete group that French Vintner Michel Rolland put together in Mendoza.  We have the best price in the country on many of these wines and we have over 30 other wines on the table this evening along with Toni’s empanadas! 

This is a walk around tasting in the Wine Cave and is limited to 35 tasters; the fee for this event is $55 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

Argentina Versus Chile Wine Tasting at Wine Watch
Friday, August 17th
7:30pm

Neyen Apalta Red - An Ancient vineyard producing world class wines

Neyen Espiritu De Apalta Colchagua Valley 2012             
Price: $56.25       Sale $49.50

A blend of 50% Carmenere and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Intense, ruby red with hints of purple. Complex aromas of strawberry, raspberry, plum and cassis mingle with hints of pepper and vanilla. A soft and elegant wine, with ripe tannins and low acidity. On the palate, the fruit takes the main stage, with prominent flavors of raspberry and plum. The finish is long and persistent.

Antigal One Malbec La Dolores Mendoza 2008
Price: $50.00       Sale $44.00

(91 points) Rich and ripe, with minerally refinement to the broad, well-structured flavors of dark plum and beef, accented by floral notes. Medium-grained tannins support the long, spicy finish. Drink now through 2021. 1,000 cases made. -KM  (Sep 30 2017) Wine Spectator

Bodegas Caro Mendoza 2015
Price: $67.50       Sale $59.40

(94 points) The eponymous flagship 2015 Caro is a blend of Malbec with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. As 2015 was a very challenging year for Cabernet Sauvignon, this vintage has more Malbec than in the past, which seems to have given it extra freshness. The percentage of Malbec has been creeping up since 2012, which has moved the profile toward more red fruit and freshness, and at the same time, they have been reducing the amount of new oak used. It comes from the oldest plots in their vineyards in Paraje Altamira and Las Compuertas. It fermented in stainless steel with neutral yeasts, including malolactic. The elevage lasted 18 months and was in French barriques produced by the Domaine Lafite, of which 60% were new and the rest second use. This is my favorite vintage of Caro so far, always an elegant and classical blend but now with an extra dimension of freshness. It has harmony and balance for a positive development in bottle. It’s still young, but it’s certainly approachable. 38,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2016.  (Jun 2018) Wine Advocate
                                               
Ritual Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley 2014 
Price: $13.25       Sale $11.66

(90 Points) The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Ritual is sourced from a plot called La Gloria that is situated next to a forest, which is like a natural air conditioning, on granite, mica and quartz soils. It aims at being aromatic but it's also a wine with volume and texture. After pressing the full clusters, the juice fermented in egg-shaped concrete vats, stainless steel tanks and well seasoned barriques to provide more complexity and dimension. The nose is subtle and shows incipient complexity, bay leaf, gooseberries and some herbal notes. The focus here was on adding texture -- it's not only acidity; it has certain volume, and the flavors are focused and precise. The model is Sancerre rather than New Zealand.  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Noemia Patagonia A Lisa 2016  
Price: $20.25       Sale $17.82

(89 Points) Ripe, with dark plum and fig flavors that are robust and filled with plenty of smoky notes. Dried beef accents show on the finish. Drink now.  Wine Spectator                

Paul Hobbs Imports

2017 Vina Cobos “Felino” Chardonnay                 
Price: $19.00    Your Price: $16.72

Pure pale gold with green hues in the glass. Fascinating notes of Bosc pear, white peaches, passion fruit and pineapple, beautifully accompanied by orange blossom, white flowers and subtle notes of bread crust. On the mouth, it shows a creamy texture, good volume and bright acidity. An elegant chardonnay with a great bouquet, balanced and persistent.

2016 Vina Cobos Felino Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza
Price: $18.00    Your Price: $15.84               Quantity in Stock: 11

Varietal Composition 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.   This bright deep-red wine has a nose of sweet red berries and menthol. It tastes of berries, white pepper, and cassis. Its strong acidity and round tannins give this wine a complex highly concentrated structure.

2017 Vina Cobos Felino Malbec Mendoza
Price: $19.25    Your Price: $16.94

(90 Points) I also tasted the just-bottled 2017 Felino Malbec, of which a whopping 651,000 bottles have been produced. They increased the percentage of French oak and reduced the use of American oak a bit, and the wood seems better integrated, neatly folded into the fruit. It felt a little closed (it was just bottled), and I sensed the difference between the cooler 2016 and the riper 2017, but the wine didn't show any excess and felt very balanced and harmonious. At the same time, they are also changing the image, with a cleaner, easier to read label that also reflects the character of the wine. It has very fine tannins and a great mouthfeel. Amazing quality for the volume. It slowly opened up in the glass and didn't stop to grow.   Robert Parker's Wine Advocate  
                                                                                                               
2015 Vina Cobos Felino Cocodrilo Red Blend Mendoza
Price: $24.75    Your Price: $21.78

(91 Points) I also tasted the 2015 Cocodrilo Corte, which is a different blend every year, although always Cabernet Sauvignon-based, which in 2015 was complemented by 15% Malbec and 8% Cabernet Franc. The origin of the grapes also changes, and here it's mostly fruit from Luján with about 23% of it sourced from the cooler Valle de Uco. The wine matured in oak barrels, 20% of them new, until bottled some 15 months after the harvest. I always like tasting different vintages of the same wine side by side, as comparison accentuates differences and nuances. This is much fresher than the 2014, with subtle aromas and good nuances, quite fruit-driven with a spicy touch. The palate is medium-bodied, polished, easy to drink, with very good freshness. I see a turn toward fresher wine, which is shown very clearly when comparing this next to the 2014.  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
                                                                                               
2015 Bramare Cabernet Sauvignon Lujan De Cuyo Mendoza
Price: $40.25    Your Price: $35.42

(92 Points) A solid Cabernet Sauvignon with berries, currants and hints of fresh herbs. Medium body, integrated tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows focus. Drink or hold. James Suckling, June 21, 2017

2014 Bramare Malbec Lujan de Cuyo
Price: $36.00    Your Price: $31.68

A big and bold style of malbec with a good hand of roasted coffee, dark black berry fruit, black licorice and dark earth on the nose very complex bouquet. Big and chewy on the tongue with a solid core of black berry and plum fruit, big tannins very long finish, black earth, licorice, violet floral notes, a big wine but still has balance and freshness to the finish. Finish 45+ Excellent +

2015 Bramare Malbec Valle De Uco
Price: $40.25    Your Price: $35.42

Intense and inviting floral violet aromas with red and black fruit aromas of plum, cherry, blackberry, and boysenberry. The fruit and floral flavor intensity continues on the rich, full-bodied palate, balanced by firm tannins that persist on the long finish.

Bodegas La Flor Pulenta Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 2016      
Price: $15.00       Sale $13.20
Excellent ruby color, typical of cabernet sauvignon. Spicy aromas with jam notes that show its complexity, with hints of tabacco from the aging in oak. Round on the palate with soft tannins

Bodegas La Flor Pulenta Malbec Mendoza 2017
Price: $15.00       Sale $13.20

Very pretty nose like raspberry preserves strawberry fruit very pretty a mixture of fruit from both valleys. Higher yields in the vineyards and they harvest a small part a bit earlier to keep the freshness. A shorter maceration smooth and drinkable 6 months in older barrique 3-5 years old, a light and refreshing style very pleasant. Finish 40+ Very Good

Bodegas La Flor Pulenta Malbec Rose Mendoza 2017
Price: $15.00       Sale $13.20
                                                                                                               
Our Malbec Rosé has a soft pink color with a vivid purple hue. The aroma is intense, expressing fresh fruits like cherry, strawberry and watermelon. With notes of rose petals and raspberries on the palate. Delicate, with a round and fresh finish in the palate.

Pulenta Estate Pinot Gris XIV Mendoza 2017
Price: $15.00       Sale $13.20

The color is yellow with slight greenish tones. On the nose, there are white flowers, peaches and apricots. Very fresh and persistent on the palate with balanced acidity and a long, pleasant finish.

Pulenta Estate Sauvignon Blanc Mendoza 2017                                
Price: $15.00       Sale $13.20

Our Sauvignon Blanc presents a bright, yellow-green color with a great aromatic intensity of grapefruit and other citrus fruits. On the palate, its balance of fruit and acidity enhance its fruit personality. It is a young, fresh wine, perfect to pair with seafood.

Pulenta Estate Chardonnay VIII Mendoza  2017
Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86

This wine spends 50% in stainless steel tanks and 50% in French oak barrels, 50% of the wine goes through spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels, 50% does not.  Lemon and green apple fruit with a flinty mineral note to the nose hints of lightly toasted oak spice, vanilla bean spice, nutmeg. A very rich and creamy wine on the tongue with a very plush wine with a nice touch of spice, vanilla and cinnamon, a firm hand of acidity, very well built, this wine should last for 3-5 years at least very well balanced. Finish 40+

Pulenta Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza 2014        
Price: $43.25       Sale $38.06

Ruby intense and deep in color, it has spicy aromas, such as paprika and oregano and delicate notes of tobacco and coconut from the oak aging. Delicate and complex in the palate, it expresses good structure and soft tannins, with a sweet texture.

Pulenta Estate Malbec Mendoza 2016                                                                                                  
Price: $24.00       Sale $21.12

The wine has a very bright and intense violet color. Its aroma expresses red fruits like strawberries and cherries, balanced with the spicy notes of the oak. On the palate, it is round, with soft tannins and delicate mineral notes proving to be a wine of great character and remarkable structure.

Pulenta Gran Cabernet Franc Xi Mendoza 2014                
Price: $43.25       Sale $38.06

Deep ruby in color, with an intense aroma of roasted pepper, eucalyptus and spice. Its entrance on the palate is sweet and smooth, due to the presence of round and ripe tannins. The wine is aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months, giving the wine an elegant and long finish.

Pulenta Gran Corte Red Mendoza 2014                
Price: $43.25       Sale $38.06

In color, the wine is an attractive, intense red with dark tones. It expresses fruit notes of plum, cherry, and dark fruits, with several spices like thyme, oregano, and black pepper, given by some of the components of the blend, which make the wine delicate and complex. On the palate it is elegant but structured, with a persistent finish making it a wine hard to forget.

Pulenta Gran Malbec Alto Limay Patagonia 2013             
Price: $45.00       Sale $39.60                                                                                                                         

(97 points) What a fantastic nose to this polished and intense wine. Wet earth, blackberries, licorice and walnut shell on the nose. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a fabulous finish. This is one of the best top class malbecs. So wonderful to drink now but better in 2019. James Suckling (Jun 2017)

Alto Limay Pinot Noir Select 2016           
Price: $20.50       Sale $18.04

Bright, red color, expressing aromas of flowers and red fruit such as red currant, raspberry, and strawberry. Earthy notes with touches of minerality are subtly balanced with hints of vanilla and cocoa. Bright and juicy on the palate, the texture shows ultrafine tannins, giving a finish of depth and dimension.

Alto Limay Rose 2016    
Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86

Pale pink color, with delicate floral aromas of jasmine, orange blossom and rose petals. The palate is crisp, fresh, with a bright acidity and balanced fruit expression.

Twenty One Wines and Spirits

Atanea Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley 2015
Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86         

Atanea is the name of the line of wines I make with my friend and partner Emeric in Casablanca Valley. We are in control of the whole process. From the manual, organic and biodynamic care in the vineyard to the natural wine-making process in the winery. We select our Pinot from the coolest parts of Casablanca Valley.?

Atanea Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley 2016
Price: $12.75       Sale $11.22                                         

Light and pale yellow color with green reflections.  White flowers and lemon peels dominate its nose that also shows ripe pineapple and passion fruit. In Mouth this wine of refined texture and unctuous mid palate will show, on top of all the flavours of its nose, its granitic minerality and will evolve towards  a  long  finish  with  notes  of  dried  fruits  and  pine  needles.

Cuvelier de Los Andes Gran Vin Mendoza 2013
Price: $37.50       Sale $33.00

this wine has a big aroma of smoked meat licorice and an intoxicating array of blackberry blueberry fruit, blackberry fruit, violets, dark chocolate and more very complex, notes of mocha and fig with lots of fruit here coming out as the wine opens.  They produce 300,000 bottles per year and they made 27,400 bottles of the 2012 Grand Vin.  Finish 45+  Most Excellent
               
Cuvelier de Los Andes Gran Malbec Mendoza 2013
Price: $58.50       Sale $51.48

100% Malbec The deep purple-colored Grand Malbec has a stunning aromatic display of pain grille, mineral, espresso, black cherry, and black raspberry. Large-scaled yet elegant on the palate, it has gobs of succulent black fruits, serious depth and concentration, and enough stuffing to unfold for another 5-7 years.

Cuvelier de Los Andes Malbec Mendoza 2014
Price: $19.50       Sale $17.16

Good full and bright red. Aromas of blackcurrant, plum, chocolate and meat. Soft, varietally intense and precise with good energy to the flavors of currant, plum, snuff and land. It ends with sweet tannins, slightly dusty, a note of cherry and solid structure.

2009 DiamAndes Malbec-Cabernet Gran Reserva Uco Valley
Price: $35.00       Sale $30.80

Gran reserve means 3 years in oak this wine has a good punt of dark berry fruit blackberry jam, violet, black licorice and more very complex bouquet, nice structure with a lot of fruit well built with a long layered finish. Finish 50+ Most Excellent
               
2014 DiamAndes Gran Reserva Chardonnay Valle De Uco Mendoza
Price: $35.00       Sale $30.80

Barrel fermented aged for 14 months with a nice rich toasty oak spice vanilla, cinnamon spice and lemon drop candy, a smooth and creamy texture with a good amount of fruit with a nice compliment of lightly toasted oak spice. Finish 40+. Excellent

Diamandes Malbec Mendoza 2014
Price: $18.75       Sale $16.50
               
This wine is 100% Malbec that is a blend of 50/60 barrel and stainless steel fermented juice. A very fruit driven wine with lots of blackberry, pretty violet floral aromas and black licorice spice. Very rich with a smooth silky texture, forward and seductive with a nice freshness and a long finish. Finish 40+  Excellent

Menu
Short Rib Empanadas with mole Sauce
Sausage Stuffed Green Olives with Avocado and Garlic Roasted red pepper puree
Quail eggs poached in Baby bell peppers with Ciacci Piccolomini Olive Oil
Humitas - boiled corn leaf rolls filled with seasoned ground corn and coffee robbed Pork Loin
Churrasco Flatbread with Chimichurri Sauce

This is a walk around tasting and is limited to 35 tasters; the fee for this event is $55 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.