Wine Tasting with Edu Pulenta at Wine Watch

It is better to hide ignorance, but it is hard to do this when we relax over wine.

~Heraclitus

And we will be relaxing over some of the best wine made in Argentina on Tuesday September 20th with one of favorite producers from Mendoza, Pulenta Estate!

The immigrants that founded Argentina came from continental Europe in the 1700’s and there were a large amount of Italians who emigrated during this time period.  Many people who have visited this country see similarities between the European lifestyle and that of South America.  In fact, Argentina was at one time one of the largest consumers of wine in the entire world.  This was one of the main reasons why the quality of its wines was so poor, most of the wine never left Argentina and the local consumers were not very discerning with what they drank. This all changed in the 1990’s as hard spirits became fashionable and wine consumption began to decline.  This decline in wine sales left producers looking for a place to sell their juice.  As exporters began to show the wines of Argentina to foreign markets they realized that to compete with the rest of the free world they would have to make higher quality wine.  One of the most promising markets for Argentina’s wine in terms of exposure and long term relationship is the United States, but the quality of the wines would need to improve before the North Americans would take the wines of Argentina seriously.

The province of Mendoza is the traditional center of winemaking in Argentina, which produces more than 75% of the country's finest wines.  Malbec from the southwest of France is the red varietal that has best adapted to Argentine soil – I wanted to see first-hand what gave the Mendoza province the ability to produce the best Malbec specimens in the world.  So last summer I traveled to this wine region to kiss the dirt and one of my stops on this journey was one of my favorite producers, Pulenta Estate.

The Pulenta family has been a prominent and respected force in Argentine viticulture for three generations. Sons of well-known winegrower Antonio Pulenta, and descendants of Italian immigrants, Eduardo and Hugo Pulenta founded Pulenta Estate in 2002.  The vineyards are 100% estate-owned and farmed for high quality and limited yields. Their extensive holdings in the Agrelo area of Lujan de Cuyo have allowed them to create a broad portfolio that includes sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, chardonnay, pinot noir, malbec rose; merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and cabernet sauvignon in several tiers and even a late harvest red blend.

The tradition, knowledge, and experience of the family acquired during 100 years since the arrival of Angelo Polenta y Palmina Spinssanti to Argentina, is still alive today at Pulenta Estate.  All of the wines here are among the best you can find not only from Argentina but from any of the worlds’ top wine growing regions- even the Pinot Noir an unlikely hero from Mendoza is worthy of note.  Although this varietal is not considered Mendoza's best their current release of Pinot Noir was rated (95 Points) by James Suckling!!

My favorite wines from Mendoza are made with Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals but everything here at Pulenta estate over delivers for the $$$.  Their entry level Bodegas La Flor De Pulenta is an amazing value at under $15 per bottle for all of the varietals on this offering.  These are wines that you can open up every day and the Pulena Estate wines can be cellared for decades, they have the concentration, balance and complexity to age for decades.  Today we have an offering today on everything the winery has in the market currently and then some notes on things to come from my recent trip to Mendoza.

Join us as we welcome the current generation of the family to south Florida for a special tasting here at the store.  Edu Pulenta will be here to showcase the newest releases from Pulenta Estate and we have a special guest Asado chef as well as Wine Watch Catering Chef Toni Lampasone’s Empanadas she learned how to make at the Rancho house at Pulenta Estate.  This event the fee for this tasting is $35 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com

Pulenta Estate Tasting at Wine Watch with Edu Pulenta
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
7:00 PM

2015 Bodegas La Flor De Pulenta Estate Sauvignon Blanc Mendoza                         
Price: $15.00    Your Price: $13.20               Case $153

The fruit here comes from the Uco valley, green apple, white grapefruit citrus and some fresh picked grass but just a touch they do three harvests one for high acidity, then the second for more pineapple and grapefruit and then the third for the alcohol ripe tropical fruits mango passion fruit notes three months on the lees.  Very Good +

2015 Pulenta Estate Pinot Gris Mendoza
Price: $15.00       Sale $13.20          Case $153

Lemon citrus and pear like fruit on the nose this is a light and refreshing style with hints of wet stones and white flowers.  The winemaking here is fresh with a nice amount of fruit in the mid palate, they pick twice here and they do a very short cold soak to preserve the aromas no oak no malo one to two months on the lees, very delicate 3,000 cases produced small tight Bunches thin skins very fragile very easy to catch disease.  Very good +

2015 Pulenta Estate Chardonnay VIII Mendoza
Price: $15.00    Your Price: $13.20               Case $153

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+  Excellent +

2015 Bodegas La Flor De Pulenta Estate Rose Mendoza
Price: $15.00       Sale $13.20          Case $153.00

They have been making this wine for 10 years, it is a darker rose. They have a special block that they farm to make rose, leaving more leaves on the vines and they water more along with an earlier harvest.  On the nose this wine has aromas of pretty red cherry and fresh floral notes with a bit of fresh earth here as well.  A crunchy rose like fresh cut watermelon.  Finish 35+. Very good+

2014/2015 Bodegas La Flor De Pulenta Estate Malbec Mendoza
Price: $15.00       Sale $13.20          Case $153.00

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 along with a shorter maceration smooth and drinkable 6 months in older barrique (3-5) years old, a light and refreshing style very pleasant.  Finish 35+  Very Good

2014 Bodegas La Flor De Pulenta Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza
Price: $15.00       Sale $13.20          Case $153.00

Made from 100% Agrelo fruit, this wine has nice hint of peppery spice to the red currant berry fruit, a very smooth and drinkable style of Cabernet Sauvignon with a hint of dry tannins at the end but focus here is the red cherry and currant berry fruit with notes of flowers and earth on the finish, a very pleasant wine, a bit more than just a crowd pleaser.   Finish 35+  Very Good +
 

2013 Pulenta Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza
Price: $25.00       Sale $22.00          Case $255

WINERY TASTING NOTES:  «In color, the wine is dark red. Its aroma expresses green pepper, dried fruits and delicate notes of tobacco and smoke given by the oak aging. On the palate, its varietal strength is expressed. Its tannins are soft, velvety and sweet, revealing a tireless dedication from the vineyard to the bottle».  Production: 2.000 cases.

2012 Pulenta Estate Malbec Mendoza
Price: $25.00       Sale $22.00          Case $255

Has a bit closed with a meaty a blend of both vineyard sites and has a good amount of minerality here along with a nice richness to the palate.  The wine takes a bit of time to open up but that is a character of a great wine and after a few hours the fruit really comes out along with pretty violet floral aromas, very nice complexity here and shows future potential.  Finish 45+ Excellent +

2012 Pulenta Estate Gran Cabernet Franc XI Mendoza                  
Price: $48.00       Sale $42.24         Case $490

A good amount of peppery spice, with hints of eucalyptus, tobacco dried with intense blackberry fruit, only 2500 cases produced of this 100% varietal wine, there is only one block of 5 hectares planted on the estate to this varietal.  A good amount of that peppery spice with a lovely balance of fruit and once again excellent freshness a bit of dry tannins at the finish, this wine opened up very nicely, smoothing out the next day.  Finish 45+                Excellent +

2012 Pulenta Estate Gran Malbec Mendoza                                      
Price: $43.00       Sale $37.84          Case $439

Production of this wine is only 2.500 cases.  This is the top tier a blend of two different vineyards, Uco Valley and Alto Agrelo, vinified separately and aged in French barrel for 18 months.  A good amount of dark berry fruit, blackberry, black licorice, violet floral and espresso notes.  Rich and ripe black berry fruit on the tongue with a good amount of dark mocha and licorice spice, big but still quite fresh at the end.  Finish 45+ Most Excellent

2012 Pulenta Estate Gran Corte Red Mendoza                  
Price: $45.00       Sale $39.60          Case $459

A blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Tannat, only 1500 cases produced.  A big bouquet of dark berry fruit, mocha, toasty oak spice, dark cherry liqueur and dark chocolate, very rich and lots of richness but still elegant.  A very rich and chewy wine with a good amount of dark spices, coco and sweet tobacco with dark earth, intense minerality and more, big but still quite balanced through the finish, this wine has excellent structure and depth, even better on the second day, this wine should age for a decade or more in your cellar.  Finish 50+                Most Excellent +

N/V Pulenta Cabernet Franc Tardio N/V (375ml)              
Price: $45.00       Sale $39.60          Case $459
Quantity in Stock: 3

The fee for this event is $35 + tax , for reservations call 954-523-9463.
Menu
Beef Empanadas with Mole Sauce
Mixed Grill Asado style