Julia & Malbec

My first entry is going to be an Argentine Malbec since my first glass of Malbec that I had in a bar in Salta (province in the north of Argentina) was decisive for my further path in life… I know this sounds sort of dramatic but it really was!!:-) I had been on a three month backpacking trip through the country at that time and after having been in Argentina for only two weeks I decided to throw away my plane ticket for the way back and stay. The endless amount of amazing places, the crazy loud happy people, the sun and the fantastic wine made me curious for more, and at the same time I felt very much at home in this place from beginning on…

Let me share one of my favorite “every day” Malbecs from Mendoza with you...

from the foot of the "Cordon del Plata"

Brand: Zagal

Winery: Hacienda del Plata

Vintage: 2006

Varietal: 100% Malbec

Winemaker: Hugo Galiotti

Winemaking: cold pre-maceration at 8° - 10° for 48 hours. Fermentation in steel tanks during 14 days at controlled temperature (use of selective yeasts). 40% of the wines is aged in 3rd use oak barrels for 8 months (French and American). The other 60% stay in stainless steel at low temperatures. Natural sedimentation, aging in bottle before entering the market: 6 months.

Alcohol: 14%

Average Price: € 9,50

Tasting Notes: Intense aromas of ripe red fruit, blackberry, clove and violets; in the background hints of toasted bread and coffee. Well structured and strong body, smooth and sweet tannins. Drink now through 2012.

Food Pairing Suggestions: wonderful with grilled beef marinated in herbs and garlic, accompanied with grilled vegetables like red bell pepper, onions, potatoes

General rating: 3 tastevins

Categories: Super Value! Weekly drinking

F*CK THE FINANCIAL CRISIS: Value wines that beat recession. Part 2

Rasmus Amdi Larsen is a 21 year old sommelier. He is currently working as head-sommelier and Restaurant Manager at the restaurant Le Sommelier in the centre of Copenhagen. Administrating the 1600 bottle wine list, one of the largest in Denmark, this young sommelier is showing a lot of potential. Rasmus is also educating at the Hospitality College in Copenhagen, competing in sommelier competitions - and in the limited free time, golfing is a huge interest. To get in touch with Rasmus email him at amdi@gastrodenmark.com

‘Were not gonna take it!’ Its time for great wine that won’t break your wallet. Here’s the second episode on my series of wines that you can drink a case of and still be able to call your bank the following Monday. It is time to party.

Winery: Alta Vista (Blend)

Vintage: 2004

Appellation: Mendoza

Varietal: Malbec, Cabernet, Syrah, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot

Oak: 12 months in French oak.

Average Price: $14

Tasting notes: Deep ruby colored, beautiful clean. The nose is intense and, as you would expect covered with fruits like blackcurrant, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and leather, tobacco and wood. It is a very honest wine, really expressing every grape in the Blend. Its very balanced and, despite all the ‘heavy’ notes still has a very good and crisp acidity.

Food Pairing Suggestions: Steak of beef with onion compot, potatoes and mushroom vinaigrette. Breast of duck with cabbage and apricot/jalepenos sauce (make sure the jalepenos give to the sauce the ‘hot’ taste, NOT to your tongue).

Winery Notes: Alta Vista is run by Jean-Michel d’Aulan, a famous Chateaux owner in St-Emilion and the former owner of the champagne house Piper-Heidseick. He was given the title of the ‘winemaker of the year’ not less than two times.

Rating: 3 out of 5 for an outstanding value wine.

Salta la Linda

Aaron Epstein has been passionate about wine since before he could legally drink it, and at 27 he now has more than 5 years of professional wine experience. His love of the grape was born in Spain, took root in Italy, and has since led him around the world to work wine jobs in almost every aspect of the industry, most recently in Mendoza, Argentina. He is currently preparing for a return to his home city of New York, where he will be racking up airline miles as a broker for some of South America’s finest wines.
For more information visit Aaron’s wineblog Vino e Vita, or contact AA@aaepstein.com.



My first post comes direct from Cafayate, Salta, the source not only of some of Argentina's best (and unknown) wines but also of its most impressive landscapes. In the two days I've been here I have honestly been torn about whether my time is better spent tasting wine or taking photographs.

With an average vineyard altitude of almost 5,500 feet above sea level and as many cactus as grapevines, the terrain here in Cafayate is like no other wine producing region in the world. The high altitude, desert climate, and drastic temperature contrast between daytime highs and nighttime lows result in concentrated, idiosyncratic wines that reflect the unique geology of the land as well as the artistry of the local winemakers. I must say that even after almost a year and a half tasting wine in Argentina, I have been impressed since I got off the plane in Salta.

While the wines from this region have only begun to emerge on the international scene in the past 5 years or so, leading the way are the those made from the Torrontés grape which has quickly come forth as Argentina's emblematic white varietal, with the undisputed best coming from the region of Salta and more specifically Cafayate. More and more established producers in Mendoza are buying grapes from here, and slowly but surely Torrontés is entering the consciousness of wine consumers around the world. So let me tell you a bit about it.

Recent studies show that Torrontés is related to Malvasia, a grape that is widely planted in both Italy and Spain, as well as Portugal where it is used in the production of the sweet wine Madeira. While nobody's exactly sure how it got down this far south there are now three varieties of Argentine Torrontés: Torrontés Riojano, Torrontés Sanjuanino, and Torrontés Mendocino, each of which is named after a region of Argentina (La Rioja, San Juan, and Mendoza). Of these three, Torrontés Riojano is by far the most common.

Torrontés is best known for its fresh, floral aromas, although in the warm regions where it seems to grow best it does run the risk of a high alcohol content which can lead to added weight and some heat on the palate. I often get tropical fruit on the nose as well as grassy notes similar to those normally associated with Sauvignon Blanc. This morning I had the pleasure of visiting Finca Las Nubes here in Cafayate, owned and run by the producer of one of my favorite Torrontés bottlings, José Luis Mounier. It was the first time I've had his 2008 Torrontés, which I found to be refreshing, perfectly balanced, nicely acidic, and with a alluring bouquet full of pineapple and spring flowers. If it were bottled as a perfume, well, it would be hard to keep me away from the woman wearing it.

I've also been quite impressed by the Laborum Torrontés produced by my new friends at Bodegas El Porvenir de los Andes, which is not surprising as it was their red wines that blew me away when I tasted them in Mendoza several months ago and inspired me to visit Cafayate in the first place. It's not an exaggeration to say that to my palate El Porvenir is making some of the best wine in Argentina, and having now visited their vineyards and winery I will be a loyal fan for life. Their wines are deeply concentrated and lushly textured, with fruit bursting out of the glass along with attractive notes of earth that truly do evoke the mountains surrounding the property. I'll be posting some more detailed tasting notes at the end of my trip here, but for the moment let's just say that the loving care in both vineyard and cellar shine through in everything they put their hands on. Winemaker Luis Asmet is a genius, and the expertise of consulting enologist Isabel Mijares, "flying winemaker" and confederate of renowned consultant Michel Rolland, gives the wines a depth and character that while distinctly Salteño provides a context well beyond the confines of the new world.

Unfortunately you can't taste the wines virtually, but I hope the below photos help you get a feel for the place.

Bodega Del Fin de Mundo Special Blend 2006

Winery: Bodega Del Fin de Mundo

Brand: Special Blend

Vintage: 2006.

Location: San Patricio del Chañar, Neuquén, Patagonia.

Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Malbec (40%), Merlot (20%)

Oak: 15 months aging in oak barrels (100% French oak barrels)

Average Price: $35.-

Tasting Notes: deep red colour with juicy plums, raspberries, tobacco and chocolate aromas. It is aged in new French oak barrels for 15 months which gives this wine outstanding complexity in which you may discover countless sensations as you explore its intense bouquet. It is a unique full bodied wine with excellent structure, complimented by velvety tannins that envelop the palate with an elegant sensuality.

Food Pairing Suggestions: this blend is perfect to be enjoyed with greasy red meat.

Winery Notes: Bodega Del Fin del Mundo was the first winery in the province of Neuquén. Its vineyards are located in the district of San Patricio del Chañar, 55 km away from Neuquen city. The region enjoys exceptional conditions for the cultivation of the grapes. There is excellent temperature variation with warm sunny days followed by cold nights witch give the grapes an excellent balance of fruit and acidity, colour, aromas and body.