Wine Tasting: South America

Big crowd for the promise of high-value, inexpensive options from South America. Argentina, in particular, appears to be the overall winner, delivering all of my favorite wines of the evening. Thanks to everyone for coming. Most of the wines are available at K&L Wines on Fourth near AT&T park.

I'm going to add the scores that these wines got in leading wine publications, if only to embolden you to ignore them! WS= Wine Spectator; RP = Robert Parker's Wine Advocate; WE = Wine Enthusiast.

1. 2007 Elsa Torrontes Mendoza, Argentina ($7.99): nice, crisp, simple white, good value. I've had lots of pinot grigio that cost more and wasn't as good as this. (WE "best buy")


2. 2006 Casa Lapostolle "Cuvee Alexandre" Chardonnay Atalayas Vineyard, Casablanca Valley, Chile ($16.99): solid chardonnay, more in the CA style than French, but nicely balanced and no unpleasant surprises. (WS 90)


3. 2007 Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand ($13.99): OK, I threw in a ringer to benchmark against. This is my favorite white wine under $20, with huge passionfruit on the nose, and lots of grapefruit and grassy flavors on the palate. (WS 91)


4. 2007 Luca Pinot Noir Altos de Mendoza, Argentina ($29.99): definitely not what I think of when I think of Pinot Noir, and not very popular with most, and pricey. (RP 92)


5. 2006 Andeluna "Winemaker's Selection" Malbec Tupengato, Argentina ($10.99): nice, but eclipsed by the other Malbecs on offer (WE 90 & "best buy")


6. 2006 Bodegas Norton "Privada" Mendoza, Argentina ($17.99): solid malbec/cab/merlot blend (sorry, I thought it was a pure malbec!), still young, probably should have been decanted, and out-classed by the Achaval Ferrer wines, I thought. Might be a different story in 2 or 3 years (92 WS, 90 RP, 90 WE)


7. 2007 Achával Ferrer Malbec Mendoza, Argentina ($17.99): now we're talking, soft, accessible Malbec, pretty floral notes, a lovely lighter red style (91 WS, 91 RP)


8. 2006 Achával Ferrer Malbec Mendoza, Argentina ($19.99): same wine as # 7, but one year older; another great Malbec, even better than the 2007 I thought, with a richer, darker set of flavors (92 WA, 91 WS)


9. 2006 Achával Ferrer Quimera (Malbec/Cab/Merlot/Cab Franc), Argentina ($29.99): a crowd favorite, a Bordeaux style blend from Ferrer, more complex than the malbecs, with a longer finish, but not exactly a bargain (RP 94, WE 90)


10. 2005 Armador Odfjell Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle Del Maipo, Chile ($10.99): (RP 90)


11. 2004 Catena "Alta" Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza, Argentina ($44.99): great cabernet! Reminded me of Napa cabs that cost much more. In fact, I can't think of a CA cab this good for this price. (WS 93, RP 93)


12. 2005 Alberto Furque Tempranillo, Mendoza, Argentina (~$15): nice, but wasn't a stand out for me.


13. 2007 Domaine Monte de Luz Carquera Tannat, Uruguay ($10.99): promising nose, with earthy tones, but almost completely absent on the palate.


14. 2005 Michel Torino "Don David" Reserve Tannat, Cafayate Valley, Argentina ($16.99): wow, this is a gem -- tar, leather, incredibly concentrated, cries out for short ribs or braised lamb, great value


15. 2004 Tempus Alba Preludio Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina (~$14): sorry, by this time my palate was completely gone!