Recommend some delicious Argentine wine

[ManhattanLawyer]

We'll be in Argentina next week. What are some good wines to look for?

Thanks.

[aledm]

Greetings, Sorry to have missed your travel date to Argentina. In case anyone else needs help with Argentine wines, here is our list and our comments. ALEDM

Carlos Pulenta, Vistalba, Mendoza: www.carlospulentawines.com
Ternera Malbec AP$35/US $9.83
Tomero Malbec 2004 AP$55/US $18.03 in a restaurant Really good
We are told you can get this wine in the States through:

USA Gaucho Imports LLC California Gaucho Imports LLC New York
510 Union St., S. F. CA 94133 252 East 52 St., NY NY 10022
Phone [phone] Phone [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail] e-mail: [e-mail]

Andeluna Malbec 2005 AP$30/US $9.83 Excellent

Salentein Malbec 2005 AP$39.89/US$13.07 Very good

Terazzas Malbec 2005 around US$10 Very good

Luigi Bosca, D.O.C. Malbec Single Vineyard (Luján de Cuyo) 2004 AP$85/US $27.86

Trumpeter Malbec 2005 AP$26.39/US $8.65 in the market: very good

Trapiche Malbec AP$53/ US$17.38 Fine

Finca La Linda Malbec AP$55/US$18.03 looked like cherry juice; too light

Famiglia Bianchi Malbec 2005 AP$88/28.85 in a restaurant, AP$39.99/US $13.11 in the store (recommended by the sommelier at Césares

)

Enzo Bianchi Gran Cru (blend), San Rafael -- about AP$110/US$36.06 Very good
Maestre de Campo Malbec 2002 AP$66/US$21.69 in a restaurant. Very good

Sophenia Malbec 2006 AP$67/US$21.96 in a restaurant. Very good and ready to drink. It didn't need to open either.

Malma, Malbec Reserva 2004 Bodega NQN AP$30/US $9.83 in the market. Very good wine of the Nuequen region

Ayres de Cafayate, Malbec 2005 (Bodegas Etchart) Salta Very good

[SuzieMae]

A fantastic different white (breaking the Chardonnay habit) is the Viognier from Altas Cumbres. It is not expensive ( I pay $21 reais = ten bucks) and it is fruitty, well-bodied, 14% alcohol. It ihas storng notes of just ripe peach or honeydew melon. I serve it with richer fish dishes (bacalhau), chicken is a very seasoned sauce, spicier pasta dishes, as an opener with a terrine or sliced prosciutto. It is a great contrast to a lightler wine, such as a Sauvignon Blanc (Tarapacá, Chile) or Pinto Grigio (Miolo, Brazil). I have started a meal with the lighter, then moved to the Viognier with great satisfaction.
This is a reasonably priced wine that I drink once a week. For something a bit more expensive, explore the wines of Perdriel, Familia Zucchardi, Doña Paula and Angelica Zapata. Cheers!

[Rockhopper46038]

Also, you might as well try some Chilean reds while you're there. Frankly, with the favorable exchange rate, you can afford to sample until you find just what you're looking for!

[Casa SaltShaker]

Problem is, you can't really get Chilean wines here. A very limited selection from the bigger commercial wineries, and at higher prices then they cost in the U.S. We have price/import protections in place, and with a minimum 50% luxury tax on wines coming in from other places (and for some wines, over 100%!), plus import and distribution costs, they're just prohibitive. That, and the INV, our national wine board, requires a submission of foreign wines, batch by batch, for approval, making the whole process very difficult, so few bother to even try.

[Rockhopper46038]

Just got back from Argentina a few weeks ago. We liked almost any Malbec we tried, but for the price the Trumpeter Malbec was extremely good.

[chicagowinediva]

Oh - Chandon does a fun sparkling wine in Argentina - you might want to check that out as well.

[chicagowinediva]

Pretty much any Malbec for reds and any Torrontes for whites.
My favorite producers are Achaval Ferrer, Domino del Plata (Susana Balbo), Clos de los Siete, Catena Zapata, and Vina Cabos.