ACHAVAL FERRER 2007 BELLAVISTA
Robert Parker 96 Points
Wine Spectator 95 Points
The 2007 Finca Bella Vista is the first bottling of this cuvee since the 2004 vintage because 2005 and 2006 were wiped out by hail. The Bella Vista vineyard was planted in 1910 with yields for this wine at a miniscule 0.75 tons per acre. The wine was aged for 15 months in 100% new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple, it offers up an alluring bouquet of smoke, scorched earth, incense, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium- to full-bodied, velvety-textured, and surprisingly forward, this voluptuous effort has gobs of layered sweet fruit, earth and spice notes, plenty of concealed fine grained tannin, and a lengthy finish. The temptation will be to drink this hedonistic effort without delay. However, it will reward extended cellaring and should be at its best from 2013 to 2022.

ACHAVAL FERRER 2007 MIRADOR
Robert Parker 94 Points
Wine Spectator 94 Points
The 2007 Finca Mirador was sourced from a 13-acre parcel in Medrano planted in 1921. The yields for this wine were 0.9 tons per acre with the wine aged for 15 months in new French oak. Purple-colored with a superb display of toasty new oak, lilacs, spice box, black cherry, and black raspberry, on the palate it sports an elegant personality, savory flavors, underlying structure, and a lengthy, 45-second finish. It, too, will drink well from 2013 to 2022.

ADUENTUS 2006 MEDITERRANEO
40% Malbec, 30% Syrah and 30% Tempranillo
With an earthy nose tinged with brilliant berry fruits (logan-, boysen-), the palate echoes the berry fruits then adds a bit of black plum, black berry and lovely, earthy spices (clove, tobacco, underbrush). The underlying acidity and big tannins mean this will shine best with food; further, we would recommend opening this before the salad is served so it will be primed for the meat course (say lamb or fatty beef dishes) as the air will invigorate the mélange of fruits and spices and let it really stand out as it meshes with the meal.

ALAMOS 2008 CHARDONNAY
Nicolas Catena's Alamos brand has fashioned another fabulous value with its smoky white fruit-scented 2007 Chardonnay. Medium-bodied and elegant, this wine coats the tasters palate with layers of well-focused, rich, plump apples and pears that are intermingles with notes of buttered toast. In addition, its well-balanced, highly expressive and refined personality has outstanding concentration and length.

ALAMOS 2009 MALBEC
The purple-colored 2009 Malbec Blend contains 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Bonarda. The wine was aged in French and American oak. It offers up a nose of cedar, black cherry, and plum leading to a dense wine with plenty of savory black fruit flavor, a forward personality, and good length.

ALMA NEGRA 2006
This deep, dark truthful mirror of a red wine, this blend of Bonarda and Malbec enriches the soul upon drinking (or so we believe). The dark oxblood color leads to a nose of black plum and light minerality (loam, sea salt) and a feeling that this is serious wine. More plum, both dark and red, mixed with ripe cherry fruit tones is synthesized on the palate with perfect acidity and rich, earthy minerality foreshadowed in the nose; this is excellent, say "Wow!", stunning wine.

There are many virtues of beauty. However, the expression of beauty is different in every soul. In fact, there can be a dark, mysterious side to this beauty. Alma Negra ("dark soul") honors the unexplored depths of beauty in the shadows of our souls.

ANDELUNA 09 MALBEC
If you’re reading this newsletter, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the buzz about Argentina and the luscious Malbecs of Mendoza. We’ve fallen hard for these wines, but the with explosion of Argentine wines we’ve tasted so many good ones, our standards have grown higher and higher. Forgive us, but sometimes we find ourselves saying, “Meh, another tasty Malbec for ten bucks, but where are we going to put it...?"

This Andeluna Malbec is a real stand-out in a category crowded with good wines and it made our decision easy. Andeluna definitely has that core of sumptuous and silky fruit that is essential in a Malbec—long, richly textured, yet enlivened by bright acidity and lavish bakingspices. The flavor profile is a pitch perfect balance between black fruit and red fruit (for “black fruit” think flavors like blackberry, mulberry and currant; for “red fruit” think soft and pretty Pinot-like flavors of raspberry, strawberry and pomegranate). The Andeluna Malbec is bold and beautiful enough to make us fall in love again. Your teeth may be black after enjoying a bottle, but we’re sure you’ll be smiling.

ANTIGAL UNO 07 MALBEC
Uno 2007 is a one-of-a kind Malbec whose luscious black and red berry fruit is brightened by natural acidity and supported by firm but ripe tannins. The wine's unique personality reflects the superb quality of grapes hand-harvested from our vineyards high on the Andes foothills; its smoothness and purity of flavor evince the gentleness of gravity-flow winemaking. Barrel-aged for eight months in French and American oak, Uno carries cedar and vanilla-spice notes through a lingering finish. Enjoy this exceptional wine with red meat entrees, grilled vegetables, and semi-firm cheeses.

BENEGAS FINCA 2005 LIBERTAD (BORDEAUX BLEND)
WINE ADVOCATE 91 POINTS - "The 2005 Finca Libertad is a blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 30% Merlot aged for 18 months in new French oak. The Cabernet Franc portion of the blend was sourced from 100+-year-old pre-phyloxera vines. Dark ruby in color, it exhibits a complex aromatic array of toasty oak, cinnamon, earth notes, pencil lead, cassis, and black currant. This is followed by a medium-bodied, elegant wine with savory flavors, considerable complexity, and enough structure to evolve for another 2-3 years. This lengthy effort should be at its best from 2011 to 2020."

We are always on the look-out for new producers, and we discovered one recently from the Mendoza area of Argentina. Bodega Benegas began in the 1880’s, when there was less that 10 acres planted in Mendoza. In fact, Tiburcio Benegas is credited with being the founder of the wine industry in the region. He helped develop the first irrigation systems, resulting in increased plantings. Future generations studied in Bordeaux, and help introduce the classic varietals.

The modern Bodega Benegas is headed by Federico Benegas Lynch, who was born at the winery in 1951. In 1998 Federico assumed the duties of winemaker, and settled on the Finca Libertad, part of the old Benegas family property, where the vines are 20 to 80 years old. All of the wines of Bodega Benegas reflect the efforts of world renowned consulting Oenologist Michel Rolland

BENEGAS ESTATE 2006 SYRAH
WINE ADVOCATE 91 POINTS - " The purple-colored 2006 Syrah Estate was sourced from 45+-year-old vines and aged for 12 months in new French oak. It offers an alluring perfume of toasty blueberries which jumps from the glass. This leads to a full-bodied, layered wine with gobs of succulent fruit, outstanding depth, and a fruit-filled finish. It will develop in bottle for another two years but can be enjoyed now. It is a superb value."

We are always on the look-out for new producers, and we discovered one recently from the Mendoza area of Argentina. Bodega Benegas began in the 1880’s, when there was less that 10 acres planted in Mendoza. In fact, Tiburcio Benegas is credited with being the founder of the wine industry in the region. He helped develop the first irrigation systems, resulting in increased plantings. Future generations studied in Bordeaux, and help introduce the classic varietals.

The modern Bodega Benegas is headed by Federico Benegas Lynch, who was born at the winery in 1951. In 1998 Federico assumed the duties of winemaker, and settled on the Finca Libertad, part of the old Benegas family property, where the vines are 20 to 80 years old. All of the wines of Bodega Benegas reflect the efforts of world renowned consulting Oenologist Michel Rolland

BODEGAS CARO 2008 AMANCAYA
Bodegas Caro was born of an alliance between two wine cultures (French and Argentine), two noble grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec) and two renowned wine families, (Domaines Barons de Rothschild [Lafite] and Nicolas Catena.) This merge of wine industry icons bore a beautiful product showcasing a balance between their Bordeaux and Argentine styles. To celebrate its Andean origin, the wine was named "Amancaya" after the mountain flower which grows wild in the Andes. A deep purple-red color is the first impression of this fruit-driven wine, with appealing red and black cherries flavors, black plums, a hint of mint and cedar. On the palate it has a nice tannic round texture. Distinct notes of vanilla and chocolate.

CARLOS PULENTA 2006 VISTALBA CORTE B
Argentina has become a Garden of Malbec. Showing its true depth and structure, the Malbec varietal has blossomed into one of the world’s fastest growing varietal of choice. Originally a Bordeaux blending grape, rarely seen on its own, Malbec has been able to make a name for itself. In a traditional manner, Carlos Puente has rallied in making Bordeaux blends, with the Argentine terroir expressing the true attributes of the unique flavors of this regions soil and climate. Carlos Puenta’s family estate is located on the foot of the magnificent Cordon del Plata within the Andes mountains. The rough soils are perfect for Malbec and adds the complexity to all of Carlos’ Bordeaux Blends. The Corte B is a lush blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich plum and fig flavors with dense velvety tannins and a hint of black tea. Gather with your friends and family over a hearty meal with this one!

CARO 2007 BORDEAUX STYLE BLEND FROM ROTHSCHILD & CATENA
"The 2006 Caro is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Malbec. It was aged for 18 months in French oak, 80% new. Purple-colored, it has a classy perfume of wood smoke, spice box, pencil lead, black currant, and black cherry. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is elegantly styled with a smooth texture and silky tannins. The fruit has excellent depth and concentration. It should evolve for 4-6 years and drink well through 2025. Bodegas Caro is a joint project of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolas Catena."

CASA MARGUERY 2008 MALBEC
Malbec is all the rage these days which, overall, we think is a good thing. It's a very versatile grape and can take on a variety of expressions depending on pedigree and style it's made in. The Casa Marguery 2008 is a beautiful, easy-going Malbec that blends a bit of prettiness with a solid backbone. The nose is purple and gorgeous with strong violet and boysenberry tones and a bit of fruit roll-up (raspberry, mixed berry) in the background. The palate continues the mélange of berries adding some blueberry to the strong Boysen presence then brings in some classic Malbec flavors: smokiness, pencil lead, ironstone minerality. The lengthy finish goes on and on-- this is a young but complex easy-drinker that really shows and shows off how good highaltitude fruit can be.

CATENA 2007 "ALTA" CHARDONNAY
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CATENA 2007 CHARDONNAY
WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - "Catena Zapata’s 2007 Chardonnay was sourced from three estate vineyards and fermented with natural yeasts. It then spent 10 months sur-lie in French oak, 40% new. Light gold-colored with a slight green tint, it exhibits a nose of slate, toast, butterscotch, pear, and apple. Medium-bodied, the wine is nicely balanced by crisp acidity, and the flavors are intense and persistent. Drink this outstanding value over the next 1-2 years."

CATENA 2008 MALBEC

CATENA ALTA 2006 MALBEC
The 2006 Alta Malbec was sourced from small lots in several estate vineyards. It spent 18 months in 70% new French oak. Dark purple-colored, it displays a splendid nose of wild flowers, spice box, incense, black cherry and plum. This leads to an elegant, medium-bodied rendition of Malbec with a velvety texture, superb depth and concentration, succulent flavors with notes of chocolate and black pepper making an appearance, and a pure, silky finish. While it will continue to blossom for several more years, it can be enjoyed now

CHEVAL DES ANDES 2005
The joint venture between Château Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes, notably the first ever for Cheval Blanc, originated as Director Pierre Lurton sought out a special international terroir in which to apply the storied blending heritage of the French château. Lurton was intrigued by the notion of unearthing a connection with the Saint Émilion past: Malbec, decimated by phylloxera in the 1860s from its position as one of the most important varieties in Saint Émilion and Pomerol, had since been reincarnated in ungrafted form in Argentina, producing some of the world’s best Malbecs in recent years. An intriguing blend, Cheval des Andes is a New World Grand Cru distinguished for its refined subtlety and balance, complexity and elegance. A wine crafted to “fit in the spirit of Cheval Blanc,” it clearly displays the characteristic fruit intensity of its Argentine roots. Cheval des Andes is a masterful expression of two winemaking cultures.
Robert Parker rating of 94 points. "The 2005 Cheval des Andes is made up of 60% Malbec, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. Purple-colored, it exhibits a complex bouquet of wood smoke, scorched earth, violets, black cherry, and blackberry liqueur. On the palate it is remarkably elegant with a velvety texture, superb depth, savory flavors, ripe tannin, and 5-7 years of aging potential. Its drinking window will begin in 2014 and last through 2030 at the least.This is a dense wine yet with a very elegant and supple profile. The wine has plenty of rich black currant, plum, raspberry fruit, along with vanilla, anise and mineral notes. It has a rich and complex finish with firm tannins that are integrated nicely and will evolve with some cellaring."
Cheval des Andes is owned by legendary St.-Emilion producer, Chateau Cheval Blanc. The wine is sourced from their 50 hectare estate vineyard planted on its own roots in 1929. The first vintage was 1999 and the 2004 was the first in which there was more Malbec than Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. New oak is utilized for the Cabernet and 1 year old barrels for the Malbec.

COLOME 2008 MALBEC
We are thrilled to offer this unique Malbec-based blend from Argentina's Bodega Colomé for your drinking pleasure. What makes this wine unique? The biodynamically farmed vineyards range from 7,218 feet to 9,892 feet above sea level: some of the highest vineyards in the world! Founded in 1831, Bodegas Colome is one of the oldest working wineries in Argentina, and Donald Hess, of California's famous Hess Winery, has ushered the vintage property into the 21st century.

COLOME 09 TORRONTES
The characteristic white wine grape of Argentina has recently been linked with the Malvasia grape vis-à-vis DNA research. And the wonderful aromas released certainly suggest a Malvasia heritage: notes of peach, apricot, honeysuckle and general floral tones; simply beautiful. The palate echoes the florals and again, stone fruits come to the fore, all enwrapped in a light background minerality. With warmer weather starting to make an early appearance, the Colome 2009 Torrontes will bring a touch of early Spring back, a crisp morning in the garden, the trees in bloom, the pond teeming with life.

CUVELIER 2005 LOS ANDES COLLECTION
Famous French wine consultant Michel Rolland fashioned this interesting red blend from 62% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah, 7% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. The Cuvelier Family owns Leoville-Poyferre in Bordeaux. Seduced by the quality of wine of the Mendoza region, they planted a vineyard right below the Andes Cordillera. This outstanding example of the quality of their vineyards has a ruby red color, wild aromas of black raspberry, truffle, game chocolate, roasted meat, tar and sexy oak. In the mouth it is lush and smooth with rich black raspberry and iron flavors showing good complexity. Finishes with a nice dose of dusty tannins. Best served with beef or lamb.

CUVELIER LOS ANDES 2006 GRAND MALBEC
WINE ADVOCATE 95 POINTS - "The deep purple-colored 2006 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. This lengthy, powerful effort's drinking window should be open from 2014 to 2036. Cuvelier Les Andes is owned by Bertrand and Jean-Guy Cuvelier, part owners of Chateau Leoville-Poyferre in Saint-Julien. The estate is located in the Uco Valley at the foothills of the Andes and encompasses 115 acres of young vines (age 5 in the 2006 vintage). The consulting winemaker is Michel Rolland."

DOMINGO MOLINA 2006 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Domingo Molina is located in the Northern tip of Argentina’s wine growing region called Salta. Some of the world highest vineyard are from Salta Domingo Molina’s cabernet vineyards are 6,600 feet above sea level. The result is beauty and elegance with underlying intensity. This mouthwatering 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is dark scarlet in color with hues of deep purple. Aromas are of black plum and cherries with a touch of exotic indian spices. Its body is Medium with a vigorous personality, while maintaining its elegance and a prolonged finish. Domingo Molina has kept the integrity of pure Cabernet by using natural yeasts, and only 30% of the wine sees french oak for 6 months. The wine was not filterd in order to maintain its complexity. A new experience for Cabernet lovers!

ENRIQUE FOSTER 2008 "IQUE" MALBEC
100% Malbec from vines averaging 30 years or more, Ique is unoaked, fresh, young and fruity. An intense ruby-red color leads to firm structure, soft lush tannins and a delightful finish. This pairs well with meat, pasta and cheese and is a great match with summer barbecues! "Best Buy" Wine Enthusiast, August 2008.

FABRE MONTMAYOU 07 MALBEC
Another Malbec from Patagonia? Yes, please! Hervé Joyaux Fabre, owner and director of Fabre Montmayou, was born in Bordeaux, France, to a family of wine negociants. When he arrived in Argentina in the early ‘90s looking for opportunities to invest in vineyards and start a winery, he was impressed by the potential for Malbec in Mendoza; he soon decided to invest in Patagonia as well. There the combination between a unique cool climate and the "terroir" made it possible to elaborate great wines very different in style from those produced in Mendoza. The 2007 Malbec starts with dark plum jam, blackberry compote and nice layers of minerality in the nose. The palate continues with sweet, bright red and black fruits, red and black licorice notes, more sea salt minerality and dollops of fruit leather. This one is rich, ripe, round and ready, and is a joy to drink.

FABRE MONTMAYOU 2007 MALBEC GRAN RESERVA
WINE ADVOCATE 92 POINTS- "The 2007 Malbec Gran Reserva was sourced from 60+-year-old vineyards in Vistalba. It was aged in French oak for 10 months. Opaque purple-colored, it delivers an expressive perfume of pain grille, mineral, scorched earth, violets, and black cherry. On the palate it is medium to full-bodied with layers of savory dark fruit, ripe tannin, excellent balance, and an elegant personality. Give this outstanding effort 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy it from 2011 to 2023."

FILUS 08 MALBEC
This is a small production single vineyard wine from 80 year old vines. It has noble structure and personality, perfect for grilled or roasted re meats.
Great Barbeque Wine!!