Argentina with a Chilean Twist

Argentina and Chile are among the “New World”  wine making nations, meaning that, like most nations, they are newer to wine making than European nations.  Argentina and Chile have discovered, though, that they have some terroir and climate that are very good for growing wine grapes.  As it would happen, they are growing a bit more than you are probably aware, and are often increasing the varietals they will grow as time goes by.  Below is a sampling.

Jelu Estate Syrah, San Juan Argentina, 2009

This wine took the Syrah name rather than Shiraz, because the French use Syrah, and this wine has more French style than Australian Shiraz.  Lots of peppery notes are in this wine, with a medium body and juicy finish.  That’s right, you don’t just get Malbec for a red wine from Argentinia, Syrah is also available.  This is an easy drinking Syrah, and I love it with chocolate (just like chocolate with chili powder in it) and cheddar cheese.  Something to keep in mind: coming from a warm climate, this wine has a 14.5% alcohol content.  That is very high, which makes this more of a food wine.  Drink water afterwards!

Armador, Maipo Valley Chile, 2010

This is a wine made of Carmenere, originally grown in France now thriving in Chile. Carménère wine has a deep red color and aromas reminiscent of red fruits and mild spices and is a medium bodied wine.  Maipo Valley is one of the parts of Chile that is known for producing the best wines of the nation.  This particular Carmenere is very “fruit-forward”, meaning you taste fruit a lot in the wine, but it is not sweet.  It has no “bite”, which often refers to either high acidity or high tannin.  It is a wine that is very easy to drink, and I love it with cheese platters and by itself.  Like many other Carmenere wines, this one was under $15.

Piazzolla, Mendoza Argentina, 2011

I know you were waiting to read about a Malbec, so here it is!  On the nose is a mix of red berries and earthy funk.  The color is ruby with less purple than usual, and the flavor is extremely disappointing for Malbec.  This wine misses the best of Malbec smooth and luscious flavor, in favor of a strange combination of non-fruity wine flavors. With food, this wine smooths out but still doesn’t have the big flavor of Malbec that you’re used to.  Sometimes Argentina makes a rotten Malbec, and you are best exploring its other wines, such as Syrah or a sparkling.

Calcu Cabernet Franc, Colchagua Valley Chile, 2010

Sometimes the best wines you get from a region are the wines they are not known for. This is because you probably already had wines the region are known for; and also because the vintner in this case has a little more daring and knowledge than others. This Cabernet Franc is yummy. Rich and full of flavor without being too heavy, it is a red wine that asks for rich foods to be consumed with it.  Colchagua Valley looks much like Napa Valley with its ubiquitous vineyards, valley floor river and tree-studded foothills and the hot climate makes it a natural for producing powerful reds.  The best thing about this wine … it is under $15!

CJR, Reginato Celestina, Mendoza Argentina, 2008

Are you ready for this?  It is a sparkling Malbec rose wine!  It has a rich cherry color but smells like a white sparkling and although it lightly tastes of red fruits it is not at all sweet, it is very dry.  This wine goes outside most people’s box of knowledge — Lambrusco is not the only sparkling red wine!  Festive with flavor, you could serve this with cheese or anything you normally serve with sparkling wine.  Enjoy!