Wednesday, July 24, 2013

August 22nd, 2013 - Wines of Argentina - Hosted by Ms. Abbie & Mr. Matt

August 22nd, 2013 - Wines of Argentina - Hosted by Ms. Abbie & Mr. Matt

Theme: Wines of Argentina - we will taste these blind per our usual format.
Argentina is the 5th largest wine producer in the world.  Some Argentine Varietals are:  Bonarda, Torrontes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Malbec, etc.

Bring:  TWITs should bring 1 bottle of Argentine Wine to the tasting

TWITs Tasting Notes:
Well the joke was on us. We tasted these blind, and we had THREE duplicate wines.  The funny part was that some of the identical bottles tasted very differently!  Read on.

Welcome Wine:  2004 Cavas de Weinert Mendoza - $32 @ Le Caveau
14% alcohol, 40% Malbec, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
sweet palate and then tart, and then slightly briny/olive notes.  evaporates quickly.  has a lovely barnyard/oaky nose.

1) 2009 Siesta Malbec - En El Tahuantinsuyo - $35 @ Sherlocks/Cooks Warehouse
Ernesto Cantena - winemaker.  13.8% alcohol
significant punt on this heavy glass bottle. 
nose: caramel, butterfinger, butterscotch, "Jamie's Perfume", vanilla, sweet potato casserole,
palate: caramelly, butter, green/black fruit, light spice, maybe nutmeg? plum preserve, "walking along a privet drive"

2) 2010 Luca Malbec Ugo Mendoza - $33 @ Sherlocks/Cooks Warehouse
14% alcohol, berry color
nose: metallic, paint, tobacco, mint, eucalyptus, lemongrass,
palate: smooth, velvety, buttery, milk chocolate, cran-smooth, like a creamy fruit sauce or the smoothness of a yogurt berry drink.

3) 2004 Cavas de Weinert Mendoza - $32 @ Le Caveau
14% alcohol, 40% Malbec, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
nose: toasted meringue, tapioca, ambrosia, scrub brush, mint, minty barnyard
palate: smooth, creamy, peaches, spice on finish, drier and more tart, complicated wine, tarragon, slight stinky cheese at the end

4) 2010 Luca Malbec Ugo Mendoza - $33 @ Toco Giant
14% alcohol, berry color
nose:  perm solution, ammonia, minerality
palate: tomato sauce, tart, acidic, "this is lovely", a little "must" on your tongue

5) 2009 Siesta Malbec - En El Tahuantinsuyo - $35 @ Sherlocks/Cooks Warehouse
Ernesto Cantena - winemaker. 13.8% alcohol
nose: sour, over-ripe fruit, mussels in a can, musty old wine cellar, musty sweet port smell, fermented peaches.  bruised peach, jammy toes
palate:  slightly effervescent, acidic, bright

6) 2011 Hermanos Dominga Moline (Malbec Tannat) - $14.99 @ Toco Giant
Valle de Cafayate/Salta 13.9% alcohol
nose:  toasted meringue, butter cookies, band-aid, latex, balloons, sweaty socks
palate: tart, delicious

Bonus fun:
they speak Spanish in Argentina.  So we gave everyone Spanish names for fun:
Matt was Mateo, Rheinallt was Rheinallto, Jamie was pronounced HI-MEE, Alexis was Alejandro, Josh was Jeshua, Jaffet is already Spanish, Kathy was Katarina, Valerie was Val-Air-ree, Karin was Karina, Abbie was Adelina, and Deb was Deb-OR-rah.  LOL

Quote:  "We're not just TWITs, we're brainiacs!"




















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