Boise Coop Wine Shop

A Taste of Argentina

• February 2, 2010

This Friday and Saturday we are featuring four Argentine wines from the portfolio of Sun Valley based Tastevin. These are unique offerings ranging from a surprising sparkler to the more expected Malbec.

Reginato Blanc de Blancs, $12.49
Jose Reginato, joined by his son Pepe, has been crafting some of Mendoza’s most sought-after, limited-production, boutique bubbly since 1986. Unlike many other “factory” sparkling wine producers in Mendoza, the Reginato family personally manages the entire process, from grape to bottle, to handcraft these dry, refreshing bubblies. They manage the vineyards, select the grapes, harvest at the optimal time, make the base wine, and do secondary fermentation at their own winery. When you think of a partying wine, you want something bubbly, light, refreshing, but certainly not boring or tiresome. The Reginatos feel the same way, so they pack lots of fresh fruit flavor onto a crisp, refreshing frame that will keep you sipping. This eclectic blend of 70 percent Chardonnay and 30 percent Chenin Blanc is sure to please.

2007 Luca Chardonnay, $28.00
Laura Catena grew up in a wine-making family in Mendoza. Although she now splits her time between Mendoza and San Francisco (where she is a Emergency Room Physician, university professor, mother of three, and accomplished tango dancer!), Laura’s heart remains in Argentina and winemaking. She had a vision of creating a new breed of Argentine wines: small quantities, artisan quality, and true to their individual terroirs. A true pioneer of small-grower relations in Mendoza, Laura’s incredible, limited production wines come from some of Argentina’s best fruit from low-yield, high elevation, family-owned vineyards. Luis Reginato, the winemaker at Luca Winery, is a highly trained, experienced, and respected vineyard consultant and winemaker who receives high praise from wine critics and is definitely a winemaker to watch. The winery is named after Laura’s first-born son.

This Chardonnay was sourced from vineyards with an average elevation of over 4700 feet and scored an impressive 92 points in the Wine Advocate. It offers enticing aromas of lemon creme, baking spices and some tropical notes. The aromas carry through to the palate, and are joined by hints of tropical fruit, spiced baked pear, and a stony/mineral quality that creates a stylish wine that seems part New and part Old World. Pairs well with most fish, lobster, crab, chicken, and even many pork preparations. Particularly recommended with dishes using sauteed wild mushrooms or butter sauces.

2007 Susana Balbo Malbec, Signature, $22.00

Known to many as the “Queen of Torrontes” or the “Evita of Wine”, one thing is certain: Susana Balbo is reputed throughout Argentina and the world for her incredible winemaking skill, experience, and passion. Susana has been making wine since she earned her enology degree in 1981, and she has probably produced a wider variety of wines than any other winemaker in Argentina. She has made wine in Australia, California, Chile, France, Italy, South Africa, and Spain, and she spends a month each year in a different wine region of the world studying with local winemakers and growers. Her Signature wines are the ultimate expression of her skill and artistry. Top barrel selections from her overall production are complex and powerful, yet with an elegance and finesse that only Susana can achieve quite so perfectly.

This Malbec (blended with 10 percent Cabernet) explodes with aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and violets framed by hints of oak and mint. The wonderful aromas are mirrored on the palate, and they are joined by ripe plum fruit and a hint of toasty vanilla and bittersweet chocolate. This is a ripe and rich style of wine, but the Cabernet adds structure, reigning in the fruit and focusing it into a long finish. A wine that truly struggles between its fun and serious side, the Wine Advocate rated it at 91 points. Pairs well with a wide range of foods from beef and pork to game birds or even meat-based pastas.

2007 Tikal Patriota, $17.99

Tikal is owned by Ernesto Catena and is named after his son. Ernesto spent his childhood in the vineyards of Mendoza among wine-growers and local pundits. Since then, he has experienced a kaleidoscope of cultures, living in New York, Buenos Aires, Berkeley, Cambridge (MA), Milan and London. But his heart remains in his homeland of Argentina (where he now lives), with its natural beauty of mountains, streams and vineyards, its wines, and its people who hold a special passion for living. There are few wine brands that reflect the sensibilities of their owner more than Tikal. A skilled horseman, fashion designer, software developer, and book editor, Ernesto pursues all that gives pleasure in life. This hedonism (in the best sense of the word) shows through in the wines. It is a style meant to provide enormous pleasure rather than provoke contemplation; an expression of emotion rather than intellect.

The Patiota is a 60/40 blend of Bonarda and Malbec. it’s a gorgeous deep purple hued wine with aromas of ripe bing cherry and berry fruit. Like swallowing a whole bowl of mixed ripe berries at once. Big body yet very balanced, with luscious layers of raspberry and cherry that quickly move to an intense dark chocolate finish. Pairs well with grilled meats such as beef and pork, smoked ham, and even pizza with meat toppings. Incredibly fun to drink, this one garnered a 92 from the Wine Advocate.