Familia Schroeder - Patagonia Winery

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  September 2009

  Bodega Familia Schroeder Merlot Alpataco Patagonia 2004

  Snoothrank:

  No written review

  Wine review by enotheque

  
  
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  June 2009

  Schroeder Pinot Noir/Malbec Familia Schroeder Argentina-Patagonia 2003

  Snoothrank:

  No written review

  Wine review by muscatgirl

  
  
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  February 2009

  Schroeder Pinot Noir/Malbec Familia Schroeder Argentina-Patagonia 2003

  Snoothrank:

  BIG wine that needs to sit for another 3-5 years. Strong tannins at this point. Good red fruit on the palate with mineral undertones.

  Wine review by 94Cane

  
  
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  January 2009

  Bodega Familia Schroeder Pinot Noir Saurus Patagonia 2006

  Snoothrank:

  Dessert wine? I'm really not at all sure why that is the descriptor here. I opened this wine with the expectation of a thin pinot for a tuna moscatel dinner and instead found an "eats like a meal" pinot noir quite pleasantly unlike any that I have had before. I rather enjoyed the... Read moreDessert wine? I'm really not at all sure why that is the descriptor here. I opened this wine with the expectation of a thin pinot for a tuna moscatel dinner and instead found an "eats like a meal" pinot noir quite pleasantly unlike any that I have had before. I rather enjoyed the firm and complex tannins with an almost absent acidity that gave it very little bite for this young wine. Perhaps that's the result of it being unfiltered. There is some smoke on the nose. I found this one to be much more robust than other pinots.    (hide)

  Wine review by ilikerice

  
  
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  December 2008

  Familia Schroeder Saurus Patagonia Select Pinot Noir 2005

  Snoothrank:

  No written review

  Wine review by butlerz

  
  

• October 2008

  Wines tasted for this report: 2006 Budini Malbec 85pts 2007 Finca Flichman Malbec 83pts 2006 Luigi Bosca Finca La Linda Malbec 82pts 2006 Navarro Correas Coleccion Privada Malbec 86pts 2007 Familia Schroeder Saurus Malbec 89pts 2006 Sur de los Andes Malbec Reserva 89pts 2005 Punto... Read moreWines tasted for this report: 2006 Budini Malbec 85pts 2007 Finca Flichman Malbec 83pts 2006 Luigi Bosca Finca La Linda Malbec 82pts 2006 Navarro Correas Coleccion Privada Malbec 86pts 2007 Familia Schroeder Saurus Malbec 89pts 2006 Sur de los Andes Malbec Reserva 89pts 2005 Punto Final Malbec Reserva 80pts 2005 Luigi Bosca Lujan de Cuyo Malbec 92pts 2007 Achaval-Ferrer Malbec 92pts 2006 Lamadrid Malbec Reserva 87pts 2006 San Polo Auka Malbec 89pts Malbec is one of several French transplants that has settled far from it’s place of birth. Originally used as a minor blending grape in Bordeaux and northern France, or on it’s own in Cahors, Malbec was a challenging grape for these regions. The proclivity to rot and frost left this lowly grape caught between the late springs and damp falls of Maritime France. It is a grape that loves to languish on the vines deep into the fall in order to fully develop it’s rich fruit character. This extended “hang-time” has always been a challenge in France. Brought to Argentina in the mid 1850’s, Malbec was immediately recognized as ideally suited to the Eastern Slopes of the Andes in Argentina. Here the problem of humidity and rot is fairly well dealt with, this being the dry side of the Andes, and the consistently warm spring and fall that the area is blessed with allowed for consistent flowering of the vines and that all important end of season “hang-time”. Between the ideal climate, fine soils and expositions of the vineyards, Malbec had found it’s home, and what a home it was. While in France the grape frequently produced tough, tannic wines full of earth and herbs, here in Argentina the bright blackberry and spice infused plummy fruit of the grape was thrust to the fore. The complex notes encountered in France remained in support but Malbec had suddenly come into it's own, emerging not only as a grape capable of standing on it’s own, but fully worthy of the honor. While Argentina has a vast range of vineyards the finest plots of Malbec remain in and around Mendoza, some 150 miles from the Pacific coast but all but insulated against any affects by the looming and imposing Andes. The Andes prevent excessive rain from falling on these vineyard slopes, by forcing the rain to fall on the west western slopes, yet provide ample water for the vines as melt water from winter snows and glaciers feed the deep aquifers which supply the region. The soils in these vineyards are deep and varied with layers of decomposed rock making up the bulk of the land, forcing the vines to dig deep for nutrients. This struggle is vital for the fruit here since the weather tends to be quite perfectly warm with long sunny days allowing the vines to thrive. The soil and water induced stress, in fact much of Argentina’s vineyards must be irrigated, limits these pampered vines productivity and fosters the development of complexity in the grape’s flavors. While grape growing has a long history in Argentina it was heavily influenced by the generations of Italian and Germans emigrants who populated the country over the past century and a half. These early farmers brought grapes with them from Europe, not as a commercial endeavor but rather to provide themselves and their families with the wine that they had long been accustomed to. While this left a deep cultural respect for wine in Argentine society the phenomenon of “fine wine” is new to the scene. While the “fine wine” segment of the industry now ages in the decades, no one who has tasted the legendary 1997 Weinert Estrella Malbec can deny it’s glory, it had relied on relatively large entities until fairly recently. The new, emerging producers from Argentina are a blend of local enthusiasts, recognizing the inherent quality in the old-vines that populate the region and foreign producers of note, attracted to Argentina as much for value as for the quality. This past decade has seen the Argentine wine industry mature to the point where the wines are recognized and have become popular in the US market like never before. Kudos must be given to the major players who had the wherewithal to afford to make this significant long-term strategic investment in opening and developing the US market. While they continue to produce fine wines in both a variety of style and at myriad price points it is the next generation of producers who are attracting attention. Some of these wineries, like Luigi Bosca, have long histories in the region with the roots of their origins stretching back to the 19th century. Others, such as Achaval Ferrer were newborns as the 20th century drew to a close. What they have in common is their dedication to offering unique, compelling examples of Argentine wines, each with a distinct personality. This choice that the consumer is presented with is a new and exciting aspect to the Argentine wine scene and one that continues to be filled with discovery. We are at a cross roads for Argentine wine and in particular Malbec. They have achieved a level of recognition and favor that will undoubtedly put a bit of upward pressure on their pricing as demand for these wines continues to grow. The best wines are truly becoming competitive at and above their current pricing levels, as Malbec becomes the “hot” grape of 2008-2010. Fortunately there remain many choices for the shrewd consumer to choose from and several of these deliver value that is hard to beat. Argentine Malbec is a very friendly wine, rich round and fruity. It is the sort of wine that easily finds many enthusiastic consumers, as it’s as friendly on the wallet as it is on the palate. The following wines represent a fairly typical cross-section of what one can expect to find in the marketplace under the $20 price point and while I can’t say I loved them all they do provide a good alternative to many other, more acclaimed wine producing regions. They are worth trying for yourself! 2006 Budini Malbec 13.5% Mendoza Moderately dense ruby color, still youthful but with a touch of incipient evolution. Offers up a nose of sweet fruits, some fresh nectarine, blackberry, tarry oily herbs, a touch of earthen spice. In the mouth this is a bit lean compared with typical Malbec but is fresh and easy with soft tannins and good acidity. The flavors are a bit non-descript but fruity and pleasant with decent length. A solid quaffer. 85pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/2006-budini-malbec-2006/ 2007 Finca Flichman 13.5% Mendoza Typical dark dense Malbec color but not opaque. Very floral apon opening, very attractively so at that with melon, berry, toast and mineral notes competing and eventually winning out as the floral notes fade. Round and medium bodied in the mouth with bright acids but that doesn’t prevent this from being a bit dull on the palate. Finishes with a lack of concentration and non-descript flavors. Average at best 83pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/finca-flichman-malbec-oak-aged-2007/ 2006 Luigi Bosca Finca La Linda 14% Mendoza Appearing quite dense but youthful with an edge of development. Heavy aromatics, dark and honeyed, with sweet black fruit and gentle spice notes. A bit dull in the mouth with a refreshing herbal character but a hot and hollow mid-palate. The finish is fairly long with oak driven notes of caramel and toffee. 82pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/luigi-bosca-tempranillo-finca-la-linda-2006-4/ 2006 Navarro Correas Coleccion Privada 14% Mendoza Appearing dark, dense and youthful in the glass this offers up effusive notes of oaken spice and toast notes with layers of dried plum and berry fruit. Gains complexity in the glass with some growing herb notes and a smoky, meaty core of fruit graced by vanilla top notes. Sweetly fruited on entry with a rich, round mouthfeel that combines polished tannins and lowish acidity that ultimately leaves the wine feeling a touch dead in the mouth. Finishes abruptly and while the core of fruit is nicely red and sweet the structure here just has a hard time supporting it. 86pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/bodega-navarro-correas-coleccion-privada-malbec-3/ 2007 Familia Schroeder Saurus 14% Patagonia Opaque black-purple color. A touch sweaty at first with a gentle spicy, minerally character that is appealing. Layers of savory tea and tar grow in the glass though the nose remains restrained and focused. The entry is big and sweetly fruited with lots of power and dry extract but the intensity of flavors lags a bit. What is in the glass is very appealing blackberry, blackberry seeds, boysenberry, mineral and spice. Has a classy feel with some elegance and solid fleshy fruit on the decent finish. Tannins emerge on the finale. A pretty big wine that may improve with cellaring. 89pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/schroeder-saurus-2006/ 2006 Sur de los Andes Reserva 13.9% Mendoza Opaque black-purple in the glass. Opens with a huge, spicy nose, strong dried ginger, blueberry compote with a touch of bitter orange jam. This smells both modern and expensive. Very smooth and rich in the mouth with a suave, cashmere fell that belies the wines extraction. The tough, woody tannins pop out, marring the finish but the core of fruit with rich wild berry notes and a hint of vanilla are delicious. Lacks a bit of follow through but still a solid value. 89pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/sur-de-los-andes-malbec-reserve-2006/ 2005 Punto Final Reserva 14.7% Mendoza Opaque black-purple but with a touch of coffee on the rim. Funny this also smells of coffee, creamy coffee and alcoholic, a bit like Irish coffee with notes of spicy wood tones, raw wood, vanilla and a top note of talc. The typical sweet entry is followed by bitter tannins. This is very extracted with a deep core of blackberry fruit that has no finish as the bitter tannins re-emerge. This would be tough to drink more than a taste of. 80pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/bodega-renacer-malbec-mendoza-punto-final-reserva-2005/ 2005 Luigi Bosca Lujan de Cuyo 14.5% Mendoza Dark and intensely purple but decidedly transparent at the same time. This present a totally different aromatic array than the other wines with funky, earthy tones taking sometime to blow off before revealing a touch of rubbery, oily shale then layers of subtle dried bay leaves, dried flowers, a bit of musky white pepper, a touch of horsy stable, a bit of vanillin, dark, bitter fruit tones. Lovely. In the mouth this is smaller scaled with fine a fine precise feel and wonderful integration of structural elements. The dark fruits have a soft bittersweet chocolate edge to them with a lovely sappy quality. Impressive stuff with power and depth but not the weight of many Malbecs. 92pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/leoncio-arizu-malbec-lujan-de-cuyo-luigi-bosca-reserva-2005 2007 Achaval-Ferrer 13.5% Mendoza Vivid violet color and almost opaque in the glass. This opens with intensely floral and tropical fruited notes and a touch of raw, black pepper studded bacon. A touch syrah like then a rush of freshly crushed wild raspberry greets the nose with an underlay of vanilla crème that is barely noticeable. In the mouth this is bright and vivid with blazing purity of fruit. Perhaps this lacks a touch of complexity but the wine feels very fine and energetic in the mouth with juicy acids and superbly polished tannins driving the wonderful berried fruit with a nuance of juniper spice. Finishes long and mouth cleansing with excellent clarity. 92pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/achaval-ferrer-malbec-2007-1/ 2006 Lamadrid Reserve 14.5% Mendoza Opaque black-purple in the glass. This has a very sweet nose, fudgy, with jammy notes of wild cherry and blueberry and a big top note of “sweet tea”. This opens with full on fruit bomb intensity, extracted and powerful with clean fruit that seems very sweet. Initially there seems like a bit of residual sugar at play here, perhaps not as the wine finishes dry. The alcohol is well concealed but still ends up throwing the balance off on the finish. This is a fairly well put together fruit bomb, but as is generally the case, is a touch clumsy. 87pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/lamadrid-2006/ 2006 San Polo Auka 14.1% Mendoza Opaque black-purple. This opens very slowly with very restrained aromatics. Subtly smoky with slow to emerge notes of crushed berries, juniper, slight smoked meets and a vein of floral tones. Very smooth in the mouth and packed with fine tannins this has a lovely mouthfeel; with melded mocha and berry notes joined by an array of spice and mineral tones. The finish is a tad short but the feel is easy and suave, pretty much quintessential “value” Malbec. 89pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/san-polo-auka-malbec/    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Argentine Malbec comes of age by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  
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  October 2008

  Schroeder Saurus 2006

  Snoothrank:

  Opaque black-purple color. A touch sweaty at first with a gentle spicy, minerally character that is appealing. Layers of savory tea and tar grow in the glass though the nose remains restrained and focused. The entry is big and sweetly fruited with lots of power and dry extract but... Read moreOpaque black-purple color. A touch sweaty at first with a gentle spicy, minerally character that is appealing. Layers of savory tea and tar grow in the glass though the nose remains restrained and focused. The entry is big and sweetly fruited with lots of power and dry extract but the intensity of flavors lags a bit. What is in the glass is very appealing blackberry, blackberry seeds, boysenberry, mineral and spice. Has a classy feel with some elegance and solid fleshy fruit on the decent finish. Tannins emerge on the finale. A pretty big wine that may improve with cellaring. 89pts    (hide)

  Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• October 2008

  This past weekend I inaugurated Snooth's Panel Tasting Program with a line-up of value driven Argentine Malbec. For this first test drive we proceeded in a very casual manner as we all got to know one and other and each person's tasting style and speed. I chose the theme and wanted... Read moreThis past weekend I inaugurated Snooth's Panel Tasting Program with a line-up of value driven Argentine Malbec. For this first test drive we proceeded in a very casual manner as we all got to know one and other and each person's tasting style and speed. I chose the theme and wanted to focus on Argentine Malbec for several reasons. Primary among them is the fact that times are getting tough and people want to know where to turn for value. It is undeniable that there are some compelling values among the wines sampled. The second point of the tasting was to take the pulse of Argentine Malbec. There has been a virtual explosion in producer available here in the US market. The quality of these wines has never been higher and they are poised to break through in a significant way. Malbec is or will be the "hot" grape of 2008-2010. It was time to take a look at both the state of the grape in Argentina as well as the state of winemaking. Malbec has a long and storied history in Argentina where it has produced some exceptional wines. Many of the producers now appearing on the US market are relative new comers to the game though they are blessed with many old-vine vineyards to source their fruit from. I was curious to see which path these newer winemakers are following to success, the full throttle, full extraction paradigm popular with jaded critics or something less in your face and  more suitable for the dining table. Perhaps something more representative of the grape, region and history of Argentine viticulture. The results speak for themselves! Participants in today's tasting Stephanie Moreno - Sales Manager Astor Wines & Spirits Beth Cotenoff - Vice President Cornerstone Communications Renee Mack - Healthcare Professional Leonardo Commercio - Manager Vintage Grape NYC Ryan Hodges - Manager Park East Wines & Spirits. Gregory Dal Piaz - Community Manager  Snooth 11th Place 2006 San Polo Auka 14.1% Mendoza - $13.00 It was tough for anyone to find anything nice to say about this wine. Stephanie found  "calamine lotion" on the nose. Beth felt it was "burnt and rubbery" while Leo was feeling charitable with "Chartreuse" . The group's overall assessment was captured by Renee who summed the wine up as "burnt rubber, horrible". I was alone in  liking this wine, thinking it very much in line with what people want and expect from malbec. Modern, flashy and obviously oaky, it's not something I'd buy for myself but I know many people who would enjoy this. 10th Place 2007 Finca Flichman 13.5% Mendoza $9.00 This bottling proudly proclaimed it's 3 months of barrel ageing on the labels but, unfortunately, that overt and clumsy woodiness turned off both Beth who "hated it" and Leo who found both the nose and palate dominated by "charcoal and rocks". Stephanie found the nose an improvement with "more intense floral and spice notes". I also found the nose to be intensely floral and the best feature of the wine. 9th Place 2006 Luigi Bosca Finca La Linda 14% Mendoza $10.00 This sort of slid under the radar with nothing good said about but nothing bad either. It was "fine but boring" according to Beth though Ryan felt it was a "disappointing example" of malbec. I'd have to concur there, decent and acceptable but nothing more. 8th Place 2006 Budini Malbec 13.5% Mendoza $9.00 This was the wine that saw the most divergent opinions among the group. It was the only screw-top finished bottle as well. Coincidence? Leo Loved the "great nose, with fruit, spice, and tar". That sentiment was not shared by Stephanie who felt the wine was "lean and green"  or Renee who characterized the wines texture and flavor as "Watered down".  Again I was in the minority with this wine which I felt was light and fresh, a distinct departure from what Malbec usually is but a fine, simple table wine. 7th Place 2006 Navarro Correas Coleccion Privada 14% Mendoza $10.00 With this wine we step across an imaginary line into "big" wines. This certainly packed a big punch with "lots of blueberry" as Beth put it. "We getting big, jammy and hot, but I like it!" was Leo's take on it and while Ryan felt that the "nose is much better than the palate, a little more rustic on the nose" my opinion mirrored that of the groups. that this was a big wine with lots of fruit but lacking a bit of liveliness and freshness. 6th Place 2005 Punto Final Reserva 14.7% Mendoza $16.00 If the last wine was hot this was on fire! Renee characterized it as "nondescript but I still liked this, it was almost my third best" and Leo felt it was "what people think of when they think of Malbec" but neither Beth nor Stephanie enjoyed the wine, both finding it hot and Stephanie would have expected" the added year in bottle to have mellowed out some of these harsh tannins, it's just not balanced. I concur,  for me this was a disaster in a bottle overblown alcohol and bitter extracted tannins + vinous mess. 5th Place 2006 Lamadrid Reserve 14.5% Mendoza $15.00 This was an interesting style of wine. It is a classic "fruit bomb" that Leo found to be "clean juicy and round" though Renee commented on the "quite a warm finish, actually pretty hot" which is what I found as well. It was both juicy and hot! As big a fruit bomb as we had in this line-up and if that's your style this might be a winner for you. 4th Place 2006 Sur de los Andes Reserva 13.9% Mendoza $12.00 I think everyone was impressed with this bottling. Just as with the Navarro Correas there was a jump up in quality with this wine. Stephanie found it to be" very pretty and full of blueberries" while Leo thought it to be "A bit fleshy but also a bit ashy and glue-like, reminds me of pinotage”, which was a refreshing change from all the Malbec that had spoken so loudly of Malbec. Ryan felt this was a" sure crowd pleaser", a sentiment shared by Renee who found the wine "Enjoyable and made in an easy drinking style".  I can't add much, to me this smelled expensive and was a well balanced richly fruited winner! 3rd Place 2006 Familia Schroeder Saurus 14% Patagonia $16.00 Here was the only outlier of the group, A Patagonian Malbec, was it much of a departure from the Mendozan examples? Yes and no, it was made an a more elegant style than the wines that had preceded it with great aromatics of "sweet cinnamon and a little bit of funk" according to Beth, though Leo found too much of a "rubber-band" note on the nose to truly enjoy it. Ryan was intrigued by the cool aromatics of "Tar quality and black fruit". I enjoyed this wine and I found it interesting that most of the comments regarding it were both positive and about the wine's nose. 2nd Place 2005 Luigi Bosca Lujan de Cuyo 14.5% Mendoza $16.00 This was an almost exotic wine and was the wine that showed the most evolution over the course of the tasting. Initially the nose was rich in"soft cocoa powder and waxy fruit" according to Stephanie, there was array of notes "interesting aromas from violets to barnyard" as renee put it. Beth sussed out further nuances of  RM "white pepper and chocolate" and then went on the capture the quality that really set this apart" it’s rich but not jammy" as she said and I could not agree more. This is a wonderful wine that melds intensity of flavor and complexity with elegance and nuance. Really an "old world" example of Argentine Malbec and slightly reminiscent of the famous 1977 Weinert Estrella that remains the benchmark for the region. 1st Place 2007 Achaval-Ferrer 13.5% Mendoza $20.00 This very nearly unanimously chosen as the first place wine. It is as pure a wine as one is likely to find from Malbec with "rich blueberries on the palate" as renee put it. Ryan felt this was "Just what you expect when you open Malbec" and Beth characterized the wine as “earthy and leathery with an animally edge and approachable sweet tannins” Both Renee and Stephanie enjoyed the wines bright, friendly character.  For me the complexity of the Luigi Bosca just barely edged this out for first but the liveliness of this wine in the mouth and it's fine balance make it a winner for sure. Well that was it. There certainly are many fine examples of Argentine Malbec under $20 and while there seems to be a bit of a price quality corollary here there are wines at $15 or under that can play with the big boys. These are fine, interesting wines and Malbec really has found the right place to express itself in Argentina. As Ryan put it these wines are successful since these are the perfect "New wine drinker wine,affordable,approachable with nothing to be intimidated by". I was surprised by several of these wines, my notes can be found in the GDP on Wine Forum. Next up on the agenda: Zinfandel. If you are interested in joining the Snooth Panel Tasting Program please shoot me an email. I am always looking for new members to join in these fun and informative events!  Gregory@Snooth.com Gregory Dal Piaz is the Community Manager at  Snooth, an avid Wine Geek with a passion for things Italian, and a long suffering Mets fan.      (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Snooth Panel Tasting Program... by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• October 2008

  Snooth Panel Tasting Program takes on Argentine Malbec This past weekend I inaugurated Snooth's Panel Tasting Program with a line-up of value driven Argentine Malbec. For this first test drive we proceeded in a very casual manner as we all got to know one and other and each person's... Read moreSnooth Panel Tasting Program takes on Argentine Malbec This past weekend I inaugurated Snooth's Panel Tasting Program with a line-up of value driven Argentine Malbec. For this first test drive we proceeded in a very casual manner as we all got to know one and other and each person's tasting style and speed. I chose the theme and wanted to focus on Argentine Malbec for several reasons. Primary among them is the fact that times are getting tough and people want to know where to turn for value. It is undeniable that there are some compelling values among the wines sampled. The second point of the tasting was to take the pulse of Argentine Malbec. There has been a virtual explosion in producer available here in the US market. The quality of these wines has never been higher and they are poised to break through in a significant way. Malbec is or will be the “hot” grape of 2008-2010. It was time to take a look at both the state of the grape in Argentina as well as the state of winemaking. Malbec has a long and storied history in Argentina where it has produced some exceptional wines. Many of the producers now appearing on the US market are relative new comers to the game though they are blessed with many old-vine vineyards to source their fruit from. I was curious to see which path these newer winemakers are following to success, the full throttle, full extraction paradigm popular with jaded critics or something less in your face and  more suitable for the dining table. Perhaps something more representative of the grape, region and history of Argentine viticulture. The results speak for themselves! Participants in today's tasting Stephanie Moreno - Sales Manager Astor Wines & Spirits Beth Cotenoff - Vice President Cornerstone Communications Renee Mack - Healthcare Professional Leonardo Commercio - Manager Vintage Grape NYC Ryan Hodges - Manager Park East Wines & Spirits. Gregory Dal Piaz - Community Manager  Snooth 11th Place 2006 San Polo Auka 14.1% Mendoza - $13.00 It was tough for anyone to find anything nice to say about this wine. Stephanie found  “calamine lotion” on the nose. Beth felt it was “burnt and rubbery” while Leo was feeling charitable with “Chartreuse” . The group's overall assessment was captured by Renee who summed the wine up as “burnt rubber, horrible”. I was alone in  liking this wine, thinking it very much in line with what people want and expect from malbec. Modern, flashy and obviously oaky, it's not something I'd buy for myself but I know many people who would enjoy this. 10th Place 2007 Finca Flichman 13.5% Mendoza $9.00 This bottling proudly proclaimed it's 3 months of barrel ageing on the labels but, unfortunately, that overt and clumsy woodiness turned off both Beth who “hated it” and Leo who found both the nose and palate dominated by “charcoal and rocks”. Stephanie found the nose an improvement with “more intense floral and spice notes”. I also found the nose to be intensely floral and the best feature of the wine. 9th Place 2006 Luigi Bosca Finca La Linda 14% Mendoza $10.00 This sort of slid under the radar with nothing good said about but nothing bad either. It was “fine but boring” according to Beth though Ryan felt it was a “disappointing example” of malbec. I'd have to concur there, decent and acceptable but nothing more. 8th Place 2006 Budini Malbec 13.5% Mendoza $9.00 This was the wine that saw the most divergent opinions among the group. It was the only screw-top finished bottle as well. Coincidence? Leo Loved the “great nose, with fruit, spice, and tar”. That sentiment was not shared by Stephanie who felt the wine was “lean and green”  or Renee who characterized the wines texture and flavor as “Watered down”.  Again I was in the minority with this wine which I felt was light and fresh, a distinct departure from what Malbec usually is but a fine, simple table wine. 7th Place 2006 Navarro Correas Coleccion Privada 14% Mendoza $10.00 With this wine we step across an imaginary line into “big” wines. This certainly packed a big punch with “lots of blueberry” as Beth put it. “We getting big, jammy and hot, but I like it!” was Leo's take on it and while Ryan felt that the “nose is much better than the palate, a little more rustic on the nose” my opinion mirrored that of the groups. that this was a big wine with lots of fruit but lacking a bit of liveliness and freshness. 6th Place 2005 Punto Final Reserva 14.7% Mendoza $16.00 If the last wine was hot this was on fire! Renee characterized it as “nondescript but I still liked this, it was almost my third best” and Leo felt it was “what people think of when they think of Malbec” but neither Beth nor Stephanie enjoyed the wine, both finding it hot and Stephanie would have expected” the added year in bottle to have mellowed out some of these harsh tannins, it's just not balanced. I concur,  for me this was a disaster in a bottle overblown alcohol and bitter extracted tannins + vinous mess. 5th Place 2006 Lamadrid Reserve 14.5% Mendoza $15.00 This was an interesting style of wine. It is a classic “fruit bomb” that Leo found to be “clean juicy and round” though Renee commented on the “quite a warm finish, actually pretty hot” which is what I found as well. It was both juicy and hot! As big a fruit bomb as we had in this line-up and if that's your style this might be a winner for you. 4th Place 2006 Sur de los Andes Reserva 13.9% Mendoza $12.00 I think everyone was impressed with this bottling. Just as with the Navarro Correas there was a jump up in quality with this wine. Stephanie found it to be” very pretty and full of blueberries” while Leo thought it to be “A bit fleshy but also a bit ashy and glue-like, reminds me of pinotage”, which was a refreshing change from all the Malbec that had spoken so loudly of Malbec. Ryan felt this was a” sure crowd pleaser”, a sentiment shared by Renee who found the wine “Enjoyable and made in an easy drinking style”.  I can't add much, to me this smelled expensive and was a well balanced richly fruited winner! 3rd Place 2006 Familia Schroeder Saurus 14% Patagonia $16.00 Here was the only outlier of the group, A Patagonian Malbec, was it much of a departure from the Mendozan examples? Yes and no, it was made an a more elegant style than the wines that had preceded it with great aromatics of “sweet cinnamon and a little bit of funk” according to Beth, though Leo found too much of a “rubber-band” note on the nose to truly enjoy it. Ryan was intrigued by the cool aromatics of “Tar quality and black fruit”. I enjoyed this wine and I found it interesting that most of the comments regarding it were both positive and about the wine's nose. 2nd Place 2005 Luigi Bosca Lujan de Cuyo 14.5% Mendoza $16.00 This was an almost exotic wine and was the wine that showed the most evolution over the course of the tasting. Initially the nose was rich in”soft cocoa powder and waxy fruit” according to Stephanie, there was array of notes “interesting aromas from violets to barnyard” as renee put it. Beth sussed out further nuances of  RM “white pepper and chocolate” and then went on the capture the quality that really set this apart” it's rich but not jammy” as she said and I could not agree more. This is a wonderful wine that melds intensity of flavor and complexity with elegance and nuance. Really an “old world” example of Argentine Malbec and slightly reminiscent of the famous 1977 Weinert Estrella that remains the benchmark for the region. 1st Place 2007 Achaval-Ferrer 13.5% Mendoza $20.00 This very nearly unanimously chosen as the first place wine. It is as pure a wine as one is likely to find from Malbec with “rich blueberries on the palate” as renee put it. Ryan felt this was “Just what you expect when you open Malbec” and Beth characterized the wine as “earthy and leathery with an animally edge and approachable sweet tannins” Both Renee and Stephanie enjoyed the wines bright, friendly character.  For me the complexity of the Luigi Bosca just barely edged this out for first but the liveliness of this wine in the mouth and it's fine balance make it a winner for sure. Well that was it. There certainly are many fine examples of Argentine Malbec under $20 and while there seems to be a bit of a price quality corollary here there are wines at $15 or under that can play with the big boys. These are fine, interesting wines and Malbec really has found the right place to express itself in Argentina. As Ryan put it these wines are successful since these are the perfect “New wine drinker wine,affordable,approachable with nothing to be intimidated by”. I was surprised by several of these wines, my notes can be found in the GDP on Wine Forum. Next up on the agenda: Zinfandel. If you are interested in joining the Snooth Panel Tasting Program please shoot me an email. I am always looking for new members to join in these fun and informative events!  Gregory@Snooth.com Gregory Dal Piaz is the Community Manager at  Snooth, an avid Wine Geek with a passion for things Italian, and a long suffering Mets fan.      (hide)

  From the article Snooth Panel Tasting Program takes on Argentine Malbec

  
  

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