Most folks only think of Malbec when it comes to the country of Argentina and the reason is simple- it’s what “they do”, right?  Well, not exactly – they also produce a lot of other varietals that are simply rocking things out of the park at the price-points they’re able to hit.

In fact, I’d say that dollar-for-dollars, it’s really difficult to match the QPR of Argentina right now this side of Spain or Portugal. In this review, I take a gander are a Torrontes, a Rose and finally a Malbec.

These wines are imported to the USA by Frederick Wildman and Sons which is based out of New York. It has established itself as a premier importer and are sticklers on quality.

2008 Don David Torrontes Reserve – W.E.P. Rating: 100%

Technical Data:

• Wine Type: Dry White
• Grape Type: 100% Torrontes.
• Country: Argentina
• Region: Cafayate Valley
• Alcohol: 13.9%
• Sugar 4.0 grs./lt
• Acidity: 6.2 grs./lt
• pH: 3.35
• Price: $16

Nose: Jasmine, grapefruit, kiwi, chock-dust and gravel.

Taste: Classic jasmine fruit across the mid palate along with some orange peel, grapefruit pulp, and a touch of dust. Good acids, good body and a soaring finish that has superb hang-time.

There are many reasons why I simply love the torrontes grape and just about each time I have one, I’m reminded of how fruit, dry and food-friendly they really are. This is a grape that I believe has a really good chance of sneaking in under the radar and grabbing a lot of market away from Pinot Gris.

2008 Michel Torino Malbec Rose – W.E.P. Rating: 95%

Technical Data:

• Wine Type: Dry Rose
• Grape Type: 100% Malbec.
• Country: Argentina
• Region: Cafayate Valley
• Price: $15

Nose: A little rose petal action right off the bat along with cherries, rhubarb, spice and some honeysuckle.

Taste: I’m getting that classic mix of strawberries and pepper along with some very nice notes of gym socks, red delicious apple and a touch of pear. Good fruit forward action with a solid mid palate transition. The end is very solid and finishes rather well.

2007 Trapiche Broquel Malbec – W.E.P. Rating: 50%

Technical Data:

• Alcohol: 14 %
• Charactteriisttiics Total acidity: 6.30 g/l
• pH: 3.30
• Sugar: 2.78 g/l
• Price: $15

Nose: Peppered jerky smell right off the bat. Nice layers of leather, charcoal and blackberry.

Taste: Sour cherries, rhubarb, black pepper and leather belt. I’m not really into the way this wine finishes as it’s a bit too hot and gets too disjointed for me on the back-end. For my money, there are more exciting malbec’s out there.

Taking its name from it surroundings of the Andes Mountain range and the moon – this winery out of Argentina has given my palate a fever and the only perspcription is more of its reserve wines for an MSRP of $20. I’ve often held the Mendoz region of Argentina as a fine area for Malbec, however, this round-up of two other bordeaux grapes prove to me that it’s as serious as a heart attack about Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as well.

2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – W.E.P. Rating: 125%

Technical Data:

Alcohol: 14.1 %

Residual Sugar: 1.80 g/l

Varietal Composition: 91%, Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec

Harvest Date: 4/20/05

Total Acidity: 5.60 g/l

PH: 3.66

Cases Produced: 2,039

Price: $20

Nose: Gaminess, black fruit, asphalt, road tar, blackberry pie and chewing tobacco.

Taste: Who turned on the blackberry slurpee fountain and then spilled it all over a freshly-paved road that had road-kill on it? Cascading black fruit topples your palate with lots of pleasure and then gets nicely reigned in by vanilla, pomagranate, pencil lead and ink. Excellent, long finish that lingers on for days – an excellent Cab that easily out-classes many cabs out of Napa at double the price.

2005 Reserve Merlot – W.E.P. Rating: 120%

Technical Data:

Alcohol: 14.3%

Residual Sugar: 1.80 g/l

Varietal Composition: 100% Merlot

Harvest Date: 4/2/05

Total Acidity: 5.30 g/l

PH: 3.62

Cases Produced: 1,563

Price: $20

Nose: Chalk, black cherries, blackberries, plums and spice – some good amounts of pie crust

Taste: Pepper-spiced black fruits with a healthy dose of show leather, spicey pinecone, black licorice, and subtle hints of toasted vanilla on the back-end make this a very enjoyable merlot. An excellent finish that begs for a lamb shank.

2005 Reserve Malbec – W.E.P. Rating: 150%

Technical Data:

Alcohol: 13.7 %

Residual Sugar: 1.80 g/l

Varietal Composition: 95% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

Harvest Date: 4/13/06

Total Acidity: 5.20 g/l

PH: 3.75

Cases Produced: 3,842

Price: $20

Nose: Once again with the gaminess I found in the cab – this wine has a very nice boquet of black plums, white/black pepper, charred peppers and nice hints of fresh coffee grounds.

Taste: Fire-roasted bell peppers, coffee grounds, black plums, bubble gum, dirt, mud, poo and cascading spice that seems to come in selective waves. A great finish that helps reaffirm why this region of the world is on fire for Malbec. Easily one of the best Malbec’s I’ve ever had.

Winery website: www.andeluna.com