By Tom Marquardt And Patrick Darr
Cabernet sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely grown grape varieties, yet people in this country associate it with Bordeaux and California. But it has found a foothold in South America, particularly Argentina and Chile, where cabernet sauvignon’s expression is far different.
Diverse terroirs and particularly high altitudes, such as Mendoza, offer cool nights to preserve acidity and allow for even ripening. The color of its cabernet sauvignon is often deep and its tannins firm, although Argentina blends can be more approachable with soft tannins. Water is the only difficult challenge here.
Argentina is known more for its malbec; Chile makes more carmenere. Yet in recent times their improved effort to make good cabernet sauvignon is getting wide attention, thanks to respected producers such as Catena Zapata and Bodega Norton.
Although Europe’s winemaking roots go deep, so does Argentina’s record. Spanish colonists brought wines to the region in the 16th century, but the area was widely recognized until the 1990s. Even then, the wines were not well regarded for years. This slow development has kept the prices reasonable.
Here are several cabernet sauvignons from South America we recommend:
Miguel Torres Cordillera Reserva Especial Cabernet Sauvignon Central Valley 2021 ($21). You get a lot of body and concentration from this firm reserve wine with a dark color, layered fruit and oak-influenced flavors. Earthy blackberry flavors with hints of spice, vanilla and chocolate. It would be best served with beef. It is from a sub-appellation of Chile’s Maipo Valley.
Miguel Torres Las Mulas Cabernet Sauvignon Central Valley 2021 ($15). Lighter and more approachable than the reserve, this wine has red fruit character with a softer texture and easily drinkability. Made with organically grown grapes. Match with hamburgers or steak.
Animal Natural Organic Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 ($25). Nice tannins with red fruit and spice notes and a hint of vanilla.
Siesta Single Vineyard Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($35). Intense blackberry and cherry aromas with pronounced red pepper and olive notes. Blackberry flavors with a long finish and a dash of cinnamon.
Ernesta Catena Tahuan Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 ($17). This wine from grapes grown at high altitude has ripe raspberry and spice character, pronounced oak and soft tannins.
Antigal Uno Cabernet Sauvignon Uco Valley 2022 ($20). Behind the distinctive numeral 1 on the label is a equally distinctive and balanced cabernet sauvignon. Dark fruit and herbal character with hints of oak-driven vanilla, mocha and coconut flavors.
Rodney Strong
It is not uncommon for us and other wine journalists to sample an impressive wine that we want to share with our readers. Unfortunately, wine distribution and availability are uneven in the U.S. Wines available in one state may not be available in another. This can lead to frustration for wine enthusiasts seeking a bottle that they read about in one publication or online.
A few brands have mastered this distribution problem and can be found almost anywhere in America. Rodney Strong a family-owned Sonoma County California winery is one of those companies large enough to supply the nation’s four corners and everywhere in between. Besides having a wide distribution, Rodney Strong offers very high-quality products – often at very reasonable prices.
We recently tasted a selection of their new releases and wanted to share our impressions.
Rodney Strong Sonoma Coast Rosé of Pinot Noir 2023 ($30). A beautiful pale pink color. Strawberry and cherry notes dominate with lively acidity. A really lovely wine.
Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2020 ($30). Entirely cabernet sauvignon, this wine stood out as the price/value winner of the group. Intriguing cherry fruit aromas gave way to chocolate flavors with just the perfect touch of oak. Make this the perfect pairing with your next steak.
Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2020 ($35). A very bright example of this grape, it is 90 percent cabernet sauvignon with a bit of merlot and malbec. Lovely flavors of cassis, cherry and plum with lively acidity. A bit more going on here than the Sonoma County bottling.
Rodney Strong Symmetry Red Wine Alexander Valley 2018 ($70). This is an amazing red blend that compares well with some of the “Big Boys” from Napa Valley at a fraction of their prices. Notes of cassis and berries with a whiff of sophisticated French oak and spice notes. Soft tannins make this wine approachable now.
Wine picks
Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Franc Caitlin’s Select 2021 ($50). This powerful cabernet franc from Calistoga has balanced red fruit flavors with a hint of cocoa powder and easy tannins.
Ritual Organic Pinot Noir Casablanca Chile 2019 ($21). A reasonably priced fruit driven pinot noir that is a dead ringer for a well-made Monterey California style pinot noir. Very well balanced and pleasing.
Davis Bynum Pinot Noir Sonoma County Russian River Valley 2021 ($45). A wonderful mélange of spicy cinnamon, nutmeg vanillin oak and black cherries. This pinot noir is the total package.
Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr, MoreAboutWine, posted on SouthFloridaReporter.com Republished with permission Tom Marquardt and Patrick Darr have been writing a weekly wine column for more than 30 years. Additional Wine reviews on MoreAboutWine All photos are randomly selected and do not indicate any preferred wine. Listed prices are subject to change and do not include tax or shipping. You can send questions to Tom Marquardt marq1948@gmail.com Always drink responsibly!
Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
The South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service.
In no event shall the South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service. The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice.
The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66f1158e02b34f12bc8a8f10adedb4dd&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsouthfloridareporter.com%2Ftasting-the-wines-of-argentina-chile-and-the-good-old-usa%2F&c=14605055491280328759&mkt=en-us
Author :
Publish date : 2024-09-22 18:06:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.