Malbec may not be the most popular red grape varietal, but it is surely gaining popularity due to its drinkability and quality to price ratio. Malbec came to Argentina in the late nineteenth century, before the Phylloxera epidemic punished European vineyards, necessitating grafting of fruiting wood onto rootstocks that aren't native to Europe. In Argentina, which was never subject to the epidemic, most of these vines are not grafted. Instead, vines grow on their own roots. But if escaping the blight of Phylloxera provided a start, the key reasons for the recent emergence of the grape are improvements both to viticulture and vinification.
This Malbec, by famed Argentine producer Hector Durigutti, opens with a dark and luscious shade of deep purple. Blunt legs form slowly on the side of your glass indicating intense extraction. Your nose may sense concentrated aromas of dark purple fruits, plums, and macerated blackberries. A hint of fall spice sneaks through. On the palate, the wine delivers soft tannins with flavors of strawberry and notes of fresh Mediterranean herbs.
89 pts. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
$16.99
Cabernet Sauvignon fares best in warmer climates, and benefits from a long ripening season. Cabernet Sauvignon takes equally well to Mendoza’s desert climate, lean soils and high altitude. As this bottling shows, in the hands of talented winemakers, the varietal is as intense and complex as Cabernet from anywhere in the world.
Durigutti’s Cabernet opens with classic aromas of dark cassis and blackberry liqueur. Your palate might sense a subtle sweetness, which reflects the structure of the tannins. A velvety texture develops into a long and lingering finish with beautiful touches of blackberries, violets and cherries.
2009 Vintage - 90pt rating from Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar.
$16.99
"Napa Valley and Carneros had an especially cool 2010, which delayed the start of the growing season. A brief, late-season heat spike pushed ripening the other way, resulting in some areas having both ripe and not-quite-ripe fruit. Wineries that were able to thin out the affected grapes often produced well-made wines; on the other hand, some winery offerings showed a touch of green fruit." - San Francisco Chronicle Starmont used this growing season to make a stellar Chardonnay.
This wine opens with a very fragrant green apple bouquet with notes of lemon and pineapple. On the palate, medium bodied, slightly acidic, and crispier than most chardonnays. The flavor profile is a blend of green apple and bartlett pear with a dose of white pepper mixed in. There is also a touch of mild oak in the background.
$21.00
This beautiful winery featuring a gorgeous lavender garden is set in Bennett Valley, Sonoma, California. “Bennett Valley is as unique as its three mountains – Sonoma, Bennett and Taylor – that capture fog and a cool air stream from the Pacific Ocean, making the temperature profile similar to that of the Russian River Valley. This cooling effect, called the Petaluma Wind Gap, produces a long growing season that’s ideal for grapevines, allowing them to be unhurried, yet hard-working.” – Matanza’s Creek Winery. This Sauvignon Blanc expresses the grape's natural aromatics, an intensely perfumed fresh bouquet of lime, bright pink grapefruit and lemon thyme. Texture was added to the palate by aging a small percentage in fine grain French oak. There are hints of green melon, pear and papaya on the palate. A medium bodied, and fresh food-friendly wine.
