May 24, 2019
Pre-Memorial Day Battle of South America!
Chile vs Argentina

1. 2013 Calcu Cabernet Sauvignon Especial Colchagua Valley Chile
A full package of spice, tobacco and black-fruit aromas make for an attractive opening. This feels solid and dense, with grabby tannins that muscle out elegance. Lightly stewed berry and plum aromas are backed by chocolate, cola and molasses notes on the finish. Rated 90 Wine Enthusiast (WE)

2. 2014 Tapiz Alta Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Argentina
A wine with lots of depth and fruit now with dark berry and dark chocolate character. Full body, velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. So much here. Give it four to five years bottle age. Great wine. Rated 96 James Suckling (JS)

3. 2014 Revana Corazon del Sol Luminoso Uco Valley Mendoza Argentina
This Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre blend is the first GSM currently being produced in Argentina. A beautiful representation of a single piece of land at the base of the Andes Mountains, 3100 feet above sea level. The blend consists of 46% Mourvedre / 39% Grenache/ 15% Syrah, this blend creates a polished, elegantly spicy and beautifully textured wine. Extreme rocky soils with some of the most intense sunshine in the wine world create the opportunity to present an Uco Valley pioneer wine. Reminiscent of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but with more exuberance and polish. 92pts - Tim Atkin 90pts - Andreas Larsson

4. 2014 Montes Purple Angel Carmenere Rapel Valley Colchagua Valley Chile
This has a perfect nose of blackberry, tar, black pepper, thyme, cloves and rose petal. Full body and firm and very silky and polished tannins. The finish goes on for minutes. Best ever. Great class. 92% carmenere and 8% petit verdot. Drink in 2019 but so gorgeous now. Rated 98 JS

5. 2014 Finca Flichman Pasaje de Tupungato Grand Vineyards Mendoza Argentina
luscious blend of primarily Malbec. These grapes are hand picked from the best of Tupungato and Barrancas and have been aged for 12 months in oak barrels to create this full-bodied wine with well rounded tannins and a dark fruit palate. Try it with Osso Buco. Total Wine

6. 2013 Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Central Valley Chile
Spicy, peppery cherry and plum aromas precede a medium-bodied palate with grip but not much depth. This tastes warm and spicy, with driving berry flavors. A fresh, lightly woody finish fits the wine. WE

7. 2015 Bodega Noemia de Patagonia A Lisa Rio Negro Argentina
The 2015 A Lisa is mostly Malbec with some 9% Merlot and a 1% pinch of Petit Verdot, a wine that shows the potential of Río Negro in Patagonia and the style of Noemía at a very attractive price and at the same time is easy to drink. 2015 seems to be an excellent vintage in the region, shows a balance and freshness that can compete with the fines vintages produced. In his search towards elegance, finesse and drinkability, this vintage shows a profile that would be somewhere between Burgundy and southern Rhône, with a mixture of flowers and red cherries, insinuating, whispering, with a polished palate. It's sapid, tasty, almost salty, with ultra-elegant tannins and superb balancing acidity that makes it extremely harmonious; this is only 13.5% alcohol, one of the lowest--if not the lowest ever--but the thing is the balance, not the alcohol, which is unnoticeable in all the wines. Rated 93 WA

8. 2015 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos Apalta Colchagua Valley Chile
Blackberry, fresh herb, wet earth and tar aromas follow through to a full body, with powerful tannins and density yet an agile and polished, textured finish. Much better than 2014. The second wine of Clos Apalta. Rated 95 JS