After the surprise tasting yesterday, today brought me back to the regularly-scheduled weekly wine tasting at HV Bottle Shop. The wines today were all from Argentina, three from Mendoza, one from La Rioja, and one from Patagonia (Rio Negro).
Wines are discussed from right to left
The first wine of the day was a 2011 Chardonnay from Verum Winery in Patagonia. It had a light yellow edge, and was very faint in colour when viewed straight on. It had no legs, and a thin ring. There were the citrus aromas that I expected, but also some hints of pear. I’m not sure if it had to do with being tank fermented and coming into contact with very little oak, but I found this Chardonnay to lack the buttery mid-palate and finish that I like. Instead, it was thin-bodied, and otherwise unexceptional.
The second pour was a 2011 Torrontés from producer Zolo in La Rioja. It had a more vibrant yellow colour, and medium legs that were quick to traverse the glass. It was completely fantastic on the nose with its aromas of flowers and tropical fruits. It had a beautiful acidity and nice finish, which was smooth but still crisp. I was shocked that this great wine was offered at such a reasonable price point, so I had to pick up a bottle.
The third glass was a 2010 Bonarda from Lamadrid Winery. Having never had this varietal, I asked Drew (the owner of HV Bottle Shop) what his thoughts were about it. He said that it is “like Syrah on the nose, but more like Pinot Noir on the palate.” I found this to be quite true. I picked up on aromas of pepper, blackberry and even some ash or soot. Though it wasn’t my absolute favourite, I decided to get a bottle so I could become more acquainted with the varietal.
The fourth wine was Zolo’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, which had a deep red colour with medium contrast between the centre and the edge. I picked up dark fruits (especially plums) in both scent and taste. Interestingly, this wine was not very tannic by comparison to many of the Cabernet Sauvignons that I’ve had. This could be related to the harvesting time, and it was likely what Zolo was wanting; a smoother, easier-to-drink wine.
The final pour was the 2011 ‘Ano Cero’ Malbec from Altocedro. It had a deep fuchsia colour (like a combination of purples and reds), with thick, fast-moving legs. I picked up hints of white pepper and black cherry in this vintage. It had a thin mouth feel, but was still tannic.
Cheers,
Zach