Argentina is HOT!

Lee Barczak

If you are drinking wine today, you know that Argentina is HOT!  Not only did they share the wonderful tango with us (as often seen steamingly on Dancing With the Stars) and the music of Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazzolla….they make  the world’s best Malbecs! There is a lot of pride developing in this wonderful, romantic country – if you stop in, ask David who traveled there last year. Winemakers are filled with passion for their wines and are dedicated to crafting wines that will move us all to a new appreciation of this region’s gifts. A recent tasting of a number of South American wines exposed us to new twists on old themes and some varietals and blends that were new to enjoy.

There are many grape varieties grown throughout the continent and single vineyard vintages and blends are being created that provide lots of new tasting adventures. We will soon have the 2008 Bodega Lurton Pinot Gris in the shop as well as behind the bar. This wine had aromas of jasmine and pear with an astringency I couldn’t place but found appealing. There were swirling flavors of lemon, lime, slightly sweet yellow apple and herbals that made me think immediately of cilantro. This wine was so easy to drink it would be wonderful for any gathering; food friendly but also good for enjoying by itself. It would be fun to share this with friends and also serve Pinot Gris from Alsace and Oregon. Great way to Pour and Explore!

We will also have the  This wine seemed to change rapidly on the nose as it began with an earthy grass-like scent that quickly made me think of smoke. It had a crispness to the mouthfeel and while I tasted a hint of tangerine, the wine was drier than expected with some lingering minerality. All in all, it was a more complex wine than I expected. Since that is one of the pleasures I find in drinking wine, I had a great time with this wine and hope you will too.