Aldi, Occasional, Malbec, 2023, Mendoza, Argentina
At £4 a bottle you have to be realistic on the wine in the bottle is going to be like. Unfortunately even at £4 a bottle it’s not one I can give too many compliments on. Dry with harsh tannins and vinegar notes it’s best to open and let it breath, give it 24 hours and it does soften a bit but pay a bit more, is my advice.
Felix Solis Avantis, Casa Solis, Carmenère, 2023, Chile
I generally like Carmenère very much but this one was quite a disappointment. It was flat, non descript and lacked that Carmenère wow. On the positive side it was drinkable and easy to knock back and tasted of red wine, it just lacked that solid black fruit flavours, oak, tobacco and intensity that you should get with a Carmenère.
Red Schooner, Voyage 11, Mendoza, Argentina
Wow, this is an amazing wine made with grapes from Mendoza that are shipped to California to be made into a dry red wine. Bold, firm tannins with red currant, blackberry flavours, oak, leather and coffee notes make this a wonderful red wine. At USD40 a bottle it’s not cheap but its worth a taste.
Aldi, Clos de Mendoza, Malbec, Rose, Argentina
Is this Rose Malbec from Aldi a great wine? Nope, sorry but is not good. A hint of strawberries is what the wife got, more than me. It has a flat, metallic aftertaste which put me off the rest of the glass. At £4.99 on offer it’s way overpriced.
Ferreira, SF Trompete Corte Bordalês, Bordeaux blend, Brazil
Made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot this is a classic Bordeaux blend made 1600m above sea level, so even in Brazil you can get a climate that allows grapes to grow to make decent wine. Its decent wine, not amazing but its got decent length, reasonable red and black fruit flavours. Its just a little nondescript.
Ensamblados, Blend de Terroirs, Malbec, 2020, Mendoza, Argentina
It’s another Argentinian Malbec, but this one is actually really rather excellent. There’s black plum and blackberry and smooth tannins. Hints of oak, leather and a bit of mint poking through for a long lasting taste. It reminds me of a VW Pola, solid with a chunk of quality all the way through. At about £15 a bottle it’s very good value.
Vina Salort, Gran Reserva, Tannat, 2021, Canelones, Uruguay
I’ve not had much wine made from Tannat and after this bottle I know why. It’s not a grape that seems to really excel. It’s OK, dry, light with reasonable red fruit flavours, some tannins and simple on overall structure. Best to have food with it to help soften it.
Torreon de Paredes, Carmenère, 2020, Chile
Chile makes great Carmenère but this Torreon de Paredes from 2020 is outstanding. Soft and silky the tannins are subtle just doing their thing in the background. Aromas and flavours of plum, blackcurrant and hints of chocolate and tobacco with a little oak and smoke rounding it off. At £26 a bottle it’s not cheap but worth it.
Santa Rita, Triple C, 2020, Maipo Valley, Chile
If you like red wine then I suggest you just buy it, because this Triple C from Santa Rita is one of the best reds I have ever tasted.
A Bordeaux blend of Cab Sav, Cab Franc and Carmenere its a bold, dry red, with firm tannins and long black plum and blackberry flavour’s. There chunks of chocolate and a smokey, earthiness sitting in the background, oak and vanilla round this off beautifully.
At £15 a bottle from Majestic its a steal. Fantastic.
Marcelo Pelleriti has produced a first class Malbec with this red wine from Mendoza. Its Dry, pretty bold with integrated tannins and a softness that’s welcome. There’s plenty of red and black fruit flavours with red cherry in the main followed by blackcurrant. Notes of oak, leather and spice sitting in the background with a hint of chocolate.
At £10 a bottle it’s great value and worth a few bottles in anyone’s Cellar.