January 19, 2011
Tanzer Int'l Wine Cellar Jan/Feb 11 Issue

Argentina & Northern Rhone

Focus on Argentina
Argentina has had an extended run of very good to excellent vintages, so vintage generalizations are of limited value.  The most talented producers manage to make very good wine year after year. One excellent example is the relatively cool 2008 season, which most growers in Mendoza had to harvest on the late side. Clearly some did not get their fruit totally ripe and the patience of some late pickers was foiled by sharp mid-April frost. Yet the 2008s have turned out to be some of my favorite Argentine wines of recent years because they offer unusual aromatic lift, complexity and intensity, and a rare lightness of touch and elegance.  I was particularly taken with some 2010 torrontés bottlings—a variety, by the way, that continues to gain in popularity in the U.S.

   2009   BenMarco Malbec   89   
   2009   BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon   88   (2008 in stock)
   2008   BenMarco Expresivo   91     (2007 in stock)
   2010   Budini Malbec   88   (2009 in stock)
   2009   Crios de Susana Balbo Malbec   89   
   2009   Crios de Susana Balbo Cabernet   89   
   2010   Crios de Susana Balbo Rosé of Malbec   87   (2009 in stock)
   2010   Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontés   90   
   2008   Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon   91   
   2008   Susana Balbo Late Harvest Malbec Red Dessert Wine   89   
   2009   Susana Balbo Late Harvest Torrontes Dessert Wine   90   
   2007   Susana Balbo Brioso   91   (2006 in stock)
   2009   La Posta Malbec, Paulucci Vineyard   89   (2008 in stock)
   2009   La Posta Malbec, Pizzella Vineyard   89   (2008 in stock)
   2009   La Posta Bonarda, Armando Vineyard   87   (2008 in stock)
   2009   La Posta Cocina Blend   88   (2008 in stock)
   2009   La Posta Cocina Malbec   87   (2008 in stock)
   2010   La Posta Cocina Blanco de Blancos   87   (2009 in stock)
   2008   Luca Beso de Dante (Proprietary Red Blend)   92   
   2009   Luca Malbec   89   (2008 in stock)
   2009   Luca Pinot Noir   88   (2008 in stock)
   2009   Luca Laborde Syrah   90   (2008 in stock)
   2007   Luca Nico by Luca Malbec   91   
   2009   Tikal Patriota (Bonarda/Malbec Blend)   90   (2008 in stock)
   2009   Tikal Amorio (Malbec)   90   (2008 in stock)
   2008   Tikal Jubilo (Proprietary Red Blend)   91   (2007 in stock)
   2009   Tikal "Natural" Malbec (Organic Grapes)   89   
   2009   Mapema Malbec   88   (2008 in stock)
   2008   Mapema PZ Malbec   91   
   2010   Mapema Sauvignon Blanc   88   (2009 in stock)
   2008   Mendel Unus (Malbec/Cabernet)   90+   (2006 in stock)
   2008   Mendel Finca Remota Malbec   92(+?)   
   2010   Mendel Semillon   90   (2009 in stock)
   2008   Mendel Lunta Malbec   89  (2008 in stock)
   2010   Altivo Torrontes  87 (2008 in stock)
   2009   Altivo Malbec 88 (2007 in stock)
   2010   Ichanka Sauvignon Blanc 88 (2009 in stock)

2009 and 2008 Northern Rhone Wines
Domaine Rene Rostaing
2009 Cote Rotie  90-92 (2009 later this year)
2009 Cote Rotie La Ladonne 92-94 (2006 in stock and CA)
2009 Cote Rotie Cote Blonde 94-96  (2006 in stock and CA)
2008 Cote Rotie Cuvee Classique 90 (2006 in stock & 2008 in California)
2009 Condrieu La Bonnette 92 (sold out & no 2009 imported in the US)