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Even though it’s only 11:00 am and already 75 degrees outside, I’m being lured into the excitement of autumn. I just bought my first pumpkin of the season. And, I’m baking up a batch of pumpkin muffins this weekend.  While at the Wines of Burgundy tasting a few days ago, I met Luis Pannunzio, Director of Las Piedras Pura VID of Mendoza, Argentina. This family run business began with his father, Giovanni Vincenzo Pannunzio who emigrated to Argentina from Italy in 1952. His sons José and Luis now continue the tradition of winemaking that their father began. The vineyard is located in Barrancas, Maipu where attention and respect is paid to honoring the environment.  I tasted two 100% Malbecs. The first was his entry-level wine, a 2014 GV Pannunzio Malbec. Aromas of dark fruit segued nicely onto the palate. The tannins were soft with a nice finish of berries. This is not available in the US yet, but keep your eye out for it! SRP About $9 The 2014 GV Pannunzio Malbec Grand Reserva was very aromatic with lots of red fruit and a touch of floral. The palate offered dark berries, spice and licorice. Medium tannins and well balanced, this is an easy wine to serve with a variety of food. SRP About $20 http://www.laspiedraspuravid.com More reviews to follow soon!
Happy Friday! Cheers! Penina
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It was a “red” wine weekend. In addition to tasting some wonderful wines such as Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, I had a delicious Malbec on Sunday evening. It was one of those spur of the moment throw together meals. Fortunately, I had enough food on hand and a lot of imagination. Sautéed shrimp, veggies and tortellini made for a satisfying one dish meal.   The 2013 Catena Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina was the perfect complement to dinner. Concentrated aromas of raisins, dark cherries, earth and a hint of cocoa grabbed our attention. The palate offered blackberries, plum, spice and floral notes. Soft tannins and a silky mouth-feel added to the richness of the wine. The lengthy finish with spicy notes was perfect. Alcohol: 14% I will definitely have to explore more of this winery’s selections. http://www.catenawines.com  I have a few wine seminars and tastings to attend this week in NYC. I’m looking forward to learning about some interesting grapes and sharing it all with you! Have a great Monday!
Cheers! Penina  Last week I attended the Descorchados (uncorked in Spanish) Wine Tasting in NY. Seventy-three wineries were represented from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. In addition to tasting some outstanding wines, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with many of the winemakers one on one. There were stories to be told and wines to be shared. Many of the wine labels were quite whimsical, capturing the history and stories of the wineries. So…let me start with Argentina and one winemaker. When one thinks of wine from Argentina, Malbec is usually the first wine that comes to mind. Mendoza, Argentina is considered the “heart of wine growing” in this country. Over 70% of all Argentine wine comes from Mendoza, which includes about 85% of its Malbec! In addition, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Syrah and a small amount of Cabernet Franc are among the grapes that are grown there. The Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blanc are eye openers, as well as the recent comeback of Semillón.  At the wine tasting, I “toured” around Argentina from north to south and in between. The most significant wine valleys of Argentina are The Calchaquies Valleys, La Famatina Valleys, San Juan and of course, Mendoza. Each wine valley produces a particular grape, style and flavor. Depending on the terroir, a grape can have completely different or distinct characteristics when grown in just a slightly higher or lower elevation. Matias Riccitelli is the proprietor and winemaker of Riccitelli Wines, located in Mendoza. Born and raised in Argentina, he is the son of renowned Norton winemaker Jorge Riccatelli. Using traditional techniques as well as the newest technology, Matias has created some exceptional wines.  Matias Riccitelli He poured four unique wines for me, starting with “Hey Malbec!” a 100% Malbec grown in Luján de Cuyo. It was soft, juicy and pure. He then poured “The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree”, another 100% Malbec harvested from three different vineyards. This was more complex, yielding a richer palate and more pronounced tannins. And I quote from his website “Just as an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, a wine cannot be made without a story. My winemaking reflects what I was taught by my family and reflects the passion that characterizes each one of us”. The third 100% Malbec he poured was República Del Malbec. The grapes were grown in Vistabula and Luján de Cuyo. The wine was concentrated and smooth with lush berries and spices. “We made this wine in honor of all those immigrants who planted, worked and taught us, gave us the blessing of our flagship varietal who for over 100 years lives in this land, which has taken a unique identity in the world.” The last wine Matias poured was a 2015 Old Vines Semillón that is a new addition to his portfolio. The vineyards are located in Rio Negro and are said to be around seventy years old, which is key to the quality and natural balance of the wines. The wine was lively, fresh and had just the right amount of “sweet”. It was a treat to taste it. Matias’s enthusiasm and passion for his wines is contagious! I look forward to trying more of his wines soon! http://www.matiasriccitelli.com  As I was leaving the event, I was given a copy of “Descorchados 2016 Guide to the Wines of Argentina, Brazil, Chile & Uruguay”. Written by Patricio Tapia a noted wine critic, this comprehensive 960-page book (weighing 4 pounds) is the 17th edition. I will write about more of the Argentine winemakers I met in future posts. There is also more to come with regard to Chile, Brazil and Uruguay!
Happy Tuesday! Cheers! Penina Here is a little geography info that is germane to the following story: Chile and Argentina are separated by the Andes Mountains.  In 2001 Aurelio Montes, Sr., a winemaker and founding partner of Viña Montes in Chile, crossed the Andes to visit Mendoza, Argentina. Impressed with the people, terroir and viticulture, he realized the potential of the region. And so, in 2002 Kaiken Premium Wines was founded with Aurelio Sr. bringing his knowledge and experience to the wine industry of Argentina. His goal was to make great wines by taking advantage of the excellent conditions of the Mendoza region and “show the best of both sides of the Andes”.  Aurelio Montes, Jr. His son, Aurelio, Jr., is also a winemaker who traveled around the world working in wineries and gaining knowledge of different viticulture and enological practices. After taking time off in 2005 to pursue other interests, he returned to Viña Montes in 2007 as the Enological Director of the Apalta facility. In 2011 Aurelio, Jr. and his family moved to Mendoza to oversee the Kaiken project. Aurelio is always experimenting with new terroirs and enological practices that include biodynamics and sustainability. His passion transcends to the wines he produces.  Appropriately named, Kaiken is derived from the name of a bird called the Caiquen, a hardy bird in the goose family that is indigenous to Patagonia. These geese migrate between Chile and Argentina, criss-crossing the Andes like the Montes have. The Kaiken vineyards are located in the heart of Mendoza and further south in the Valle de Uco. The vineyards produce 70% of the production requirements and the other 30% come from vineyards which Kaiken controls. I recently received two bottles of wine from the Kaiken Terroir Series that represent the best of each variety of grapes from a particular area.  Made with 100% Torrontés grapes, the 2015 vintage was pale lemon in color with a green hue. Citrus, grapefruit, floral notes and a hint of orange zest on the nose transferred onto the palate. A tart edge quickly segued into a lingering tropical fruit and floral finish. The wine was bright, fresh and had nice acidity. Alcohol 13.2% About $17.00
The Terroir Series Malbec is made with 80% Malbec from the Uco Valley, 12% Bonarda from Agrelo and 8% Petit Verdot from Gualtallary, a zone within the Uco Valley. Each grape brings it’s own uniqueness to the wine. The 2012 Malbec was deep red with a tinge of purple. The nose was heady with dark berries and floral aromas. A hint of mushrooms and spice were present. The palate offered blackberry, plum, licorice and oak. The finish was long with bursts of pepper. Soft tannins and a velvety mouth-feel gave this wine a lot of character. Alcohol 14.5% About $17.00 http://www.kaikenwines.com These are wonderful wines and I can’t wait to try more from this producer. Cheers! Penina  Thanks to Hurricane Joaquin, a deluge of rain has prevented many outdoor festivities from taking place this weekend. So, I am grateful that the Art Show that I am exhibiting in is indoors.  With the rain, wind and chilly temperatures last evening, it was nice to be inside. My friend opened an exceptional bottle of wine and all that was missing was a roaring fire.  We drank a 2009 Viña Alicia Las Compuertas Malbec. This wine comes from Luján de Cuyo in the foothills of the Andes and was designated as Mendoza’s first appellation in 1993. The wine is sourced from vines that are up to 150 years old. This was a very captivating and full-bodied wine. The deep ruby color bordered on purple with intoxicating aromas of dark berries, spices, oak and a hint of herbs. The palate was layered with sweet berries, especially blackberry and spice. There was a strong earthiness to it, with smooth tannins and a long “jammy” finish. Yummy! http://www.vinaalicia.com I have a busy day ahead of me.
Have a great Saturday! Cheers! Penina  I took advantage of the rain on Saturday afternoon and curled up with a good book. Although I should have been knitting, the lure of a quiet read while the rain tapped at the windows was just what I needed.  I roused myself a few hours later (yes…it was indulgent) to tidy up the house and start prepping food for my dinner guest. The rain continued, but that didn’t stop me from going outside to pick fresh herbs from my garden for the dinner. I roasted vegetables, made linguini with fresh shrimp and tossed it all together with olive oil, garlic & fresh herbs. It was yummy!  When my friend arrived, I decided to open my last bottle of 2012 Nieto Senetiner Pinot Noir from Mendoza Argentina. I reviewed this wine in September of 2014, but had a slightly different opinion of it this time around. The color was dark ruby with the same aromas of cherries, plums and spice. However, on the palate, it seemed much sweeter than the last bottle. The taste of dark cherries and cinnamon dominated the more subtle flavors of black pepper and spices. The tannins were softer with almost no acidity. It was a little too sweet for my taste, but my friend seemed to enjoy it! The winery dates back to 1888 and is one of the oldest wineries in Mendoza. Check it out at http://www.nietosenetiner.com.ar/ES/ARG/ It’s another rainy day, but I must attend to “projects” today!
Have a peaceful Sunday! Cheers! Penina  The best-intentioned plans sometimes go awry. I missed the wine tasting event yesterday due to unforeseen work issues that needed my attention. However, all was not lost. A friend came over for dinner, bringing with him a great bottle of wine.  We opened a 2010 Graffigna Grand Reserve Malbec. The wine was deep purple. It had aromas of dark fruit, with the emphasis on blackberry and plum. The aromas carried through to the palate with added spice, pepper and hints of new leather. This was a hearty wine, medium bodied, a nice mouth feel and finished with a punch. You can’t go wrong with this wine, especially at the average price of $18 a bottle! I made a delicious quinoa salad, sautéed some vegetables and we smoked a piece of salmon in hickory chips. The wine went well with everything!
I must get back to work. Happy Wednesday! Cheers! Penina  The days are flying by and yesterday was no exception. After an intense meeting, I went out with a friend for a “bon voyage” lunch. It seems that everyone is going skiing this weekend. Although he tried to entice me into going as well, I have too many obligations to attend to. Perhaps another time…another weekend!  We had a nice lunch accompanied by a glass of 2012 Ruta 22 Malbec from Patagonia Argentina. The color was deep red with lots of dark fruit on the nose. It was a dry wine with flavors of dark berries, plum and spices. Mellow tannins and a hint of raspberry gave it a nice finish. I wouldn’t mind buying a bottle or two!  Happy Friday!
Cheers! Penina  There doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day lately. Just when I think that my proverbial “to do” list is getting smaller, more items mysteriously appear on it. I need a vacation!!  After a crazy and non-stop day yesterday, it was nice to mellow out over dinner with a friend. Although the wine we drank is not worth mentioning, the conversation more than sated my thirst.  However, I do want to mention a wine that I tasted the other evening. It was a 2011 Catena Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. Made from 100% Malbec grapes, it was the color of dark amethysts. The aromas of ripe fruits, plums, hints of vanilla and cocoa were heavenly. Flavors of blackberries, plum, spice and a tease of cinnamon burst onto the palate. Smooth tannins and a velvety long finish made this wine a winner! The winery has a great history. Check it out at: http://www.catenawines.com Have a great Wednesday!
Cheers! Penina  With all the weekend activity, I had no chance to post anything. So, here it is, Sunday... and the Winter Solstice! Soft snowflakes are dropping from the sky to celebrate the day.  Last night a friend came over for dinner. In addition to other gifts, he brought a bottle of Amarone, but I didn’t open it. The gift-wrapping is too pretty! I’m going to wait until the holidays are over before unwrapping it and popping the cork!  We decided to open a Familia Marguery 2012 Casa Malbec. This delicious wine from Mendoza, Argentina was dark ruby with cherry, pomegranate and blackberry on the nose. It was dense and lively with flavors of dark cherries, plum and black pepper. The finish was spicy. Thumbs up! I’m heading out to a holiday brunch…enjoy the day!
Cheers! Penina |
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